Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

Chairman Pauli Announces Retirement, SMART-TD celebrates his career 

General Chairman Rick Pauli announced his retirement after a 32-year career with the railroad. His care and contributions, including the largest-ever Amtrak wage increase and innumerable claims-related precedents, will benefit the union for years to come. He will always be our brother, and we wish him the very best in this next chapter of his life.

SMART-TD Stands With Brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia 

The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) expresses strong support for Brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a SMART union apprentice who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite legal protections and is now imprisoned in dangerous conditions. We are asking SMART-TD members and the public to support Kilmar and his family through donations and by raising awareness to demand his return.

New Mexico Local 1687 sets new precedent with Red Apple Transit 

Local 1687 bus Operators at Red Apple Transit in Farmington, NM have unanimously ratified a four-year agreement securing a 22.13% wage increase and major quality-of-life improvements, including expanded sick leave, more paid holidays, and a flexible bereavement policy. This landmark deal not only addresses employee retention issues but also sets new precedents that could influence transit union negotiations nationwide.

Tentative Agreement Reached With TransitAmerica Services (TASI)

SMART-TD GO-769 General Chairperson Rick Pauli is pleased to announce that his General Committee has reached a tentative agreement (TA) on April 1, 2025, with the TransitAmerica Services, Inc. (TASI) Conductors and Assistant Conductors for its over 150 members in Northern California.

Make sure your voice is heard, update your contact information

Every SMART-TD member’s voice is important – make sure yours is heard when it matters most! Please verify your current contact information. With 2025 national negotiations underway, and many on property agreements also needing ratification, this is the time to make sure your vote gets counted. Read on to choose one of three easy ways to make sure your voice is heard.

SMART statement on Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s right to due process

Following an April 4, 2025, press conference regarding the deportation of SMART Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, General President Michael Coleman issued the following statement: “The principle of due process is one of the fundamental values our nation is fo [...]

New CSX conductor improvises to save a life

Brother Juan Carrillo has only been a SMART-TD member for four months, and he’s already saved a man’s life during that time. Read on to hear his memories of what happened, why he credits his military training for ensuring that a horrible accident didn’t quickly turn deadly, and how this situation highlights the importance of two-person crews.