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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2026 —INDEPENDENCE, OH

Union Endorses Bipartisan Legislation While Pushing to Extend Protections to Bus Operators 

The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), together with its Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee, announces its full and enthusiastic endorsement of the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act.  

The bill would make the assault or intimidation of passenger rail workers a federal crime, bringing rail protections in line with long-standing federal laws safeguarding airline flight crews. 

Click here to read the text of the bill ►

“For far too long, our members have gone to work knowing there was a distinct possibility they were going to be assaulted during their workday. It has begun to be treated as if it were just ‘part of the job,’” said SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson. “That is unacceptable. This legislation sends a powerful and overdue message: an attack on a passenger rail worker is a serious federal crime, and it will be treated as such.” 

This bipartisan legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND). 

SMART-TD also emphasized that while the legislation marks critical progress, it currently applies only to passenger rail workers and does not extend those same federal protections to bus operators. This is a gap the union is actively working to close. 

“Our Bus Department members face the same threats, the same violence, and the same unacceptable risks every single day,” Ferguson continued. “While we applaud this step forward for passenger rail, we are deeply concerned that bus operators are not yet included. SMART-TD and our BTAPS Committee are actively pushing for the inclusion of our bus members, whether through an amendment to this bill or through stand-alone legislation. Our mission is to protect every member of this union, and while we are encouraged by progress, we will not be complacent until all our frontline workers are shielded at the highest level the law is capable of providing.” 

The legislation applies broadly to engineers, conductors, onboard crews, and station-based personnel, reflecting the real-world dangers frontline rail workers face daily. Penalties include up to eight years in prison for assault or intimidation, and up to twenty years when a dangerous weapon is involved. 

“No worker should ever go to work wondering if today is the day that someone might try to hurt them,” said Jared Cassity, SMART Transportation Division National Safety and Legislative Director. “Yet, just like in the airline industry, rail workers face that unfortunate reality every single day — which is why our members, the onboard conductors and assistant conductors, have long fought for parity with airline crew protections. Today, thanks to Senators Hoeven and Duckworth, we take a giant step forward toward achieving that goal with the introduction of the bipartisan Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act, which makes it a federal offense to interfere with the duties of onboard train crews and station personnel.” 

President Ferguson praised the bill’s sponsors for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation, highlighting their willingness to listen to our members while proving that protecting transportation workers is not a partisan issue—it’s a human one.  

The SMART-TD Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee has been at the forefront of tracking and confronting the growing epidemic of violence across America’s buses and passenger rail systems. Through survivor advocacy, public education, and direct engagement with policymakers, BTAPS works to ensure these attacks are no longer ignored or minimized. Confidential reporting tools, including SMART-TD’s Workplace Assault Reporting Form, provide critical data that strengthens advocacy efforts for stronger protections for all rail, bus, and transit workers. 

“This bill draws a clear line — if you assault a passenger rail conductor, there will be serious consequences,” said Cole Czub, BTAPS Committee Chairperson and passenger rail conductor for Keolis in Boston, MA. “That level of accountability is exactly what BTAPS has been fighting for. From day one, President Ferguson made it clear that assaults on transit workers are unacceptable, and this legislation reflects that commitment.” 

Czub added, “We thank Senators Duckworth and Hoeven for taking this issue seriously and showing bipartisan leadership. While our work is not finished, this bill reinforces SMART-TD’s resolve to end violence against transportation workers and ensure that every crew member, bus operator, and frontline worker can do their job and return home safely.” 

SMART-TD urges Congress to swiftly pass the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act and stands ready to work with lawmakers to strengthen and expand protections so that all transportation workers receive equal safety under federal law. 

SMART-TD is proud to endorse a new bipartisan bill introduced by Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Congressman Michael Rulli (R-OH-06): the Under Pressure Act.

As we approach the third anniversary of the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the images from that night are still burned into the public’s memory. A black mushroom cloud rose over a small town after the decision was made to vent and burn five tank cars filled with hazardous materials. This was a decision that forever changed lives, shook public confidence in rail safety, and exposed serious failures in communication and emergency response.

For SMART-TD members, this was a turning point.

Since that derailment, multiple states have taken action to improve rail safety, including new laws requiring stronger and more reliable use of wayside defect detectors. In Congress, both the House and Senate have debated multiple rail safety bills aimed at addressing crew size, inspections, equipment standards, and hazardous materials handling. Despite all that activity, no comprehensive rail safety bill has reached the president’s desk.

One critical issue has remained largely untouched: the breakdown in communication, procedures, and technical understanding that led to the vent-and-burn decision itself. The Under Pressure Act addresses this oversight. 

Under Pressure Act developed within impacted Communities 

This legislation is different because the lawmakers behind it represent the communities that paid the price. 

  • Congressman Rulli, a Republican from Ohio’s 6th District, represents East Palestine, the town at the center of the derailment. 
  • Congressman Deluzio, a Democrat from Pennsylvania’s 17th District, represents Beaver County, PA, just east of East Palestine, where residents were also directly affected by the toxic fallout. 

Together, they have introduced a bipartisan bill that focuses on one of the most misunderstood and poorly regulated parts of the derailment response: pressure relief devices on rail tank cars. 

Study Why Pressure Relief Valves Fail 

The Act requires the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to study how pressure relief devices perform during derailments involving fire and extreme heat. These devices are meant to prevent catastrophic tank car failures—but in East Palestine, their performance and the decisions surrounding them raised serious questions.

Under the bill, the FRA must submit a report to Congress that: 

  • Examines how often pressure relief devices fail in derailments and why; 
  • Analyzes conditions such as fire temperature, fire duration, tank car orientation, and commodity type; 
  • Makes recommendations to prevent future failures; and 
  • Provides updates on unresolved National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations related to tank cars.  

Just as important, the FRA is required to consult directly with rail labor, along with rail employers, tank car builders, shippers, and safety agencies.

That matters to SMART-TD, because rail safety decisions work best when the people who actually run trains and respond to emergencies have a seat at the table. 

Click here to read the text of the bill ►

Improve Derailment Responses, Not Just Prevention 

Many rail safety bills focus on what caused the derailment: track defects, equipment failures, or operating practices. The Under Pressure Act addresses what happened after the derailment, when confusion, missing data, and poor communication helped turn a bad situation into a national disaster.

For SMART-TD members, this bill recognizes a simple truth: safety doesn’t stop being important when the train leaves the rails.

Clear procedures, reliable equipment data, and informed decision-making during emergencies are just as critical as preventing derailments in the first place. 

A Step Forward, But Not the Finish Line 

The Under Pressure Act will not fix everything overnight. But it represents meaningful progress and a clear acknowledgment that East Palestine exposed gaps in rail safety that can no longer be ignored.

SMART-TD commends Congressmen Deluzio and Rulli for working across party lines and for listening to rail labor. As the third anniversary of East Palestine approaches, this bill sends an important message: we owe it to rail workers and the communities we serve to learn from our failures and do better.

SMART-TD will continue fighting for comprehensive rail safety reforms, and we will continue pushing until real, enforceable safety legislation finally reaches the president’s desk. 

Standing together gets results

Rasool Aleem, a bus operator out of SMART-TD Local 1594 (Upper Darby, Pa.) is officially back on the job after a decisive win against SEPTA. His seniority is fully restored with full back pay for the time he was wrongly kept out of service.

This is what preparation, solidarity, and strong union leadership can deliver. 

SEPTA Overreached and Union Leaders Called It Out 

SEPTA fired Brother Aleem in a snap decision after a March 2025 pedestrian accident, even though he had 14 years of service and no discipline on his record. SEPTA backed their bad call by claiming they had “just cause.” SMART-TD called their bluff. They then came to arbitration armed with lawyers and a stack of past cases they said proved the termination was justified.

The problem? Those cases didn’t apply to Aleem’s situation. SEPTA had assembled an expensive and intimidating smokescreen, but it wasn’t supported by facts.

Petty and Sandoval Brought the Facts 

Representing Local 1594 was General Chairperson Anthony Petty, joined by SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval. Together, they did what strong union leadership does best: they came prepared, and they told the full story.

Petty and Sandoval showed the arbitrator exactly who Rasool Aleem is. He’s a professional bus operator with over a decade of service, a clean disciplinary record, and no history of incidents. They exposed SEPTA’s failure to use progressive discipline, pointed out inconsistent treatment with other operators, and highlighted known safety issues like blind spots created by bus mirror placement. SEPTA was aware of those blind spots thanks to our operators filling out Safety Condition Reports.

While SEPTA’s lawyers relied on weak comparisons, Petty and Sandoval relied on the contract, the facts in the case, and common sense. 

Arbitrator Allied with Common Sense 

The arbitrator made it clear in her ruling that SEPTA leaned on precedent that simply didn’t apply here. They cited cases involving fatalities, baby carriages getting knocked over, and conduct from non-SMART-TD operators. The picture they painted was bleak, but it had nothing to do with Rasool Aleem in 2025!

The Ruling: Job Back. Seniority Back. Money Back. 

Despite their intimidating stance, SEPTA did not have just cause to fire Rasool Aleem. Instead, the discharge was reduced to a 45-day suspension, and SEPTA was ordered to: 

  • Reinstate him immediately 
  • Restore his seniority with no interruption 
  • Pay him back pay for the time he was held out of service (minus the suspension and any interim earnings) 

What This Win Means for All of Us 

To Brother Aleem: We are all glad to have you back! Thank you for what you do.  

To all our fellow SMART-TD brothers and sisters: stand strong, connect with your union, and refuse to roll over if you are faced with unjust discipline. Leaders like Anthony Petty and James Sandoval are here to put in the work, know your contract, and prove time and again that strong union representation gets results.

SMART-TD will back your defense every step of the way, no matter what local you belong to. Large or small, if your managers overreach, SMART-TD will meet them head-on. And, with the truth on our side, we will win.

From left to right: General Chairperson Anthony Petty, Brother Rasool Aleem, and Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval

VP Sandoval and GC Petty build a case rooted in common sense and facts

With a new year underway and the midterm elections looming in November, there’s no better time to check your voter registration status.

For SMART-TD members, it’s easy and only takes a few minutes… 

  • Visit the Legislative Action Center 
  • Click on “Elections” located in the main menu 
  • Under “Find Your Elections,” type in your address and click “GO” or click on your state 
  • You’ll be directed a page that lists detailed information about voting in your state, including a link to register online, important deadlines, and details about absentee voting.  

Who Should Check Their Status? 

Everyone should check their status, especially after a recent move, after not voting for a while, or if you have a child who turns 18 and will be eligible to vote this year.

Check with your local county election office for specific instructions and deadlines to ensure that your information is up to date.  

SMART-TD Members Make Their Voices Heard! 

In 2024, SMART-TD members cast ballots at a higher rate than the general voting public, occasionally reaching 10-15 percentage points more, depending on the state.

Our brothers and sisters are committed to getting informed and electing lawmakers at all levels of government. They know which candidates are reliably “with us” on important issues like two-person crew (2-PC) and which candidates vote against our futures and the security of our families.

SMART-TD doesn’t play party politics: if you are an elected official who supports us, we will support you, regardless of the letter that’s next to your name. 

Legislative Action Center is an Important Resource: Use It!

Don’t be fooled by campaign messages. Decide whether a candidate deserves your support based on their voting record and whether they’re reliably with us or squarely against us.

If you need more information about a lawmaker’s performance on important rail, bus, and transit issues, visit our Legislative Action Center. We provide access to your senators’ and representatives’ voting records.

Your voice and your vote are powerful tools, but they’re only useful if you’re registered to cast your ballot.

No matter who you choose, choose to vote and help shape the future of the transportation industry.   

SMART-TD Local 352 (West Springfield, Massachusetts) is mourning the loss of one of their own while supporting the family he left behind.

In December, Brother Bernard Gray, a Local 352 member who worked as a conductor for CTRail, was killed in a car accident at only 34 years old.

To help his loved ones pay for his final expenses after this unexpected loss, Brother Bernard’s union family has set up a GoFundMe.

Support Bernard Gray’s Family ►

Described as a vibrant and caring friend and co-worker known for his strong work ethic, Local 352 President Matt Pietrzak explains that Brother Gray’s fellow members wanted to do something to honor his memory and support his loved ones.

“Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ease the financial strain and allow his family to focus on healing and remembering the wonderful person Bernard was,” he said. “Your kindness will go a long way in helping Bernard’s family get through this challenging period.”

The local wants to extend its thanks to all SMART-TD members for keeping Brother Gray’s spirit alive through their generosity and wishes to express its gratitude for the support of our union family.  

The St. Paul Regional Training Seminar (RTS) begins on Monday, June 22, 2026, with an evening Welcome Reception. The training will cover topics such as local governance, the roles and responsibilities of local presidents, secretaries, treasurers, legislative representatives, and local chairpersons in member advocacy, an overview of the SMART Constitution, and other key subjects.    

  • Location: InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront    
  • Dates: June 22-June 25, 2026 (S&T: June 22-26) 
  •  Room Rate: $159/night    
  • Registration Fee: $75 

For a detailed meeting agenda, please visit the Meetings page via the SMART Union mobile app. You can also use the app to register for the RTS by selecting “Meetings” from the drop-down menu.

Space in some of the training tracks is limited and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Online Registration is Required!

Registration closes on June 9, 2026, and there will  be no onsite registration available. Late registration is subject to an additional $125 late fee.

To Register for the St. Paul RTS: RTS Registration ►    
To Book Your Hotel Reservation: Hotel Reservation Link ►

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. 

To secure a room at the discounted rate, please make your reservation by  Monday, May 25. Discounted rooms are only available while supplies last.

For more information, contact Nick Torres in the SMART-TD office at 216-227-5269 or by email at ntorres@smart-union.org.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your skills and help serve our members with confidence. We look forward to seeing you in St. Paul! 

In an Executive Order dated December 18, 2025, President Donald Trump instructed the Department of Justice to complete the rulemaking process rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as quickly as possible.  

This change does NOT apply to transportation personnel. 

Federal Testing Requirements Will NOT Change 

What does this mean for our members? 
 
First and most importantly: federal testing requirements and regulations will NOT change! 
 
Marijuana remains a banned substance and Schedule I drug for safety-sensitive transportation employees, including bus operators, train conductors and engineers, armed transit security personnel and others.  
 
Employees subject to the DOT’s drug testing regulations should not assume that they can now use marijuana or other THC products because of this Executive Order. Guidance on medical and recreational marijuana and CBD remains unchanged.  
 
SMART-TD urges all our members to help spread the word and keep our country’s transportation network as safe as possible. 

Chapel Hill, Tennessee—It is with heavy hearts and immense respect that SMART-TD announces the passing of Brother Ed Weathers, Jr., who passed away on December 27, 2025, at the age of 71.

A member of Local 1346 (Nashville, TN) and a former General Chairperson for General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 513, Brother Weathers worked as a brakeman for CSX (formerly L&N) for 32 years until his retirement.

As much as he enjoyed his work on the railroad and his many years of service to our union, Brother Weathers was equally passionate about gardening, tending to his lawn, working on puzzles of all kinds, and spending time on his front porch swing…even in the brutal Tennessee summertime heat!

His greatest love was his family, including his four grandchildren.

In addition, Brother Weathers is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Linda, three children, and one brother.

The family plans to hold a Celebration of Life at a later date.

We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Brother Weathers’s family and his Union family at Local 1346 and GCA 513. Most importantly, we are grateful for his many years of dedication to our union and the lasting impact he left on his brothers and sisters.  

It’s a hallmark of SMART-TD: when one of our own needs help, we step up — especially during some of life’s most vulnerable and difficult moments.

Our commitment to look out for one another when no one else will is our foundation; this solidarity is as old as our union itself.

By Organizing Together, Railroaders Learned to Protect Themselves

More than 140 years ago, a small group of railroaders gathered in a caboose, talking about how they could do more for one another than simply passing a hat or placing an envelope on a breakroom table for a coworker in need.

In 1883, eight brakemen working for the Delaware and Hudson Railway met in Caboose No. 10 in Oneonta, New York, determined to create something better.

At the time, railroad work was even more dangerous and unforgiving. Wages barely topped a dollar a day, and more than one-third of brakemen were injured each year. No one would insure them. They had no government safety net, no insurance, no guarantees, and no real protection for their families should tragedy strike.

SMART-TD’s forefathers organized what became the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen (later renamed to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen) for their own survival. The brotherhood was one of the first systems of mutual aid in the industry, including death benefits that were often the only insurance a railroader could obtain.

Their commitment to taking care of one another continues in the union we proudly call our own today, SMART-TD, as well as through our union-run insurance organization, American Journey Financial Life, formerly the UTUIA. 

Union Generosity in 2025 

In 2025, SMART-TD members helped raise roughly $200,000 to support union brothers and sisters in need, along with their families.

Typically done through contributions to GoFundMe accounts, members eased the blow of some truly heartbreaking situations, including… 

Generosity is a Testament to Our Members

While our jobs are safer than they were in 1883, everyone who works on the rails knows they are still at risk. There were more than a dozen incidents this year where SMART-TD members acted without hesitation to care for our own, or to step in to help when a brother or sister didn’t make it home from their run.

It doesn’t take long for a new hire to realize that when tragedy strikes one of us, it affects all of us.  The next GoFundMe or request for help could be for any one of us, which is why so many didn’t hesitate to pitch in when a fellow brother or sister was in needs us.

If you know of a fellow member who needs help, please reach out to us. Spreading the word matters just as much as a financial contribution.

“Solidary” isn’t just a word, it’s the living spirit of those men in Old #10, who stepped in to help when no one else would. Thank you for your choice to come together in 2025, to help when you could, and to carry our fight for just treatment and safe workplaces into 2026 and beyond. 

With 2026 just days away, many of us are thinking about resolutions. These can be small habits that make a big difference over time. SMART-TD encourages every railroad and bus/transit member to adopt (or recommit to) one resolution that has been proven to protect livelihoods, careers, and families: 

Keep a complete, accurate, and consistent timebook. 

This is not busy work. Keeping accurate records is one of the most powerful tools you can have if you need to defend yourself from an employer.

When the Company’s Records Disappear

What if a claim was filed, a discipline case moved forward, or an injury was investigated, and management was suddenly missing certain records? 

  • “The recording was lost.” 
  • “We don’t have documentation of that assignment.” 
  • “There’s no proof that train was even there.” 

Our members know this story all too well.  

Are you going to rely on management to provide the records necessary to support your case? This is exactly why your own records matter. 

Consistent Records Win Cases 

Recently, a railroad told a court that it had no record showing a train should have even been in the yard where one of our members was permanently disabled after sustaining a serious injury. 

The company’s position could have delayed justice for years or denied it altogether. 

Fortunately, the member kept a detailed timebook. 

He recorded the train ID, the work performed, and the details of that shift, just like he had done for every train he worked throughout the year. That consistency mattered. His timebook held up in court, because it was part of a disciplined habit, not a one-off note written after the fact.

He won the case. 

His timebook was the difference between compensation for future earnings and healthcare or being starved out while corporate attorneys dragged the case on for years.  

Make Tracking Your Work Part of the Job 

Think of your timebook the same way you think about other essential Personal Protective Equipment: 

  • You wouldn’t report for duty with a dead radio battery. 
  • You wouldn’t work without a lantern in good order. 
  • Don’t start work without an updated timebook. 

Recording your work needs to be part of your daily routine. To work, you need to use it every shift. Every assignment. Every time. 

Consistency is what makes your record credible in a hearing, an investigation, or a court of law. 

SMART-TD Timebooks are Free for All Members

SMART-TD provides timebooks, because they are time-tested tools that protect you. 

A properly kept timebook puts the facts back where they belong: in your hands. 

Contact your local secretary for a free timebook. 

A Resolution Worth Keeping 

As we start the new year, make this resolution and keep it: 

Write it down. Every day. Accurately. Consistently. 

Protect yourself. Protect your future. Use the tools your union provides. And keep your timebook!