Get the Facts on the Union Pacific Arbitration Award from SBA 1208!

On August 1, 2025, Special Board of Adjustment No. 1208 issued an award, which set the framework for final resolution of on-property contract negotiations at Union Pacific as were required by our most recent 2022 National Agreement, intended to address rest days, quality of life, and certain pool and extra board rules. Since we could not reach a voluntary agreement with UP, these issues were mandated to go to final and binding arbitration. 

It is important to understand that SBA 1208 merely sets the basic framework for what our final on-property agreements will say. Our General Committees are still in talks with UP to iron out those details. In accordance with the award’s findings, this process requires written, mutually agreed upon questions and answers for interpretations within the award, along with an implementation process. The award also states that the arbitrator will maintain jurisdiction over interpretation and implementation matters for another 6 months. We anticipate that this process will take several weeks or even months to reach a conclusion wherein the full extent of the award will be implemented.

Understandably, this has led to some uncertainty and speculation among our UP members. In response, the involved General Chairpersons distributed information, including fact sheets, to all of our affected Locals. We have also been responsive to individual members’ concerns whenever they have reached out. Despite these efforts, misinformation and disinformation is continuing to spread.

In order to help determine fact from fiction, and truth from lies, we have set up a dedicated email address for Union Pacific members who still have questions about this award and the implementation process. We encourage our members to get the facts straight from the source, rather than listening to hearsay, rumors, or flat-out lies from bad faith actors looking to capitalize on this inherent and temporary uncertainty.

Questions, comments, and concerns may be submitted to SBA1208@smart-union.org. Our members’ questions are particularly valuable, as they may be included in the required written Q&A’s that are currently being compiled.

All SMART-TD members will receive a response!