Chicago Terminal employees vote SMART

May 22, 2013

Operating employees of Chicago Terminal Railroad May 20 were successful in their efforts to bring union representation to their property.

The National Mediation Board has certified that 70 percent of eligible employees voted for representation by the SMART Transportation Division.

CTR operates three segments of track in the city and its suburbs, serving a variety of industries. It connects to Union Pacific at the North Ave. and Elk Grove locations, and to Canadian Pacific at its Bensenville, Ill., location.

The Class III railroad comprises 7.6 miles of the trackage and 32 miles of storage tracks. It also interchanges with Kansas City Southern operations at Veals Yard.

The organizing effort was led by SMART Transportation Division Director of Organizing Rich Ross, who was assisted by International Organizer Larry Grutzius.

CTR is a subsidiary of Iowa Pacific Holdings, which also operates San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, Texas-New Mexico Railroad, West Texas & Lubbock Railway and other lines.