SMART-TD Ready For 2025 Rail Negotiations

National Rail Negotiation Update 

Our Section 6 notices have been finalized and are in the process of being filed with the railroads, which list our priorities for the next round of national agreement negotiations. These notices are formal proclamations of bargaining issues that the parties intend to raise in negotiations that will begin on or shortly after January 1, 2025. 

Unlike earlier rounds of negotiating our agreements, three of the six Class I’s (BNSF, NS, and CSX) are negotiating independently, two (CN, UP) are negotiating through the traditional process. CPKC is bargaining wage and rules independently, but joining the national group on issues of health and welfare

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson addressed the members of District No. 1 as they undertook the process of reviewing and combining Section 6 suggestions that arrived from across the union. 

“This is uncharted waters for all of us. One thing we must ensure is that we maintain our communication and coordination among the General Committees who have already reached tentative agreements with different railroads.” Ferguson went on to say, “If we stay united while the Carriers are splintered, it will defeat any attempts by them to divide and conquer labor.” 

Member suggestions define union priorities

In June and July of this year, SMART-TD requested input from General Committees, Locals, and individual members on items to include in its Section 6 Notices.  

During the 45-day submission period, SMART-TD received more than 1,600 separate recommendations, encompassing over 60 areas of concern. Wages, healthcare costs, and attendance policies are still among our members’ top priorities. Members are also placing an increased emphasis on issues such as vacation, certification pay, overtime, the addition of/increases to existing paid sick leave, held-away pay, cost of living adjustments, and meals. Of course, there are many other important topics, but these are the most raised.  

“I am honored to have led this process and worked with our General Chairpersons to finalize a draft of our Notices,” said District No. 1 Chairperson Scott Chelette (GCA-927, Union Pacific). “Our Union’s process is a bottom-up structure, where the voices of our members transform into the foundation of our negotiations with the rail Carriers. I couldn’t be any more appreciative of our members for their valuable input, and I couldn’t be prouder of District No. 1’s hard work. Despite the sheer amount of information and the long hours, we made sure that every issue was weighed, discussed, and worked into our Notice for the next round of contract negotiations.” 

District No. 1 represents all SMART-TD freight rail General Committees.  Members who ratified on-property tentative agreements will not be represented in the national negotiations, as their wages, work rules, crew consist, and healthcare are already locked in place through 2029.