News Archive
Local 5 organizes enormous growth in North Carolina
When SMART Local 5 (East Tennessee and North Carolina) member Steven Ruger became an organizer in April 2023, the local had around 1,100 members — the majority in Tennessee. Today, thanks in large part to aggressive organizing conducted by Local 5 and spearheaded by Ruger, the local has more than 1,500 members, and the size of Local 5’s North Carolina membership has increased by more than 60%.
Make sure your voice is heard, update your contact information
Every SMART-TD member’s voice is important – make sure yours is heard when it matters most! Please verify your current contact information. With 2025 national negotiations underway, and many on property agreements also needing ratification, this is the time to make sure your vote gets counted. Read on to choose one of three easy ways to make sure your voice is heard.SMART statement on Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s right to due process
Following an April 4, 2025, press conference regarding the deportation of SMART Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, General President Michael Coleman issued the following statement: “The principle of due process is one of the fundamental values our nation is fo [...]
Union leaders, community supporters to rally Friday, April 4, in support of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and family
Supporters will rally alongside Abrego Garcia’s union and Maryland immigrant rights activists in Langley Park to support his family and his right to due process.
New CSX conductor improvises to save a life
Brother Juan Carrillo has only been a SMART-TD member for four months, and he’s already saved a man’s life during that time. Read on to hear his memories of what happened, why he credits his military training for ensuring that a horrible accident didn’t quickly turn deadly, and how this situation highlights the importance of two-person crews.
SMART stands with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia
On March 31, 2025, the Trump administration conceded in a court filing that it had mistakenly deported SMART apprentice Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a legally protected Maryland resident and father, to El Salvador “‘because of an administrative error,’” according to CNN. The administration is also arguing that because Abrego Garcia is now in Salvadoran custody, the government cannot return him to the United States.
SMART News: Protecting Railroad Retirees’ Future
SMART News sits down with Greg Hynes, SMART-TD’s national director of the safety and legislative department, and Phil Qualy, retired Minnesota safety and legislative director to discuss the critical implications of proposed cuts within the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).
More Than a Story: SMART-TD’s Women’s History Month Highlights Legacies in the Making
Our Women’s History Month celebration highlighted the leadership and perseverance of only a few of the women who are making history in the labor movement, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated industries. SMART-TD thanks all our sisters for their contribution and leadership within our union family.