President Ferguson Responds to Washington Post

This week, the Washington Post Editorial Board posted a column tearing down the Railway Safety Act of 2026. As a union, we would have hoped that a respected national newspaper like The Post would have done its research on an important topic like our members’ ability to make it home after every shift in one piece. Unfortunately, they decided to use their national platform to amplify the views of the railroads and their lobbying arm, the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Just like in a disciplinary hearing on the railroad, a statement that goes unchallenged has a tendency to become a fact.

With that in mind, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson submitted an op-ed to the Washington Post editorial board today. He let them know the truth from actual railroaders.  After reading what the post passed off to the country as facts on your safety, Brother Ferguson wasn’t about to let it be the last word.

Please take a moment to read the view from the railroad corporations that the Washington Post put out there, as well as the response your union sent back at them.

After reading these two opposite points of view, SMART-TD would like to encourage all our members to drop the Washington Post Editorial Board a line at oped@washpost.com. Please let them know your perspective and personal experience with railroads being trusted to regulate and now legislate themselves.