Update on National Rail Contract –Make Sure You Get Your Ballot

Did you know that the railroad Carriers do not share your updated mailing address, phone number, or email address with SMART-TD? In fact, the SMART Constitution states that it is our members’ responsibility to keep their Union up to date with any changes. We’ve made it simple – you can use the SMART Union app (Apple App Store + Google Play), or the SMART member web portal at: https://smart-union.org/members/.

Next week, SMART-TD will kick off its National contract ratification vote for members on BNSF, NS, CN, and all Class II and Class III railroads that are fully participating in National bargaining. All members, including those outside the scope of this ratification, are urged to log in and make sure we have all your correct contact information on file.

We are currently in the process of compiling our Q&As, as required by the SMART Constitution. The deadline for General Chairpersons to submit their questions is September 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. After that, our National bargaining team will take those questions back to the Carriers and agree upon the answers, which will then be made a part of the final Tentative Agreements.

Voting instructions will be mailed out in early October, so please be sure to update your information before then. Mailed packets will include personalized access codes and instructions for dial-in telephonic voting. Approximately 7 days after the initial mailing, text message and email reminders, along with links for web-based voting will be sent out to all eligible members. Voting will take place over a 21-day period, with tabulation in late October.

For those railroad members who are not party to this Agreement, local on-property discussions will continue until the parties are able to reach Tentative Agreements, or until an impasse is reached and we proceed to the next step in the Railway Labor Act’s process. We will also be posting news of any developments on these properties in our regular newsletters, whenever they become available.

Synopsis of the Tentative Agreements ► 

Full Tentative Agreement for Train & Engine service members (without Q&As) ►

Full Tentative Agreement for Yardmasters (without Q&As) ►