The SMART Transportation Division, together with five other rail unions, has begun negotiations with most major freight railroads to revise rates of pay, rules and working conditions. These negotiations pertain to all crafts represented by SMART-TD and affect around 40,000 members nationwide, including GO-953 members working on the Portland Terminal Railroad, the Wichita Terminal Association, and the Union Pacific Railroad. 

Your General Committee has been involved in this round of national negotiations from the beginning. In August 2014, General Chairman Brent Leonard was named by TD President Previsich to the Review Committee, which compiled suggestions received from all levels of SMART-TD membership and developed the Organizations’ Section 6 notice for presentation to the SMART-TD Association of General Chairpersons. 

TD President Previsich also chose Chairman Leonard to serve on the National Rail Agreement Negotiating Committee, citing his expertise and unique qualifications from “years of experience at the local and general committee level.” 

The challenges faced by the Organizations during this round of negotiations are many. Areas of concern include compensation, health care, work rules and quality of life issues identified by our members. National contract talks are also important as they frequently set patterns for negotiated agreements on other carriers. 

Until a new national agreement is ratified and implemented, the existing national agreement will remain in force.

See links below for Section 6 Notices for both the Railroad and SMART TD:

SMART TD Wage & Rules

SMART TD Health & Welfare Sec 6

Railroad Section 6