Smart-Td Local 0257

01/08/2026

An update from GC Edington concerning the timeline for Articles 5-7;

Brothers and Sisters,



As you are aware, we filed a Petition to Vacate the SBA 1208 Award (Articles V-VII) on December 29, 2025. Legal has provided the following update on a timeline for the Petition and the process it goes through in the court.



Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, UP’s responsive pleading (an Answer and potentially a Counterclaim to Enforce the Award) is due within 60 days of service, or by February 27, 2026. If UP files a Counterclaim, we will then need to file an Answer to that Counterclaim. Thereafter, the parties will likely agree on a briefing schedule for cross-motions for summary judgment. After those motions are fully briefed, the matter will be submitted to the judge, who is not subject to any deadline for issuing a decision. It is not uncommon for this process to take more than a year.



Once UP files its responsive pleading, we will be better positioned to provide an estimated timeline for completion of the briefing. However, as noted above, there will be no set timeline for the judge to issue her decision.



Fraternally,



Luke Edington

General Chairperson

SMART TD GO-953

01/08/2026

100 % rules compliance.

12/04/2025

Brothers and Sisters,

The proposed Tentative Agreement was ratified by the membership and the fully executed System Agreement with Union Pacific is attached for your records. The fully executed agreement has the updated rate tables and a Letter of Understanding attached that addresses vacation pay for employees in year 0 and year 1. The LOU also defines “full-time” as it is used in Article II, Section 2 of the agreement.

Union Pacific provided the following timelines for implementing the rate increases, vacation, and other provisions.

Back Pay and Rate Increase:
New pay rates will go into effect on 1/1/26.
Backpay will be paid around the 15th of January – UP is hopeful they will have backpay done by then, but it may be the third week of January before it’s completed.

AFHT Meal Allowance:
Change will be made January 1, 2026.

Vacation:
Vacation allocations have been loaded into the system for employees who qualify for an additional week under the new matrix. Please contact CMS or this office if you find any errors during scheduling.

Health and Welfare:
The effective date of benefits will be 12/1. UHC will have all the members moved by Saturday, 12/6. Members can begin calling Railroad Enrollment Services at (800) 753-2692 to request changes on Monday, 12/8 through the end of the month.
Iron Road is reviewing options for the Reduced-Rate Option. This option will be delayed until a plan is designed, or another alternative is adopted by Iron Road. The Executive Board at Iron Road has already met to explore solutions and is working to have those implemented as soon as possible.

Discipline Agreement:
Goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
The date of the Notice of Investigation will determine whether the case is handled under the old agreement or new agreement that is effective January 1, 2026. NOI’s dated January 1, 2026, or later will be handled under the new agreement while NOI”s dated prior to January 1, 2026, will be handled under the old agreement.
Employees must update their email addresses with UP immediately as Notices of Investigation will be sent electronically beginning January 1, 2026.

Time Claim Agreement:
Goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Little to no change in the current process on our Committee.

Please share this with the membership and don’t hesitate to contact the office if you have any questions.

Fraternally,

Luke Edington
General Chairperson
SMART TD GO-953

12/01/2025

SMART-TD GCA Response To CAPS Policy Change -- Rule 6.5

12/01/2025

Members working on Union Pacific properties have overwhelmingly ratified a five-year agreement, with a vast majority voting “yes” for substantial wage increases, enhanced benefits, and powerful new protections that resolve longstanding issues. Read on to see how this strong contract victory will deliver real gains in pay, quality of life, and fairness for SMART-TD’s UP membership over the next five years. https://www.smart-union.org/smart-td-members-on-up-properties-ratify-five-year-agreement/

10/29/2025

Synopsis of the Section 6 tentative agreement. Please make sure that your local S&T has your current email address so you'll receive your electronic ballot.

10/11/2025

A letter from President Ferguson.

09/26/2025

If there’s one lesson we've learned since the 1860s, it’s that you cannot trust the railroads for a damn thing. They’ve got lawyers, lobbyists, and PR firms paid to get them out of any promise they ever make. Read on to hear our response to a few crew room questions about our deal with Union Pacific. https://www.smart-union.org/reactions-to-the-smart-td-guarantee-with-union-pacific/

09/22/2025

When the Big Beautiful Bill was passed in July, workers governed by the Railroad Labor Act were not included in a tax break on overtime pay. Today, September 19, 2025, a SMART-TD-backed bill was introduced in Congress to include us in the tax exemption. Read on to learn more about the bill and how you can help get it passed. https://www.smart-union.org/overtime-relief-for-railroaders-introduced-in-congress/

09/22/2025

A groundbreaking agreement guarantees that SMART-TD members working in train and yardmaster service will have job protection for the length of their careers, following the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern and subject to the usual requirements for continued employment. This is an unprecedented guarantee in the history of American railroading. Read on for details. https://www.smart-union.org/smart-td-and-union-pacific-announce-landmark-agreement-securing-jobs-and-the-future-of-railroading/

09/16/2025

This Tentative Agreement only applies to our Terminal Railroads who are involved in national handling (Portland Terminal and Wichita Terminal), and we are working to secure a Tentative Agreement with Union Pacific soon. Union Pacific is not part of this agreement, as they are not negotiating through the NCCC in this proces.

A Tentative National Agreement (TA) has been reached between SMART-TD and rail carriers represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee. Read on for details about the TA and learn about the next steps in the process. https://www.smart-union.org/smart-td-reaches-tentative-national-agreement-with-carriers-strong-wage-gains-quality-of-life-improvements-secured-with-no-givebacks/

09/05/2025

Republican lawmakers in Congress are moving to eliminate limits on energy development in several Western states.