Section 6 suggestions deadline is July 24

ATTENTION: All SMART Transportation Division members employed by rail carriers negotiating under the umbrella of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC).

As you are likely aware, on June 10, 2024, SMART Transportation Division began the process of formulating Section 6 notices to be served on rail carriers represented by the NCCC, which will include proposals to increase wages, benefits and improve working conditions. In our communications, all officers and members were invited to submit proposals for the Section 6 Notices to the SMART-TD headquarters.

To those members who have already submitted proposals, we thank you for providing your valuable input..

Members who have not yet responded are reminded that proposals are being cataloged through July 24, 2024. Soon thereafter, a committee of general chairpersons from the Association of General Chairpersons, District No. 1, will review the proposals and begin to fine-tune those suggestions into the notices to be served on the carriers.

In order for your proposal to be cataloged and considered by the Section 6 review committee, your proposal must be received in the Transportation Division office by the end of the day on July 24, 2024.

As a reminder, members may submit their proposals by email (preferred), fax or U.S. Mail:

Email – Section6@smart-union.org

Fax – (216) 228-5755,

or by writing to the attention of the SMART Transportation Division President at

6060 Rockside Woods Blvd. N., Ste. #325

Independence, OH 44131

Following this review process, the full Association of General Chairpersons, District No. 1, will be convened to review and finalize the union’s Section 6 notices. Those final notices will be reproduced and mailed to all participating general chairpersons for serving on the affected railroads no earlier than November 1, 2024, with changes to become effective no earlier than January 1, 2025.

In addition to membership submitted proposals, SMART-TD will be conducting a randomized membership survey to help define the issues for prioritization during negotiations. To ensure that you are eligible to participate in surveys, and to stay up to date on future developments, members are encouraged to register for the Member Portal and log in to the SMART-TD website at www.smart-union.org, and/or download the SMART Union app from the Google Play or Apple Store. 

The serving of notices under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act is the first step in reaching a new national agreement with railroads represented by the NCCC. The carriers represented by the NCCC also have been working on their own Section 6 notices that they will serve at or about the same time the SMART-TD Section 6 notices are served.

All SMART-TD members are reminded that the current national agreement between the SMART-TD and NCCC will not expire on or after January 1, 2025. Under the status-quo provisions of the Railway Labor Act, the current national agreement will remain in effect.