Transportation News

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

SMART-TD stands with BMWED in lawsuit against BNSF

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Transportation Division (SMART-TD) is standing with its fellow rail labor union, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), in its lawsuit against BNSF Railway. The [...]

Ratified! Union gets paid sick leave from Union Pacific

Five General Committees ratify tentative agreement securing up to eight sick days The oldest railroad in the nation has finally realized that people get sick. About 6,000 SMART Transportation Division conductors and trainmen have secured paid sick leave from Union Pacific aft [...]

2023 SMART Leadership Conference continues forward momentum on second day

Union leaders continued the work of ensuring the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference theme – “This Is Our Time” – is more than just a catchphrase as the conference rolled into its second day in Washington, D.C. Throughout the morning’s joint session, attendees were presented wit [...]

Vice President John D. Whitaker III passes away at age 50

Vice President John D. “J.D.” Whitaker III, whose vital and key roles in negotiating numerous contracts on the general committee and national levels that improved the lives of many SMART-TD rail members, passed away July 27, 2023, of cancer. VP Whitaker was 50 years old. “It [...]

FRA issues safety advisory on long trains

On April 27, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose issued a safety advisory regarding carriers’ operation of longer trains. The recommendations by FRA include that carriers review theiroperating rules and existing locomotive engineer certification prog [...]

Lasting legacy of late VP and GC receives member ratification 

SMART-TD General Committee of Adjustment 261 representing our members working on the CP-SOO property were dealt a blow when General Chairperson Gerald Wallace passed away July 16th. Less than two weeks later, on July 27, Vice President John (J.D.) Whitaker III, who served as [...]