Category: TD Leadership Messages
Bad Order Tags Under Fire In Utah
The following addresses recent reports from Utah regarding managers allegedly removing bad-order tags on unsafe equipment. Read on to see what protections railroaders have and the steps to take to keep you and your coworkers safe.
President Ferguson Responds to Washington Post
After the Washington Post criticized the Railway Safety Act of 2026, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson responded with the railroaders’ perspective. Read on to see how he is setting the record straight on rail safety and why workers’ voices matter.
Merger Delay Does NOT Impact Jobs for Life Agreement
In September of 2025, SMART-TD announced a groundbreaking Jobs for Life agreement that protects our members from furloughs or downsizing after the merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Six months and a brief delay in the merger process later, these safeguards are still worth fighting for. Read on to learn what happens next in the process and how SMART-TD is continuing to advocate for long-term job security for our brothers and sisters.
Railroads Have Short Memories: East Palestine 3 Years Later
Ohio State Safety & Legislative Director Clyde Whitaker reflects on the 3rd anniversary of the East Palestine derailment with a powerful commentary. Despite new laws and promises, the railroads are still playing the same dangerous games with safety. Read on to see how crews are still being pressured to ignore defect detector warnings and keep trains moving, proving that profits continue to come before people.
Value of Unions
Unions provide the stability and protection that non-union workers increasingly lack in an economy defined by mass layoffs. This reality is underscored by decades of job cuts in sectors like technology, finance, and manufacturing. Read one to see how our recent job-security gains prove that union solidarity is still the strongest defense against becoming a labor department statistic.
The Truth From Within: General Chairpersons From CSX Statement on Departure of CEO Joe Hinrichs
Statement released by the General Chairpersons of SMART-TD on CSX properties on the tenure and departure of Joe Hinrichs as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Get the Facts on the Union Pacific Arbitration Award from SBA 1208!
Many questions and concerns have surfaced around the Union Pacific arbitration and mediation process, with rumors and misinformation spreading quickly. To ensure that members get the answers that they deserve directly, SMART-TD has set up a dedicated e-mail address where every inquiry will receive a timely response. Read on for details.
2025 Labor Day Message from SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson
Labor Day takes on an even greater significance this year as we face what sometimes feels like an unending stream of attacks, but our brothers and sisters have confronted these challenges head-on and continue to do so. Read on for a Labor Day message from SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson.