Author: bnagy

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Prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election, your union has endorsed the following candidates to represent workers’ interests in Washington, D.C.

These selections were made by SMART Transportation Division state legislative boards and national leadership with careful consideration as to the candidates’ track record regarding issues affecting your workplace. In short — who is with us and who is against us.

^ denotes an incumbent candidate

President/Vice President:
Kamala Harris/Tim Walz

Alabama

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Shomari Figures (D)
Dist. 7: Terri A. Sewell (D)^

Alaska

House of Representatives
At Large: Mary Peltola (D)^

Arizona

U.S. Senate
Ruben Gallego

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Amish Shah (D)
Dist. 3: Yassamin Ansari (D)
Dist. 4: Greg Stanton (D)^
Dist. 7: Raul Grijalva (D)^

Arkansas

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Marcus Jones (D)
Dist. 3: Caitlin Draper (D)
Dist. 4: Risie Howard (D)

California

Senate
Adam Schiff (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Jared Huffman (D)^
Dist. 3: Jessica Morse (D)
Dist. 4: Mike Thompson (D)^
Dist. 5: Mike Barkley (D)
Dist. 6: Ami Bera (D)^
Dist. 7: Doris Matsui (D)^
Dist. 8: John Garamendi (D)^
Dist. 9: Josh Harder (D)^
Dist. 10: Mark DeSaulnier (D)^
Dist. 11: Nancy Pelosi (D)^
Dist. 12: Lateefah Simon (D)
Dist. 13: Adam Gray (D)
Dist. 14: Eric Swalwell (D)^
Dist. 15: Kevin Mullin (D)^
Dist. 16: Evan Low (D)
Dist. 17: Ro Khanna (D)^
Dist. 18: Zoe Lofgren (D)^
Dist. 19: Jimmy Panetta (D)^
Dist. 21: Jim Costa (D)^
Dist. 22: Rudy Salas (D)
Dist. 23: Derek Marshall (D)
Dist. 24: Salud Carbajal (D)^
Dist. 25: Raul Ruiz (D)^
Dist. 26: Julia Brownley (D)^
Dist. 27: George Whitesides (D)
Dist. 28: Judy Chu (D)^
Dist. 29: Luz Rivas (D)
Dist. 30: Laura Friedman (D)
Dist. 31: Gil Cisneros (D)
Dist. 32: Brad Sherman (D)^
Dist. 33: Pete Aguilar (D)^
Dist. 34: Jimmy Gomez (D)^
Dist. 35: Norma Torres (D)^
Dist. 36: Ted Lieu (D)^
Dist. 37: Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D)^
Dist. 38: Linda Sanchez (D)^
Dist. 39: Mark Takano (D)^
Dist. 40: Joe Kerr (D)
Dist. 41: Will Rollins (D)
Dist. 42: Robert Garcia (D)
Dist. 43: Maxine Waters (D)^
Dist. 44: Nanette Barragan (D)^
Dist. 45: Derek Tran (D)
Dist. 46: Lou Correa (D)^
Dist. 47: Dave Min (D)
Dist. 48: Stephen Houlahan (D)
Dist. 49: Mike Levin (D)^
Dist. 50: Scott Peters (D)^
Dist. 51: Sara Jacobs (D)^
Dist. 52: Juan Vargas (D)^

Colorado

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Diana DeGette (D)^
Dist. 2: Joe Neguse (D)^
Dist. 3: Adam Frisch (D)
Dist. 6: Jason Crow (D)^
Dist. 7: Brittany Pettersen (D)^
Dist. 8: Yadira Caraveo (D)^

Connecticut

Senate
Chris Murphy (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: John Larson (D)^
Dist. 2: Joe Courtney (D)^
Dist. 3: Rosa DeLauro (D)^
Dist. 4: Jim Himes (D)^
Dist. 5: Jahana Hayes (D)^

Delaware

Senate
Lisa Blunt Rochester (D)

House of Representatives
At-Large: Sarah McBride (D)

Florida

Senate
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 9: Darren Soto (D)^
Dist. 24: Frederica Wilson (D)^
Dist. 25: Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)^
Dist. 26: Mario Diaz-Balart (R)^
Dist. 27: Maria E. Salazar (R)^

Georgia

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Sanford Bishop (D)^
Dist. 4: Hank Johnson (D)^
Dist. 5: Nikema Williams (D)^
Dist. 6: Lucy McBath (D)^
Dist. 13: David Scott (D)^

Hawaii

Senate
Mazie Hirono (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Ed Case (D)^
Dist. 2: Jill Naomi Tokuda (D)

Idaho

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Kaylee Peterson (D)

Illinois

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Jonathan Jackson (D)^
Dist. 2: Robin Kelly (D)^
Dist. 3: Delia C. Ramirez (D)^
Dist. 4: Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D)^
Dist. 5: Mike Quigley (D)^
Dist. 6: Sean Casten (D)^
Dist. 7: Danny Davis (D)^
Dist. 8: Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)^
Dist. 9: Jan Schakowsky (D)^
Dist. 10: Brad Schneider (D)^
Dist. 11: Bill Foster (D)^
Dist. 13: Nikki Budzinski (D)^
Dist. 14: Lauren Underwood (D)^
Dist. 17: Eric Sorenson (D)^

Indiana

Governor
Mike Braun (R)

Senate
Valerie McCray (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Frank Mrvan (D)^
Dist. 4: Derrick Holder (D)
Dist. 5: Deborah Pickett (D)
Dist. 7: Andre Carson (D)^
Dist. 8: Erik Hurt (D)
Dist. 9: Timothy Peck (D)

Iowa

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Christina Bohannan (D)
Dist. 2: Sarah Corkery (D)
Dist. 3: Lanon Baccam (D)
Dist. 4: Ryan Melton (D)

Kansas

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Tracey Mann (R)^
Dist. 2: Nancy Boyda (D)
Dist. 3: Sharice Davids (D)^
Dist. 4: Esau Freeman (D)

Kentucky

House of Representatives
Dist. 3: Morgan McGarvey (D)^

Louisiana

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Troy Carter (D)^
Dist. 6: Cleo Fields (D)

Maine

Senate
Angus King (I)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Chellie Pingree (D)^
Dist. 2: Jared Golden (D)^

Maryland

Senate
Angela Alsobrooks (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Johnny Olszewski (D)
Dist. 3: Sarah Elfreth (D)
Dist. 4: Glenn Ivey (D)^
Dist. 5: Steny H. Hoyer (D)^
Dist. 6: April McClain Delaney (D)
Dist. 7: Kweisi Mfume (D)^
Dist. 8: Jamie Raskin (D)^

Massachusetts

Senate
Elizabeth Warren (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Richard Neal (D)^
Dist. 2: Jim McGovern (D)^
Dist. 3: Lori Trahan (D)^
Dist. 4: Jake Auchincloss (D)^
Dist. 5: Katherine Clark (D)^
Dist. 6: Seth Moulton (D)^
Dist. 7: Ayanna Pressley (D)^
Dist. 8: Stephen Lynch (D)^
Dist. 9: Bill Keating (D)^

Michigan

Senate
Elissa Slotkin (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Callie Barr (D)
Dist. 3: Hillary Scholten (D)^
Dist. 6: Debbie Dingell (D)^
Dist. 7: Curtis Hertel (D)
Dist. 8: Kristen McDonald Rivet (D)
Dist. 10: Carl Marlinga (D)
Dist. 11: Haley Stevens (D)^
Dist. 12: Rashida Tlaib (D)

Minnesota

Senate
Amy Klobuchar (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Rachel Bohman (D)
Dist. 2: Angie Craig (D)^
Dist. 3: Kelly Morrison (D)
Dist. 4: Betty McCollum (D)^
Dist. 5: Ilhan Omar (D)^
Dist. 8: Jen Schultz (D)

Mississippi

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Bennie Thompson (D)^

Missouri

Senate
Josh Hawley (R)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Welsey Bell (D)
Dist. 2: Roy Hartmann (D)
Dist. 3: Bethany Mann (D)
Dist. 4: Jeanette Cass (D)
Dist. 5: Emanuel Cleaver II (D)^
Dist. 7: Missi Hesketh (D)
Dist. 8: Jason Smith (R)^

Montana

Senate
John Tester (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Monica Tranel (D)
Dist. 2: John Driscoll (D)

Nebraska

Senate
Deb Fischer (R)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Mike Flood (R)^
Dist. 2: Don Bacon (R)^

Nevada

Senate
Jacky Rosen (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Dina Titus (D)^
Dist. 3: Susie Lee (D)^
Dist. 4: Steven Horsford (D)^

New Hampshire

Governor
Joyce Craig (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Chris Pappas (D)^
Dist. 2: Maggie Goodlander (D)

New Jersey

Senate
Andy Kim (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Donald Norcross (D)^
Dist. 3: Herb Conaway (D)
Dist. 4: Chris Smith (R)^
Dist. 5: Joshua Gottheimer (D)^
Dist. 6: Frank Pallone (D)^
Dist. 8: Rob Menendez (D)^
Dist. 9: Nellie Pou (D)
Dist. 10: LaMonica McIver (D)^
Dist. 11: “Mikie” Sherrill (D)^
Dist. 12: Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)^

New Mexico

Senate
Martin Heinrich (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Melanie Stansbury (D)^
Dist. 2: Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez (D)^
Dist. 3: Teresa Leger Fernandez (D)^

New York

Senate
Kristen Gillibrand (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Nick LaLota (R)^
Dist. 2: Andrew R. Garbarino (R)^
Dist. 3: Tom Suozzi (D)^
Dist. 4: Anthony D’Esposito (R)^
Dist. 5: Gregory Meeks (D)^
Dist. 6: Grace Meng (D)^
Dist. 7: Nydia Velasquez (D)^
Dist. 8: Hakeem Jefferies (D)^
Dist. 9: Yvette Clark (D)^
Dist. 10: Dan Goldman (D)^
Dist. 11: Andrea Morse (D)
Dist. 12: Jerrold Nadler (D)^
Dist. 13: Adriano Espaillat (D)^
Dist. 14: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)^
Dist. 15: Ritchie Torres (D)^
Dist. 16: George Latimer (D)
Dist. 17: Mike Lawler (R)^
Dist. 18: Pat Ryan (D)^
Dist. 19: Marc Molinaro (R)^
Dist. 20: Paul Tonko (D)^
Dist. 21: Paula Collins (D)
Dist. 22: John Mannion (D)
Dist. 23: Thomas Carle (D)
Dist. 24: David Wagenhauser (D)
Dist. 25: Joseph Morelle (D)^
Dist. 26: Tim Kennedy (D)^

North Carolina

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Don Davis (D)^
Dist. 2: Deborah Ross (D)^
Dist. 4: Valerie Foushee (D)^
Dist. 12: Alma Adams (D)

North Dakota

Governor
Merrill Piepkorn (D)

House of Representatives
At Large: Trygve Hammer (D)

Ohio

Senate
Sherrod Brown (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Greg Landsman (D)^
Dist. 3: Joyce Beatty (D)^
Dist. 6: Michael Rulli (R) ^
Dist. 9: Marcy Kaptur (D)^
Dist. 10: Michael Turner (R)^
Dist. 11: Shontel Brown (D)^
Dist. 13: Emilia Sykes (D)^
Dist. 14: David Joyce (R)^
Dist. 15: Adam Miller (D)

Oklahoma

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Dennis Baker (D)
Dist. 3: Frank Lucas (R)^
Dist. 4: Tom Cole (R)^
Dist. 5: Madison Horn (D)

Oregon

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Suzanne Bonamici (D)^
Dist. 3: Maxine Dexter (D)
Dist. 4: Val Hoyle (D)^
Dist. 5: Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R)^
Dist. 6: Andrea Salinas (D)^

Pennsylvania

Senate
Bob Casey (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Brian Fitzpatrick (R)^
Dist. 2: Brendan Boyle (D)^
Dist. 3: Dwight Evans (D)^
Dist. 4: Madeline Dean (D)^
Dist. 5: Mary Gay Scanlon (D)^
Dist. 6: Christina Houlahan (D)^
Dist. 7: Susan Wild (D)^
Dist. 8: Matt Cartwright (D)^
Dist. 10: Janelle Stelson (D)
Dist. 13: John Joyce (R)^
Dist. 17: Chris Deluzio (D)

Rhode Island

Senate
Sheldon Whitehouse (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Gabe Amo (D)^
Dist. 2: Seth Magaziner (D)^

South Carolina

House of Representatives
Dist. 6: Jim Clyburn (D)^

South Dakota

House of Representatives
At Large: Sheryl Johnson (D)

Tennessee

Senate
Gloria Johnson (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 7: Megan Barry (D)
Dist. 9: Steve Cohen (D)^

Texas

Senate
Colin Allred (D)

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Nathaniel Moran (D)
Dist. 4: Simon Cardell (D)
Dist. 7: Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (D)^
Dist. 8: Laura Jones (D)
Dist. 9: Al Green (D)^
Dist. 14: Rhonda Hart (D)
Dist. 16: Veronica Escobar (D)^
Dist. 18: Sylvester Turner (D)
Dist. 20: Joaquin Castro (D)^
Dist. 21: Kristin Hook (D)
Dist. 22: Troy Nehls (R)^
Dist. 23: Tony Gonzales (R)^
Dist. 24: Sam Eppler (D)
Dist. 29: Sylvia Garcia (D)^
Dist. 30: Jasmine Crockett (D)
Dist. 33: Marc Veasey (D)^
Dist. 34: Vicente Gonzalez Jr. (D)^
Dist. 35: Greg Casar (D)^
Dist. 37: Lloyd Doggett (D)^

Utah

No endorsements

Vermont

Senate
Bernie Sanders (I)^

House of Representatives
At Large: Becca Balint (D)^

Virginia

Senate
Tim Kaine (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 2: Missy Smasal (D)
Dist. 3: Bobby Scott (D)^
Dist. 4: Jennifer McClellan (D)^
Dist. 7: Eugene Vindman (D)
Dist. 8: Don Beyer (D)^
Dist. 10: Suhas Subramanyam (D)
Dist. 11: Gerry Connolly (D)^

Washington

Governor
Bob Ferguson (D)

Senate
Maria Cantwell (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Suzan DelBene (D)^
Dist. 2: Rick Larsen (D)^
Dist. 3: Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D)
Dist. 4: Dan Newhouse (R)^
Dist. 6: Emily Randall (D)
Dist. 7: Pramila Jayapal (D)^
Dist. 8: Kim Schrier (D)^
Dist. 9: Adam Smith (D)^
Dist. 10: Marilyn Strickland (D)^

West Virginia

No endorsements

Wisconsin

Senate
Tammy Baldwin (D)^

House of Representatives
Dist. 1: Peter Barca (D)
Dist. 2: Mark Pocan (D)^
Dist. 3: Derrick Van Orden (R)^
Dist. 4: Gwen Moore (D)^
Dist. 5: Ben Steinhoff (D)
Dist. 6: John Zarbano (D)
Dist. 8: Kristin Lyerly (D)

Wyoming

Senate
Scott Morrow (D)

House of Representatives
At Large: Kyle Cameron (D)

^denotes incumbent

Attention SMART-TD Members,

We are calling all available members to join forces with our 500 dedicated SMART-TD brothers and sisters at the MBTA commuter railroad operated by Keolis in Boston, Massachusetts. Our members have been without a contract since July 1, 2022, and they need our support now more than ever.

Stand with us for fair wages and affordable healthcare! Bring your signs, wear your union gear, and let’s make our voices heard!

Details of the rally

On Wednesday, October 23, a rally will be held to support all rail labor impacted by Keolis’s negligence. This rally is a vital opportunity to show solidarity and demand what our members rightfully deserve. RESPECT!!!

  • When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23
  • Where: South Station, 700 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02110
  • Focus: Fighting for fair wages and affordable healthcare

Why action is needed

Keolis, the massive French multinational who operates MBTA’s commuter rail, has shown a shocking disregard for our member’s worth and contributions. Despite ongoing negotiations, Keolis has shown a clear lack of commitment to bargaining in good faith, treating SMART-TD members along with members of BLE, IBEW, IAM, ATDA, BRS, TCU, and BRC with the same disrespect. They may get away with this kind of behavior on their rail lines in Shanghai or Qatar, but it’s not going to work in Massachusetts.

The eighth annual Rail Labor Solidarity Rally, hosted by the SMART-TD railroad union, brought together hundreds of railroad workers and union leaders to Houston, Texas, this week.

SMART-TD encourages collective action

The event fosters collaboration among various railroad crafts and focuses on the shared mission of protecting safety and job security and advancing railroad workers’ rights.

SMART shared tips and tactics with members and leadership from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED). Together we celebrated our combined strength, pursued greater unity among railroad workers, and shared our best practices and planned future actions.

Texas barbecue with a side of solidarity

SMART-TD General Chairperson Roy Davis (GCA-577, Union Pacific), along with his dedicated team of volunteers, served up world-class Texas barbecue, a hallmark of the event. Davis and his team worked the smokers and grills for the better part of two days to prepare their renowned brisket and chicken, contributing to the rally’s growing popularity year after year.

Unions like SMART-TD wield incredible power for change

The event included insightful speeches and a lively Q&A session. Speakers included SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson, Texas Safety and Legislative Director Kamron Saunders, and leaders from both the BLE and BMWED.

A highlight of the day was the appearance of Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who spoke passionately about the power unions wield for shaping worker-oriented safety guidelines and legislation at all levels of government.

Giffords emphasized the importance of union solidarity in advocating for railroad workers and the labor movement as a whole. She also spoke about the upcoming election in November and how pivotal it is to the labor movement that we show up and support the candidates who are with us and will use their office to build on workers’ rights.

SMART-TD railroad union event connects members with RRB, UTUIA and the FRA

The Solidarity Rally also provided attendees with the opportunity for one-on-one consultations with representatives from organizations such as the Railroad Retirement Board, our fraternal insurance organization, the UTUIA, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Despite our organizational differences, solidarity is essential for the future of all rail labor. Attendees enjoyed great food, great fellowship, and prepared to face our shared challenges. The annual event once again united railroad workers and amplified our voices in the ongoing fight for fairness and safety in the industry.

Door prize raffle adds excitement to the rally

One of the most popular events at this annual rally is the raffling of prizes donated by our SMART-TD Auxiliary, Designated Legal Counsel, and others. This year there were coolers, lunch bags, gift cards, and other fun items being raffled. The grand prize of a 65-inch LG TV donated by the Auxiliary was won by SMART-TD’s own Matt Wright, an engineer from Local 1929 (East St. Louis, Ill.).

SMART-TD would like to congratulate Brother Wright on his win, and we would like to thank all of our SMART-TD brothers and sisters who volunteered their time to make this year’s Solidarity Rally the huge success it was.

As the recently retired Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, I’m writing to urge your participation in the 2024 election. My experience taught me that the protections of rail workers by the STB and by the FRA depends a lot on whether these important offices are filled by worker-oriented administrations. A few key points show why this is true.

Before I joined the STB more than five years ago, rail labor viewed the STB as indifferent to rail worker interests at best, and hostile at worst. Back then, the Class Is were implementing PSR and dramatically cutting employment — ultimately eliminating nearly 45,000 good rail jobs. But under prior Republican-led STBs, these practices were allowed to flourish. That changed in my time as chair.

For those that don’t know the STB is an independent federal agency responsible for overseeing the economic regulation of different types of surface transportation, with a strong focus on freight rail. The STB uses its authority to address disputes and promote a transportation system that serves the needs of everyone involved, including SMART-TD members.

While the STB cannot solve all the issues facing rail labor, I believe that the Board’s focus under the current Democratic leadership on improving rail service and, most importantly, on maintaining and growing a robust workforce has had a significant impact on holding the line against more massive rail layoffs.

After President Biden appointed me as chair and the Board had a Democratic majority, the board began to take action.

In the spring of 2022, we held unprecedented hearings on the service problems of the industry that were the result of the mindless job cuts and senseless resource reductions by the Class Is. Top executives of the Class Is were called in and questioned by the board.

For the first time, rail labor leaders were invited to address the board in a formal hearing. After the hearings, and despite their objections, we ordered the Class Is to provide monthly performance updates, with an emphasis on public reporting on employment — hiring, training, and, crucially, retention.

Later in 2022, with UP effectively denying service to many customers, largely as a result of low numbers of employees, we held special public hearings on UP’s actions.

As a result, the Class Is began to increase employment for the first time since the start of PSR, especially in the operating crafts.

The board was able to take other actions to protect workers. In approving the CSX-Pan Am transaction, we obtained a commitment by CSX to go beyond the standard protections and to ensure that any employee who lost a job would be offered one in a different craft or location.

In the CP-KCS transaction, for the first time, the board imposed a condition that if the carriers proposed to combine territories where two agreements applied and sought to have only one agreement, the affected union, not the carrier, would get to pick the agreement (contrary to prior mergers where the carrier got to choose).

With a Democratic majority, I was able to make sure that the Board added rail labor leaders to the board’s most important industry advisory committees — where labor’s voices had been lacking for too long.

The Board also coordinated with the FRA on issues related to service, safety, and employment. Indeed, the Biden FRA under Amit Bose has been the virtual opposite of the FRA under the prior Administration.

Among other things, it issued a two-person crew rule, fulfilled a 17-year-old legislative directive for certification of signalmen and dispatchers, revived the Rail Safety Advisory Committee (that includes rail labor), and put the brakes on the near-automatic issuance of waivers of safety regulations under the prior administrator.

As you can see, who appoints leaders to these important railroad regulatory positions makes a huge difference to you and the quality of your work life. Had there not been a change in the White House, the STB, and the FRA would have permitted the railroads’ corporate greed-driven operational models to remain unbridled. Thankfully, I was empowered and entrusted by President Biden to do the right thing and hold the Class Is accountable.

In order to make sure that the STB and FRA will continue to respect rail workers and that rail unions will have a place at the table and will be listened to, we will need an administration that will appoint officials who care about rail workers and continue the aggressive oversight of the railroads by the current Democratic-led STB and FRA. Support for the Democratic ticket — both for president and for the Senate and House of Representatives — because my experience taught me that the protection of rail workers is quite realistically at stake.

I strongly urge you to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to ensure that the STB and FRA will continue to provide the energetic oversight of the railroads which is essential for all of us to thrive and prosper, and to do so safely.

Best,
Marty Oberman
Former chairman, Surface Transportation Board

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. The temporary funding measure provides the agency with continuing appropriations of $27.9 million through December 20, 2024.

The continuing resolution avoided a potential governmentwide shutdown, as Congress was unable to reach agreement on FY 2025 spending bills before the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Regarding FY 2025 funding for the RRB, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a spending level of $129 million, while the House Committee on Appropriations has proposed just $100 million. Congress previously cut the RRB’s FY 2024 budget, which severely impacted agency operations. While the Senate’s proposal reverses that cut and provides the agency a small 0.78 percent increase from FY 2023, the proposed appropriation of $129 million is still $5 million less than the President’s request, $43.3 million less than the RRB’s request, and significantly short of what the agency needs to carry out its mission.

With a $129 million budget in FY 2025, the RRB will be forced to continue its existing hiring freeze and operational cutbacks, while continuing to lose decades of institutional knowledge through retirements. Further, the RRB will be unable to move forward with its multi-year information technology modernization project, resulting in continued dependence on antiquated systems and inefficient processes and a further deterioration of service to the nation’s railroad employees and their families.

On October 10, 2024, SMART-TD, the Cooperating Railway Labor Organizations (CRLO), and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) announced that monthly H&W premiums and employee cost-sharing contributions will decrease by 10.2% in 2025. Members who are covered under SMART-TD’s nationally negotiated H&W plans will see a decrease of $31.67 in their monthly contributions, which will reduce from the current rate of $309.21 to $277.54. The official announcement has been posted to the home page of the Your Track to Health website.

In accordance with the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 250, which later became Public Law No. 117-216 (2022 National Agreement), rules were reinstated requiring covered employees to pay 15% of the Carriers’ monthly payment rates for H&W coverage. When that rule went into effect on January 1, 2023, the 15% contribution was $309.21. As the result of a better-than-expected claims experience in 2023, combined with other administrative changes to control costs, the 15% contribution remained unchanged for 2024. This reduction for 2025 may come as a surprise to some, but not to SMART-TD’s leadership.

“It’s no secret that healthcare costs are always on the rise, and on a long enough timeline we should expect to see gradual increases in these rates” said SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson. “With that being said, over these last few years we have done a remarkable job of managing our healthcare costs without reducing our benefits, and without causing our members to incur additional out-of-pocket expenses when they need care. Particularly, I would like to recognize the hard work and dedication of CRLO Chairperson Artie Maratea (National President, TCU),  Vice Chairperson Mike Baldwin (President, BRS), and Secretary-Treasurer Ed Dowell (President, ATDA), as well as the prior devotion of former CRLO Chairperson Dennis Pierce (former President, BLET).

“Whatever credit is due to the Unions for managing our end of the H&W Plans, equal credit is due to our members for utilizing their benefits in a smart and responsible manner. I would also like to thank those members who see through the falsehoods and misinformation on social media, as well as the lies being perpetuated by anti-labor media outlets, including Organizations claiming they want to unite rail labor, when in reality their only goal is to undermine our success for their own personal gain. If you recall, many of those bad faith actors said that by 2025 we would be paying extraordinary amounts in monthly contributions. I am proud to say they were wrong yet again.”

While the reduction in costs can certainly be attributed to better-than-expected claim costs in 2024 and positive returns on investments with the H&W Plans’ available funds, this only tells part of the story. In early 2024, SMART-TD and the NCCC agreed to change its Pharmacy Benefit Manager to Optum Rx, effective January 1, 2025. In 2024 the parties also implemented an orthopedic surgery benefit through SurgeryPlus, which waives all out-of-pocket costs for members who choose to have their procedures done by world-class surgeons in the program’s network. Another notable contributing factor is the increased utilization of virtual visits for non-emergency services through Teladoc, and increased utilization of telemental health, which is offered through both Optum Behavioral Health and Teladoc.

“Together these changes produce substantial and meaningful savings, while improving our members’ experience and health outcomes, without compromising benefits or increasing out of pocket costs. My administration remains committed to pursuing these win-win situations whenever possible” said SMART-TD President Ferguson.

President Ferguson added, “If ratified, members who are covered under the CSX, BNSF, and NS tentative agreements that are currently out for a vote will also experience some much needed increases to their benefits, including dental and vision, and an even lower cost alternative medical option for members who do not need coverage for dependents. Most notably perhaps, ratification of those agreements would lock in our existing cost-sharing contributions, copays, deductibles, coinsurance, and out of pocket maximums for at least another 5 years.

“To the individuals and Organizations who are continuing to peddle scare tactics, lies, and misinformation about our past and current tentative agreements, I want to call you out for your cowardly behavior. It is much easier to sit back and make baseless allegations of ‘sellout’ deals than it is to put in the hard work and determination it takes to get elected and lead this great Organization. Our leadership is sworn to our members to achieve victories and produce results, as we have done here, and we will continue to do for generations to come.”

For questions or additional information about CSX, BNSF, and NS tentative agreements, please contact your General Committee of Adjustment.

Specific contact information can be found in the member area of www.smart-union.org, or on the SMART Union app (registration and login required).

Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to take a moment to address the tentative agreements on certain properties, including CSXT, NS, and BNSF, which are currently out for ratification or will be shortly, which for most will be in lieu of the traditional “national agreement.” Undoubtedly, this scenario is a bit unusual to those of us who have been around for a decade or more, and it is even more unconventional to us as international officers who are usually engaged in national negotiations every three to five years. We are definitely in some uncharted waters here, because we have never seen a tentative agreement come to fruition before our Section 6 notices were even served, or the existing agreement’s moratorium has opened to require negotiations under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

In the last round of negotiations, we were met with some of the most-contentious circumstances imaginable, due to all the carriers being hell bent on achieving crew consist changes to remove conductors from our through freight trains. Throughout that round of bargaining, not a single rail labor union was able to gain any meaningful traction, as the carriers made it very clear they were not negotiating with anyone until SMART-TD conceded to eliminating a significant portion of the conductor craft. Of course, we never agreed and instead made our case to Presidential Emergency Board 250, which reaffirmed that all crew consist issues were to be handled at the “local level” (i.e., the General Committee of Adjustment level). PEB 250 also gave us the largest pay increase in modern history, along with some very complex work rule changes to include rest days, and the reinstatement of the 15 percent monthly health & welfare contribution requirement.

With the above in mind, and given some of the inquiries we have received at both the national and general committee levels, I am publishing this informational notice for members who may still be curious about certain aspects of these tentative agreements. We hope you will find the following questions and answers helpful and informative.

“Why didn’t we get more than 17.5% general wage increase? It’s not as much as 22%!”

First and foremost, the proposed general wage increases work out to be within $2.00 per day compared to what we received under PEB 250. You heard that correctly, less than $2.00 per day difference. Even though 17.5% is objectively less than 22%, we are compounding upon a higher dollar value today than we were under PEB 250. By July 1, 2029, the base foreman rate of pay will increase by $61.40 per day and the base conductor rate of pay will increase by $55.28 per day. Under the record 22% of PEB 250, our foremen experienced a $63.36 per day increase, and our conductors experienced a $56.53 per day increase. I would also like to add that this proposal is the largest general wage increase negotiated voluntarily without third party intervention, without healthcare cost increases, and without work rule changes!

What are we giving up?

NOTHING! There are no work rule changes or healthcare cost increases included in this proposal.

What about our crew consist agreement(s) that mandate conductors on all trains?

Since there are no work rule changes affecting crew consist, these agreements (if ratified) will secure another five-year period where no changes can even be proposed under Section 6 of the RLA. This is huge! Yes, we have obtained a two-person crew regulation from the Federal Railroad Administration, but we are still very concerned about the possibility of future anti-labor and anti-regulation focused administrations undermining our progress. We are equally concerned with what the Supreme Court has done with their recent Chevron decision, which could also compromise our regulation. Ratifying these agreements now will protect and guarantee the future of our conductors, while providing another 5 years for us to focus on passing a rail safety bill through Congress, which would make two-person crews the literal law of the land.

What else is in this for me?

If you have fewer than 25 years of service, you will be getting your next week(s) of vacation entitlement two years sooner. You will see much needed and commonly requested increases to your dental, orthodontic, and vision benefits, and voluntary male sterilization (vasectomies) will be covered by your medical insurance. Additionally, if you are single, you will have the option to choose a health & welfare plan with a lower monthly contribution requirement of 10%, compared to the 15% we are all currently paying. This voluntary option is worth approximately $100 per month for those who qualify and decide to opt in. For those who opt completely out of coverage, the payment made to you will double, from $100 to $200 per month.   

Why are General Chairmen signatory to this agreement and not the SMART-TD International officers?

Leading up to this tentative agreement, there were some informal discussions at the “national” level between some of the involved rail labor unions and the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), which is the umbrella organization that represents approximately 40 railroads who are party to national bargaining.

Disappointingly, but not surprisingly, those discussions were not productive. However, one particular railroad CEO, Joe Hinrichs from CSX, took the bull by the horns and said he would make a deal for most of what had been discussed but rejected by the NCCC. As a result, these agreements now have to be done “on the property” at the individual General Committee level. Interestingly, NS and BNSF management also agreed to the same deals shortly after the CSX. Why? It’s a proposal that should bring labor peace instead of the high-profile confrontations all their shareholders witnessed just a few years ago. Simple as that. No hidden agendas, no waiting for 2+ years, no backpay hanging in the balance, and no nonsense.

Boeing looks like they are getting a 30% pay increase and we should too!

We can certainly all agree that we should always get the highest general wage increases possible, and that is absolutely what we fight for. Fortunately for us, our situation is not comparable to Boeing employees being represented by the IAM. Going back to at least 2014, those Boeing employees have received sub-standard wage increases that have consistently fallen short of our agreements. If they ratify their proposed wage increases, it will essentially bring them up to speed with where SMART-TD members are today. And that is before we factor in the 17.5% general wage increases that have been proposed to you right now. Further, the Boeing proposal does not include back pay, so those employees will never recoup what they have lost during negotiations, which weakens the dollar value of what they are getting compared to what we have enjoyed during that time. Another major nuance when comparing the two is that Boeing employees lost their pension if they had fewer than 20 years of service, which is valued at approximately $5 per hour. By comparison, our pension fund is secured and doing very well at the RRB.  Just like the John Deere, UPS, and UAW scenarios we have observed over the past few years, Boeing simply does not compare to us. We cannot fixate on the percentages of another union’s general wage increases without considering their agreements as a whole. Doing so would be a disservice to our members and a failure in our duties to obtain the best possible wages, rules, and healthcare improvements. Nonetheless, social media, anti-labor news outlets, and bad-faith actors who want us to fail continue to attempt to mislead our members with half-truths and misleading statistics.

These tentative agreements are simple and straightforward, and provide substantial wage increases without making concessions in other areas, and without making us fight for 2-3 years just to get what we deserve. Like every agreement in every unionized setting, this may not address or resolve every single issue that is important to every single member, but I am proud to say that this agreement provides significant improvements on many of the key issues that our members tell us about. Of course, we could have demanded everything and refused to meet on middle ground, which would have inevitably led to the same old drawn-out battle and years of delays, likely followed by a binding decision made by outsiders who do not completely understand our industry. We saw that play out in PEB 250, and our members have made it abundantly clear that they do not want a repeat of that situation.  We firmly believe that this is a straightforward, no B.S. agreement that delivers another round of damn good wage increases and healthcare improvements, without sacrificing other important areas such as our work rules, crew consist, and benefits.

If you still have questions, I highly encourage you to contact your General Chairperson or this office prior to casting your vote. We are more than willing and able to dispel any rumor or misinformation that is circulating on social media, in the crew room or on anti-union so-called “news” outlets. To find contact information for your General Committee office, the simplest way is to download the SMART Union app on your phone or tablet, or visit our website at www.smart-union.org to register and sign in to the Member Portal. From there, you can find a convenient directory with all the contact information for your elected representatives.

I hope this provides a better understanding of what is on the table — and perhaps most importantly what we don’t have on the table — for you to decide on. When all things are considered, we are confident that a “yes” vote is the right decision for our involved members, and we highly recommend that you do so.

In solidarity,

Jeremy R. Ferguson

Dear members of the SMART Transportation Division:

Thousands of our brothers and sisters in the southeastern United States are struggling with the devastation from Hurricane Helene.

Many people from big cities to rural areas — are dealing with displacement or damaged homes as that deadly storm caused historic floods and knocked out power. For many of our members, including in Local 1162 in Erwin, Tennessee, the challenge of rebuilding and recovering seems daunting at the least. The silver lining is that the generosity of people around the country can uplift people so that they may reclaim their lives.

We are asking our SMART-TD family to rise to the call and give so that the difficult task of starting over and rebuilding can begin.

Specific items needed for those who are nearby and can assist with physical donations of goods and items include:

  • Gasoline
  • Propane
  • Toilet paper
  • Canned goods

If you are in an affected area and need assistance, please connect with your state safety and legislative director (SLD) or general chairperson, who are helping to mobilize assistance through the SMART and SMART-TD Disaster Relief funds.

You may also find more information about our relief fund on our website.

The SLDs are:

  • North Carolina — Ron Ingerick (ron.ingerick@NCsmart-union.org)
  • South Carolina — Will Ferguson (gwferg2002@yahoo.com)
  • Tennessee — Adren Crawford (adrencrawford@gmail.com)
  • Georgia — Patrick Folsom (pwfolsoml1263@gmail.com)
  • Florida — Andres Trujillo (fltrujilloutu@aol.com)

State Legislative Boards, General Committees and Locals, as well as individual members, outside the affected region are encouraged to make a financial donation to the SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund. Together we can help lessen the struggle, strengthen the recovery effort and bring hope and relief to our members.

Online pay methods are being explored, but the TD Disaster Relief Fund only accepts monetary donations in the form of checks at this time.

Contributions may be sent to:
SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund
6060 Rockside Woods Blvd., N., Suite 325
Independence, OH 44131

Thank you and God bless,

Jeremy R. Ferguson
President,
SMART Transportation Division

As many of you know, the International Longshoremen’s Association Union (ILA) plans to initiate a strike along the East Coast, affecting port operations from Maine to Houston, Texas. This situation is crucial for all SMART-TD members to understand, as it could pose significant disruption to freight rail traffic as early as midnight, October 1.

The Longshoremen strike

We and our brothers and sisters in the ILA are fighting the same fight. They have reached an impasse while negotiating fair working conditions and wages, and safeguards against the threat of autonomous operations. Much like the railroads, their employers would like to replace workers with technology, at the expense of their safety and job security.

Solidarity between the Longshoremen and the railroad union

Allied through the AFL-CIO, we understand that the fate of their union is closely intertwined with our own. President Jeremy Ferguson emphasizes this connection: “As fellow union members, we must advocate for the rights of our Longshoremen sisters and brothers. Their fight is our fight, and we are here to support them as they stand for what is right.”

Guidance for SMART-TD members

While we cannot legally engage in a strike or work action initiated by another labor organization, we can and must make safety our top priority. According to Section 92 of Article 21B in the SMART Constitution, if a strike is in effect and there is a danger to your safety, you are not obliged to cross a picket line. Don’t engage in any work that puts you in a position where you are fearful for your safety.

If you are directed to cross a picket line or perform duties that compromise your safety, immediately inform management of your unwillingness to do so. Once safe, report the situation to your local chairperson with a detailed account of events.

Be prepared for impacts to our work

According to the Associated Press the coming work stoppage threatens to close 36 ports — which handle roughly half of the goods shipped into and out of the U.S.

Stay informed and ready to respond to any impact on our operations. By supporting our Longshoremen brothers and sisters, we not only advocate for their rights but also ensure the stability and integrity of our own industry. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.

Thank you for your dedication and solidarity during this critical time. Together, we stand united in our commitment to fair labor practices for all workers.

As the SMART Transportation Division’s general chairpersons representing SMART-TD’s BNSF properties, we want to reaffirm our steadfast commitment to our members.

Recently, an article from the World Socialist Website (WSWS) suggested that the general chairpersons from the BNSF General Committees and by extension the union has turned our backs on the fight for two-person freight train crews. Let us be crystal clear: SMART-TD and the leadership of every general committee representing BNSF crews are resolutely dedicated to this cause, and we stand shoulder to shoulder in this ongoing battle for the livelihoods and safety of our members.

On April 2, 2024, we celebrated a pivotal achievement in our union’s history with the announcement from DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg regarding the final rule from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that secures two-person crews across the nation. This monumental victory was not achieved overnight, and as the General Committees of the largest railroad in the country, we would like to think we were a big part of the effort to amplify your voices. The 2PC final ruling was the result of relentless effort and dedication from every member of this union, and we were a dedicated part of this historic effort.

To abandon this critical protection, which we have fought so hard to establish, would be simply unacceptable and something that not one of our General Committees would ever consider doing.

In less than two years, our union has accomplished significant milestones for our BNSF members, as well as our colleagues across the majority of Class I railroads. These victories include the introduction of paid sick days — an unprecedented achievement in American railroading — as well as improvements to vacation time and structured work schedules.

Most importantly, we, as your General Committee Chairpersons, continue to advocate fiercely for the requirement of at least two certified rail professionals on every freight train.

Our progress speaks volumes. We fight for our members daily and achieve consistent wins. The narrative presented by the WSWS is not only misleading but aims to undermine the hard-won victories we’ve secured together.

We assume the wording at the core of this confusion comes from the Section 6 Notices as proposed by BNSF. If the socialist website is focused on that verbiage, they don’t have a good understanding of how railroad contract negotiations work. This is not a cloak-and-dagger process with the terms hidden from members’ view.

Every BNSF member is not only given a copy of the Tentative Agreement but encouraged to read it carefully and come to their local and general committee officers with all questions and concerns. At the end of the day, our GCs’ goal is for all members to understand this agreement to the letter and vote up or down based on whether they feel it is the best option for them and the families that depend on them.

To those who might have taken the WSWS’s claims at face value, we urge you to question the source. As we all know from past experiences, when the WSWS starts talking about your Tentative Agreement, it’s as self-serving as when management throws a pizza party! We know a shakedown is coming in the next system bulletin.

These outside agitators claim to understand our struggles, but they are only motivated by clicks and attention, not anything close to a genuine concern for our welfare.

In their own words, the WSWS identifies itself with terms like “Marxist,” “world socialism,” and “revolutionary opposition to capitalism.” Such rhetoric holds little relevance to our day-to-day lives as railroaders, and there is no reason to give their opinions any credence when it comes to our union and the representation of your and your loved ones’ interests.

We assure you that SMART-TD and your General Committees continue to lead the fight against single-person crews. Our mission remains focused on advocating for the safety, rights, and dignity of every member we represent. We will not be deterred by mischaracterizations or misguided claims about our direction.

As we move forward, let us celebrate the progress we’ve made together as a united front and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we are stronger! Our commitment to two-person crews is unwavering, and the tentative agreement being voted on DOES NOT GIVE 2PC away!

As your representatives, it is our job and our mission to advocate for you. Our fight for two-person crews is not just a policy issue; it’s about the safety and well-being of our members. We will not rest until every freight train is staffed with the crew it needs to operate safely and effectively.

We are proud to stand with you in this fight and every fight that will come our way in the future.