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It is with heavy hearts that SMART-TD announces the passing of Brother Steve Bryant, a beloved friend, co-worker, and union brother, who passed away on December 4, 2024. Steve, Local Chairperson of Local 1518, Indianapolis, IN, fought cancer with the same veracity he fought for his union brothers and sisters. Brother Bryant touched many lives throughout the union, and was known for his strength, compassion, and resilience by all who knew him.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice that supports cancer research or addiction recovery, causes that were close to Steve’s heart. If you wish to help his wife Kristi with Steve’s medical bills and the cost of his final expenses, please consider contributing to the GoFundMe page set up in Brother Bryant’s honor.  

Donate To Brother Bryant’s GoFundMe Fundraiser

Donations of any amount are welcome and will be a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself for the members of this union. SMART-TD asks our members to include their Local number along with their name, so that Kristi and the Bryant family can see the incredible impact Steve’s career had on the lives of members across the country. 

Steve always put others before himself. As the Local Chair and Secretary of Local 1518, he dedicated countless hours to serving his fellow union members. His unwavering commitment to his colleagues and the labor movement made a lasting impact, and his leadership was marked by tremendous success in helping others navigate complex issues at work. 

Outside of his union duties, Steve was a constant support to those around him, especially those struggling with addiction. He provided guidance and compassion to anyone who needed it, showing a deep understanding of the challenges faced by others. His ability to empathize and provide a helping hand made him a source of strength for many. 

Steve is survived by his wife, Kristi Bryant, their children and grandchildren. Steve took immense pride in serving his household, and he cherished every moment spent with his loved ones.  

Brother Bryant will be deeply missed by all who knew him. 

As those who worked with Brother Bryant know well, Steve loved going to concerts. His advice to all that would listen was, “Life is short. Buy the tickets!” It wasn’t just a catchphrase; it was the way Brother Bryant lived his life. He lived it to the fullest. He might not have been here for as long as any of us would have liked but make no mistake about it. Steve didn’t cheat himself out of living. That is a part of his legacy that we should all remember. We should all be a little more like Brother Bryant. Give of our time and talents to one another in the name of this brotherhood and always remember that life is indeed short. Buy The Tickets! 

Boston, MA (October 23, 2024) — Hundreds of railroaders, along with friends, family and labor supporters, gathered at Boston’s historic South Station to rally for fair wages, sick leave, maternity days and other essential benefits.  

The event was coordinated by a coalition of rail labor organizations, including SMART-TD, the AFL-CIO, IAM, ATDA, BRS, TCU, and IBEW. They confronted Keolis, the French-owned passenger rail operator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, who have neglected negotiations since the previous contract expired July 1, 2022. 

The rally featured passionate speeches from local Boston elected officials, four members of Congress and representatives from multiple rail unions.  

Notably, SMART-TD was represented by Deputy National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity, who emphasized the importance of solidarity among the unions. “Today is our day. Now is the time to get the contract you all deserve!” Cassity declared. “It does not matter if you are an engineer. It does not matter if you are a conductor, if you’re a signalman, a dispatcher, a track worker, whatever the issues are, they are OUR issues. And the only way we fix them is when we stand together, and we fight together!” 

Keolis, which operates under contract with MBTA, has been accused of failing to bargain in good faith with SMART-TD and the other unions representing their workforce. As Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA 7) pointed out in her speech, Keolis workers are paid on average 12% less than their counterparts on Amtrak to move the same passengers in Massachusetts. 

“We showed Keolis that workers, riders, our congressional delegation and the whole Massachusetts labor movement is behind us in our fight for a fair contract,” said New England Safety & Legislative Director Dave Stevenson.  

The mood at the rally was one of determination and unity. The overwhelming message was clear: the workers will continue to fight for a fair agreement until they have a new contract. An additional message was sent by several of the speakers, most notably by Congressman Steve Lynch, (D-MA 8) who pointed out that Keolis is contracted out by MBTA to run the commuter rail system in Boston, and their contract is coming up for bid. He made it clear that if Keolis doesn’t come to the table and get serious about retaining their frontline workers who keep Boston trains running safely and on time, they will be replaced by a contractor that will.  

SMART-TD is proud to report that more than 50 of our men and women attended the Oct. 23 rally and would like to thank all our members including our brothers and sisters on the Sheet Metal side of our organization who attended and contributed their voices to a good cause.  

SMART News will continue to keep you informed as the fight against Keolis continues.  

For SMART-TD union bus operators, and railroaders nationwide, threats to Social Security loom large

 

In a recent Washington Post article, it was reported that the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group aimed at opposing the federal deficit, stated that “A new report projects that the Social Security Trust Fund might run out of money within six years under a Donald Trump presidency.” This alarming projection raises significant concerns for all members of our union (especially members of our bus department) as well as retirees nationwide, who rely on Social Security to support their retirement.

Rail members and retirees who benefit from a defined pension provided by the Railroad Retirement Board are quick to point out that our RRB pensions are completely separate from the Social Security system that the majority of Americans pay into. That is not as true as we would like to think. It is true that the RRB trust fund and the Social Security trust fund are two separate pots of money. Also, it is a fact that the RRB trust fund is in better shape than its counterpart at SS; however, Social Security is still the national standard, and when they change policies, RRB tends to follow suit. If and when SS runs out of money and begins reducing the percentage they are paying out, it is distinctly possible RRB will mirror that policy change as it relates to how they manage Tier I retirement payments. So when Social Security payments get reduced, railroaders could very well feel the squeeze right along with every other American retiree.  

If Social Security dries up in this country, it will not be a bus member issue or a rail member issue; it will be a SMART-TD issue.

Social Security’s solvency directly affects bus and transit operators and retirees nationwide. Most Americans depend on Social Security, which they have faithfully contributed to throughout their careers. They’ve paid their fair share into a system designed to provide them with financial stability throughout retirement. It is unacceptable that after a lifetime of labor, they may face an uncertain future due to reckless fiscal policies.

The Washington Post article highlights a stark reality: “Compared to prior presidential campaigns, I can’t think of anything that would be this order of magnitude in its detrimental effect on Social Security’s bottom line compared to the policies Trump has proposed,” Marc Goldwein, senior policy director for Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, told the newspaper. These proposals, which include massive tax cuts for business owners and corporate bailouts, threaten to deplete the very retirements our members have diligently built.

As the report outlines, the potential consequences are severe: “All added up, the report forecasts that Social Security under Trump would hit the point where by law it must cut benefits in 2031 or 2032,” leading to a “reduction for all Social Security checks to a predicted cut of about 33 percent.”

For the workers and retirees dependent on Social Security, this translates to a significant and devastating reduction in the retirement income they expect and deserve after years of dedication and service to the public and to this union.

SMART-TD is not in the business of accepting agreements from transit agencies or railroad companies that give our members a 33% pay cut. It is unacceptable for our active members, and it is unacceptable to accept this for the nation’s retirees!

This situation represents a shocking abuse of the American worker, particularly for our SMART-TD brothers and sisters. The threat to Social Security is not just an economic issue. For SMART-TD, it is a moral one. Our members deserve what they have worked for, and it is our responsibility to stand against the policies of any employer, and in this case, any presidential candidate, that jeopardizes that security.

As we move forward as a union, we must remain vigilant in advocating for the protection and enhancement of Social Security. It is crucial that we amplify our voices and demand that the rights of all workers are upheld. The future of our retirement security is at stake, and together, we can fight to ensure that our hard-earned benefits are preserved for generations to come.

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

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

In fall 2024, CSX Railroad announced plans to change how the carrier moves freight between Chicago and the East Coast; a plan that would have forced more than 120 SMART-TD members to choose between relocation to either Buffalo, N.Y., or Willard, Ohio — or be laid off.

SMART-TD officers and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown took action in response. And with the senator’s help, union railroad jobs stayed in Cleveland where they belong.

“[Senator Brown] said, ‘Hey look, your plan is very flawed and you’re definitely affecting Ohio workers in a negative way. And here we are [now], talking about creating more jobs for Ohioans,” said SMART-TD Ohio State Safety and Legislative Director Clyde Whitaker.

The fight for Cleveland railroaders started when CSX unveiled a plan to streamline its operations in Northern Ohio by reducing train stops and crew members at Collinwood Rail Yard. This streamlining predominantly depended on employees moving from Cleveland to Buffalo or Willard — 180 miles and 80 miles away from Cleveland, respectively.

“With the crews in Cleveland, there was a lot of panic and a lot of ‘what if,’” said Ryan Fries, SMART-TD Local 378 vice local chairperson. “‘Are we going to have to drive three and a half hours to work? Is my spouse going to have to change jobs?”

“Their whole plan was contingent on us moving, because they needed the manpower to go with their plan,” added SMART-TD General Committee GO-049 Assistant General Chairperson Eric Kosinski.

According to CSX, this was a positive development — one that would actually create jobs, Fries said. But, he added, phase three of CSX’s plan was essentially a full shutdown of Collinwood Yard. After a conversation with CSX Superintendent Darin Hershiser, Whitaker agreed.

“In the 24 years I’ve been here, whenever I hear that word [streamlined], that tells me you’re shutting the entire place down and we’ll get a barebones operation. Which, coincidentally, was their plan.”

That’s when SMART-TD reached out to Senator Brown, asking him to help broker a meeting between TD and CSX. Brown took action, issuing a public letter that called on CSX President and CEO Joseph Hinrichs “to meet with workers as soon as possible and reverse plans that would remove train stops and train crews from the Collinwood Rail Yard facility in Cleveland.”

“In the strongest possible terms, I urge you to reverse CSX’s strategy concerning Collinwood staffing,” Brown wrote. “CSX recorded more than $3.7 billion of profits last year. Instead of cutting positions at Collinwood, CSX should pursue safer and more reliable operations by investing in hiring in Cleveland and across your company’s rail network.”

The combined efforts of union labor and a pro-worker senator paid off: SMART-TD officers met with CSX and were able to devise a solution.

“We were actually able to implement a plan that created more jobs for the area,” Fries concluded.

Prior to this development, SMART and SMART-TD had already endorsed Senator Sherrod Brown in his reelection campaign this November. His immediate, strong and successful defense of the jobs of Local 378 members in Cleveland reaffirmed to our organization that our faith in him is well placed.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our union has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to supporting one another in times of crisis. Thanks to your generous contributions, SMART and our general president, Michael Coleman, have established three distribution centers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. These centers provide immediate assistance to our members as they work to recover from the devastating effects of the hurricane. 

We can only offer this vital help due to the remarkable donations made by our members. It is your compassion and willingness to stand together that enable us to provide much-needed relief to those hit by this storm. 

As we move forward, let us continue to support each other in our recovery efforts. The resilience and generosity displayed by our members is a shining example that it is not rhetoric when we refer to each other as sister and brother. SMART-TD is a family. We can, do, and always will have each other’s back. 

October 4: 

We would like to express our gratitude to Brian Killough, general chairman of GO-513 and the members he represents for their donation of $12,000 to the relief fund. 

October 3: 

A special thank you goes out to Ken Laugel from the UTU Insurance Association (UTUIA).  

As SMART-TD’s in-house insurance company, UTUIA has consistently prioritized the well-being of our members. President Jeremy Ferguson expressed his gratitude, stating: “Their sizeable donation to the Disaster Relief Fund is consistent with their mission of protecting our members every day. They have helped thousands of our people in the worst moments of their lives with their policies, but stepping up in this moment for our people, whose lives have been turned upside down by this hurricane, goes above and beyond the call of duty. I can’t thank Ken and everyone at the UTUIA enough.” 

October 2: 

We extend a heartfelt thanks to Tommy Gholson and General Committee 898 for their incredibly generous donation, as well as to State Safety and Legislative Directors Clyde Whitaker from Ohio, Louis Costa of California, Jeff Mitchell of Kentucky, Don Roach of Michigan and Adren Crawford of Tennessee, who have all stepped up in support of our members during this difficult time. Additionally, General Chairpersons Rick Lee of GCA 049, Brian Killough of GCA 513 and Luke Edington of GO 953 have made significant contributions that will aid in our recovery efforts. 

Highlighting the spirit of service within our union, we recognize State Safety and Legislative Director Adren Crawford from Tennessee, along with Brother Jason Caldwell and other members of Local 1162 from Erwin, TN. They have gone above and beyond by not only donating funds but also actively securing generators and distributing them to affected members of Local 1162. Their hands-on approach exemplifies the solidarity that defines SMART-TD. 

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, and Rail Transportation (SMART) union is announcing a mobilization of members and volunteers to offer assistance to our brothers and sisters in the hurricane recovery effort. If you are a SMART member, including SMART-TD members, and you have been affected by Hurricane Helene, please reach out to your local leadership or text the words:

“CHECK IN” to 67336 (message and data rates may apply).

After sending SMART this text message, you will be contacted by a volunteer.

Looking to donate? Supplies can be sent to one of three SMART mobilization centers:

  • SMART Local 399, 841 Main Street South, New Ellenton, SC 29809
  • SMART Local 5, 1446 Bethel Drive, High Point, NC 27260
  • SMART Local 85, 4830 Mendel Court SW, Atlanta, GA 30336

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