Local 202’s Tierney Gallegos connects union strength with public good

DENVER, CO – The SMART Transportation Division is proud to shine a spotlight on one of our most inspiring members: Sister Tierney Gallegos.  

In the words of Omar Ledesma, local chairperson and alternate safety and legislative director for the Colorado: 

“Union leadership is a voluntary position, and not every position is filled with people determined to make a difference. Sister Gallegos strives to make that difference. She wants people to know that railroaders still exist. We may not have the numbers we once had, but we are still present in our community and a leader among other unions.” 

A conductor for BNSF Railway and the Vice President of Local 202 in Denver, Colorado, Sister Gallegos also serves as the Secretary of the Local Committee of Adjustment (LCA) for the yard, a role that she was elected to in 2022 and has quickly become an indispensable force. 

She mobilized support for our legislative priorities and broader labor initiatives. From Senate and House hearings to street-level rallies, Gallegos ensures our members show up proud, powerful and ready to fight for positive change. 

With fewer than six years in the union, Sister Gallegos has emerged as a model of leadership, service, and solidarity.  

Union influence creates a community-wide benefit 

Elected to her first four-year term as Vice President two years ago, Sister Gallegos hit the ground running. She assumed leadership of both the Charity Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, where she has redefined what it means to connect union strength with public good. Her efforts have brought Local 202 into collaboration with key organizations such as: 

• Toys for Tots 
• The Colorado Railroad Museum 
• SMART-TD Colorado Legislative Board 
• Women on the Tools Event 

For the third consecutive year, she successfully organized Local 202’s support for the National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, forging a powerful partnership with the Bienvenidos Food Bank and a local post office to combat hunger and raise awareness. She has made it her mission to bring the message of SMART-TD into the broader community: if something needs to be fixed, the union will get organized and fix it. 

Our values lead to a brighter future 

Gallegos defines where SMART-TD is headed. Her combination of compassion, courage, and tireless work ethic makes her a pillar of strength and a beacon for others to follow.  

She demonstrates what all SMART-TD members stand for: determination in the face of adversity, strength through unity, service to the community, and a commitment to lifting one another when any of us has fallen. Her rise in prominence is a testament to her unshakeable dedication to these values. 

Thank you, Sister Gallegos for your unwavering commitment. Your union brothers and sisters look forward to the future you are helping us build: one action, one voice, and one member at a time.