Hundreds of rail workers gathered in Houston to discuss labor issues across organizations at the annual Texas rally. Attendees enjoyed great food, great fellowship, and prepared to face our shared challenges with a renewed sense of solidarity.
In a letter to SMART-TD members, Marty Oberman, retired chair of the Surface Transportation Board, details the progress and policies at risk in this election. “The protections of rail workers … depends a lot on whether these important offices are filled by a worker-oriented administration. We will need an Administration that will appoint officials who care about rail workers and continue the aggressive oversight [provided] by the current Democratic-led STB and FRA.”
Like other federal agencies, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has been operating under a continuing resolution since October 1, 2024, the start of fiscal year (FY) 2025.
In fall 2024, CSX Railroad announced plans to change how the carrier moves freight between Chicago and the East Coast; a plan that would have forced more than 120 SMART-TD members to choose between relocation to either Buffalo, N.Y., or Willard, Ohio — or be laid off. SMART-TD officers and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown took action in response. And with the senator’s help, union railroad jobs stayed in Cleveland where they belong.
The spring 2024 Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) challenge asked SMART members to tell their union story, prompted by the question: Why are you proud to be a SMART member? For Paul Garner, a longtime Local 55 sheet metal worker out of Boise, Idaho, the answer boils down to our union’s tradition of mentorship and solidarity.
Sisters, brothers and friends across Canada, On behalf of myself, the SMART General Executive Council and all your brothers and sisters across this union, I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Today is a day to gather with loved ones and enjoy precious time with family and [...]
Great news for railroad workers! Starting in 2025, monthly health and wellness contributions will drop by 10.2% because of fewer claims filed in 2024. This landmark achievement is a testament to the hard work and responsible choices of our members!
More than 420 SMART sisters and allies from 47 local unions and regional councils descended on New Orleans, Louisiana, from September 27-29 for the 2024 Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference.
A team of SMART-TD transit officers engaged with the top safety and technology innovators in the world during the 2024 InnoTrans conference in Berlin, Germany. “Knowing what's out there will help us to propose engineering and procedural safeguards for our members.” General Chair John Ellis, GC 857.