What it means to be in SMART-TD

Brothers and sisters,

It has been a busy and challenging end to the summer for our union and our members.

When Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced their intent to merge, your leader­ship team and I had immediate and significant concerns. We knew what such a change could mean for the men and women we represent. The first question on every member’s mind was the most important one: “Will my job survive this merger?”

We did not stay silent. We went on the offensive, making it clear to the press, to regulators and to both railroads that SMART-TD was opposed to this merger because of what it could mean for our members. Very quickly, our union became the face of the opposition.

And because of that effort, Union Pacific’s CEO and management team came to us. They sat down across the table and heard our concerns directly. Out of those hard conversations, something remarkable happened. On September 22, we announced through a joint press release that Union Pacific signed a written agree­ment with SMART-TD guaranteeing that no UP or NS members represented by our union will face furlough for the entirety of their careers. We secured a binding agree­ment protecting our UP and NS brothers and sisters, ultimately guaranteeing “Jobs For Life!”

This is historic. In an era when corporate profits are prioritized over working people, SMART-TD won a binding guarantee that brings peace of mind to thousands of families. If and when this merger is approved by the Surface Transportation Board, our UP and NS members will know with certainty that their careers are built on steady ground, for as long as they choose to work.

But our work doesn’t end with railroads. In recent months, our Bus Department has also been leading from the front. Several bus locals ratified strong agreements that not only delivered meaningful wage increases but also secured vital protections for the future. Thanks to the aggressive negotiating by our vice presidents and general chairpersons, new agreements have begun to include clauses preventing management from replacing our members with autonomous, self-driving buses. These victories don’t just raise today’s paychecks. They give our brothers and sisters in public transit peace of mind knowing their careers and talents aren’t going to be sacrificed in the name of Silicon Valley “progress.”

While we were making history at the bargaining table, we were also making our voices heard in Washington. In July, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Unfortunately, rail labor was left behind. While the bill granted a tax break on overtime pay for workers across the country, that same break did not apply to railroaders. We had worked tirelessly to amend the bill and close that gap, but the amendment never made it to the Senate floor. On the day of its passage, our National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity vowed: “This is not over.”

He meant it. Less than 50 days later, Brother Cassity and his team delivered on that promise. House Resolution 5475 — the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act — was introduced in Congress. Not only did SMART-TD succeed in getting this bill introduced, but before it even saw its first committee hearing, it had already gained bipartisan support. Democrats and Republicans alike are signing on as co-sponsors, and momentum is building fast.

I can’t stand here today and promise that this bill will become law. But I can promise you this: When our members get left behind, SMART-TD does not make excuses. We work until we find solutions.

Brothers and sisters, these are not easy times. But every day, through negotiations, legislation and lead­ership, our members are proving what it means to be SMART-TD. When a fight breaks out, and you see SMART-TD running, you can bet your ass that we’re chasing somebody. We aren’t leaving the scene until our members come out on top.

Together, we will continue to ensure that our members have security in their careers, protections in their contracts and a voice in the decisions that shape their lives.

That’s what it means to be in SMART-TD.

In solidarity,

Jeremy R. Ferguson
President, Transportation Division