On Tuesday, October 28, SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson, along with a delegation of national, general committee and local leaders, joined Norfolk Southern (NS) new hires at the company’s McDonough Training Center. The impromptu town hall brought together 97 fourth- and fifth-week trainees with the union that will have their backs every step of their careers.
The event was made possible thanks to brothers Kelvin Hill and Greg Glenn. Both men are longtime NS employees and fixtures in the Atlanta area and Local 1245. Leading by example, Hill and Glenn go above and beyond to make sure new hires understand not just their job duties, but also the lifestyle, expectations that come with a railroad career and the support that’s a hallmark of their membership in SMART-TD.
Brother Hill serves as a local chairperson and local safety and legislative representative, while Brother Glenn serves as a local chairperson and 2nd vice president of his General Committee. Together, the two have a long-standing agreement with Norfolk Southern to meet privately with every class of new trainees during their fifth week of instruction.
Merger agreement creates stability for trainees
When recent news of the proposed Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger sparked understandable anxiety among the trainees, Hill and Glenn saw an opportunity. With SMART-TD’s Regional Training Seminar (RTS) taking place nearby in Atlanta this week, they reached out to arrange a special visit. Their goal was simple: to get answers for our new brothers and sisters straight from the top.
“Over the past few weeks, a lot of these men and women have been worried about what’s next for them,” Hill told SMART News. “Greg and I knew that if we could get our leadership in the room, (the people who are actually at the negotiating table), it could give these new brothers and sisters the clarity and confidence they deserve.”
Their initiative quickly grew into a unionwide show of solidarity. Joining the session were President Jeremy Ferguson, Vice President Brent Leonard, NS General Chairpersons Tommy Gholson (GCA 898) and Nick Greficz (GCA 687), several vice general chairpersons, a few local chairpersons and other local officers who were in town for the RTS training.
By the time the Q&A began the room was filled with experience, leadership and genuine care for the next generation of railroaders.
“This went way beyond what I imagined,” Hill said. “These brothers and sisters haven’t even been to their home terminal yet. They haven’t been to a single local meeting and haven’t paid one dollar in union dues. And there they were, sitting in a private meeting with the president of the entire union, hearing directly from the leaders who can answer questions about the exact terminals they’ll be working in. It was absolutely next level.”
Turning uncertainty into empowerment
President Ferguson addressed the trainees directly, answering questions about SMART-TD’s historic “Jobs for Life” agreement, a deal he personally fought to secure with Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Should the merger go through, the agreement guarantees job security for union members from now until the day they choose to retire.
“I’m proud that we’ve made real progress toward giving you something no generation before you has had. That’s true job security,” Ferguson told the group. “But with that gift comes responsibility. You’ve got a career ahead of you and right now, your focus should be on learning how to stay safe doing it. Learn the rules, build good work habits and keep your awareness sharp. We’ve helped make sure you’ve got jobs for life — now it’s up to you to make sure you’re not cutting that life short.”
He also reminded the trainees that the work SMART-TD does nationally is possible because members stay active locally.
“When you get to your terminals, get involved in your local. Ask questions. Be informed. You’re part of something much bigger than just a job. You’re part of a movement.”
Assistant Director of Organizing Andy Goeckner also took the opportunity to congratulate the trainees on their progress and to welcome them into the SMART-TD family.
“You don’t have jobs anymore,” Goeckner told them. “You all have careers. And in addition to that, you have a family in SMART-TD that’s here to make sure you never lose it. The future of this industry depends on people like you. And our job is to make sure that future is secure, safe and strong.”
The event also received support from Jason Myers, who oversees the McDonough Training Center for Norfolk Southern. Myers helped Brothers Hill and Glenn make the meeting possible.
As the meeting concluded, the sense of unity in the room was undeniable. What began as a simple idea by Brothers Hill and Glenn had evolved into a powerful moment of connection between SMART-TD’s leadership and its newest members.
Welcome to the SMART-TD family
“This is what unionism looks like,” Hill said. “From the president of the whole organization down to the newest trainee, everyone in that room was pulling in the same direction.”
The men and women who attended that session are stepping into their railroad careers with a rare advantage. Thanks to the Jobs for Life agreement, their path is more stable than those who came before them. But as President Ferguson and the leadership team reminded them, stability doesn’t mean complacency. It means responsibility.
It means learning the craft, working safely and honoring the generations who fought to make this progress possible. It means carrying the SMART-TD legacy forward, stronger than ever.
