SMART-TD welcomes our newest brothers and sisters from the White Pass & Yukon (WPY) Route Railway to our union family!

Approximately 40 onboard agents, including train agents, dock reps, and train stockers, voted overwhelmingly to become SMART-TD members, joining the short-line’s conductors and engineers who we’re already proud to count amongst our membership.

WP&Y Employees Saw the Union Difference…and Wanted It

As a tour guide for White Pass & Yukon, Megan Jordahl often works closely with conductors and engineers who were already represented by SMART-TD.

After seeing how the union difference paid off in their respective roles and knowing that other tour guides in the region were making more money, she was ready for a change.

“We wanted what we felt was fair for us,” she told SMART News.

After meeting with GCA White Pass & Yukon Route Railway General Chairperson James Ogden, fellow tour guide Katy Woelfel, and another guide to discuss the benefits of SMART-TD representation, they signed authorization cards with Assistant Director of Organizing Andy Goeckner.

Megan remembers that most of the onboard agents were very enthusiastic about the organizing campaign and were excited about the benefits that come with union membership.

“Everybody that I talked to was for it and wanted to be a part of the SMART union.”

“There’s a Home for You in Our Union”

Being involved with the organizing process from Day 1, Brother Goeckner explains how this campaign was different from most others, because it involved crafts that typically don’t immediately come to mind on the railroad.

“We were successful in getting all of the onboard agents organized, and it was pretty cool to have done that,” he said. “If you’re willing to work in this industry, we’re willing to represent you.”

He gave a special thanks to General Chairperson Ogden and our new union sisters Woelfel and Jordahl for their dedicated effort to ensure that everyone was on the same page, especially when many employees are scattered all over the world during the off-season.

“They were really helpful in getting this done, and the election was fluid because of them.”

Brother Goeckner hopes that this sends a message to employees at other properties that just because you’re not a conductor or engineer doesn’t mean that there isn’t a place for you at SMART-TD.

“There’s a home for anybody who works in our industry, not just the right and left side of the cab,” he said.

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After an eight-month effort, SMART-TD is proud to welcome GTrans Bus Operators in Gardena, California to our union! 
 
Their request for recognition was unanimously approved at the October 14 Gardena City Council meeting. The focus our new members now turns toward negotiating and ratifying a first contract.  

A Marathon, not a Sprint, to Secure New Representation 

Last night’s win was the result of a tireless team effort.  
 
The effort began in February 2025 at a GTrans group meeting with SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, Alternate Vice President Bus-West Markeisha Haynes, and Organizer Pete Lara.  
 
The process of collecting union authorization (A-cards) from the bus operators began at that meeting. 

At the end of March, the city received a petition, filed by SMART-TD, to decertify the Gardena Municipal Employees Association (GMEA) as the exclusive representative of the bus operator unit. 

This sent a clear message: these men and women wanted to join our union. 
 
By the end of June, with an overwhelming majority of A-Cards presented as proof of support, the petition was granted, and GTrans’ operators were one step closer to gaining the representation they deserve.  

City Leaders Show Strong Support for Workers

During a City Council meeting on Oct. 14, the city leaders weren’t shy about offering their support for GTrans operators to have a voice on the job.  
 
“I’m grateful for the service that you guys do,” said Councilmember Wanda Love. “To see some of the GTrans bus drivers put in 30-plus years is a testament to the work and the labor that you guys do, and I want to see all of you guys reach that mark of 25-30 years. I wholeheartedly support you guys.” 
 
Mayor Tasha Cerda echoed that sentiment.  
 
“I’d like to commend our drivers,” she noted. “You guys have spoken, and we see that this is something that you’re interested in: having your own union here. I’m here to support it as well.” 

Before the vote, VP Sandoval addressed city leaders as the GTrans bus operators in attendance stood behind him in a show of unity and solidarity.  
 
“I’ve gotten to know these drivers over the past year, and I’ve got to tell you firsthand that you’ve got a lot of great people that work here, and I’m really looking forward to working with them,” said VP Sandoval. “This has been a long time coming. This is very important to them. They deserve their own voice through a union. They want to have their own terms and conditions and a contract.” 
 
VP Sandoval pointed out a key feature of SMART-TD that he wanted lawmakers to remember.  
 
“We’re very big on a good working relationship,” he explained. “We’re also very big on a healthy channel of communication, because that not only helps your workers who work for you, but it also transitions over to the communities that you represent.” 
 
Congratulations to the GTrans Bus Operators on joining SMART-TD! We look forward to helping you secure a strong first contract!

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Our union was formed when individual workers banded together to protect themselves, and that foundation is still the basis for who we are today. 
 
As we grow in numbers, we grow in power — but no matter how we grow, our purpose never changes: members helping members receive just treatment, fair wages and the resources needed to endure difficult times. 

Our strength is demonstrated in our agreements, our efforts to improve laws and regulations, and in the benefits our pooled resources secure for our mutual benefit.

New Properties Choose SMART-TD

Since January, we’ve had three short-line railroads join SMART-TD, often by unanimous or overwhelmingly large margins.  
 
The first was Wilmington Terminal Railroad, which is a subsidiary of Genesse and Wyoming. 

Working without representation under G&W since 2005, the workers voted unanimously to join SMART-TD in January 2025.  

Two weeks later another G&W property, Connecticut Southern Railroad, also joined our union in a nearly unanimous vote. 

Connecticut Southern workers struggled to get results under an umbrella agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE). When they finally decided it was time to raise their voice, they chose to speak through SMART-TD instead. 

The most recent addition to the SMART-TD family came in June when workers from both the Transportation and Engine (T&E) crafts as well as the Maintenance of Way (MOW) crafts with the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad (A&M) voted to organize in a landslide.  
 
Our size, strength and expertise are important factors in these choices.

But, more importantly, our organizers and representatives understand something fundamental: it’s not about SMART-TD.

On every property and with every negotiation, the focus is on our members being heard. Our strength backs their initiative, and together we build better workplaces. 
 
This is just a snapshot of what our Organizing Department has accomplished at the halfway point of the year. They’re just getting started. 

TD is Trained to Win Strong Agreements

Negotiating strong agreements is the cornerstone of our success.

It’s hard to argue against our value when fair compensation, humane workplace practices, and just treatment are spelled out in the black and white of our negotiated agreements.  

There is no union without our members, and there is no other way to ensure individual voices are heard, actual needs are met, and that the demand for respect on the job is satisfied. 
 
Whether it’s new hires at Zum Transportation (Local 1706) getting a front-row seat to SMART-TD’s Bus Department’s negotiations with their new employer or ratifying a precedent-setting tentative agreement for Local 1732 at TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI) in California, our union fights like hell for our members at the bargaining table and beyond. 
 
Our members’ pay and benefits should reflect the professionalism, knowledge, and dedication that they bring to the job.

We saw this firsthand with several tentative agreements (TA) that were overwhelmingly or unanimously ratified during the first half of the year. These include conductors and assistant conductors negotiating with Keolis Commuter Services, bus operators ratifying a new four-year agreement with Red Apple Transit in New Mexico, and Local 1887 members securing meaningful change with Birmingham Terminal Railway. 

Our negotiating teams redefine what’s possible for rail, bus, and transit wages across the country.  
 
We didn’t stop there.  
 
Within the last two months, agreements have been reached between SMART-TD Local 598 and the Alabama Port Authority, California Local 1741’s Local Committee of Adjustment (LCA) and San Carlos Schools, and SMART-TD Local 1701 and Montebello Transit. 

SMART-TD Ratification Record Driven by Listening to Local Needs

Since 2024, SMART-TD’s General Committee of Adjustment (GCA) 049 has secured TA’s with five short-line railroads, including the Louisville & Indiana (L&I) Railroad last year. 
 
Three of those TA’s have been ratified, another is currently being voted on by the members, and the last one is about to go up for a vote.  
 
GCA 049 General Chairperson Rick Lee points out that “The biggest difference [with the short lines] I think was the inclusion of the local guys,” Lee explained. “One of the keys of success [is that] we’ve always included our short-line local chairmen in the negotiations.” 
 
That wasn’t the case when they were under different representation. 
 
“They basically had no input. It was basically a product handed over to them,” GC Lee said. “They were very pleased with the fact that the local chairman was at the bargaining table and of course [the local chairmen] really the eyes and ears of those local properties. I don’t know the little nuances of the important facts they bring to the table.” 
 
That’s why so many new properties choose to organize with SMART-TD: we make it happen by including them in the process as much as possible. 

Together, our union is creating a movement, and these victories are proof.

The post Streak of Organizing Wins, Strong Agreements Highlights the SMART-TD Difference appeared first on SMART Union.

Arkansas & Missouri Begins a New Chapter with SMART-TD 

SMART-TD welcomes our newest brothers and sisters from the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad (A&M) into our union family. For the first time in this property’s history, both the Transportation and Engine craft and the Maintenance of Way craft voted overwhelmingly to join SMART-TD. 

SMART-TD Organizer Andy Goeckner led the process.  

“These are committed professionals who have worked tirelessly under difficult conditions for years,” said Goeckner. “They deserve the opportunity to build a better future. One where their efforts are recognized, their time is respected, and their voices matter.” 

Their first Collective Bargaining Agreement 

Their milestone marks a powerful step forward, as these newest members have never enjoyed the protections of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.  

For many non-union properties, foundational labor protections like overtime pay, job security, and fair leave policies are typically out of reach until they get organized and negotiate an agreement. With union representation, these workers can claim the protections and respect they deserve. 

The decision to join SMART-TD followed months of conversations and solidarity-building among A&M’s workforce. 

SMART-TD organizers help new locals secure themselves

This is the fifth SMART-TD railroad property that Goeckner has successfully organized, in addition to playing a key role in ten other winning campaigns. His dedication makes both the properties he supports and our collective union stronger.  

Goeckner was joined by SMART-TD’s General Chairpersons Scott Chelette and Joe Cornelius. Together, they hosted informational town halls and engaged directly with the A&M crews. They provided clarity and encouragement during an important and uncertain time. 

Bargaining Begins 

With the organizing vote behind us, our shared focus turns to securing a strong first contract. SMART-TD has already started to fight for a CBA that reflects the professionalism and value of our new members. To all our new brothers and sisters from A&M: Welcome to SMART-TD. We’re honored to have you with us and we look forward to proving why life is better in a union, especially in SMART-TD. 

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A New Beginning for a Strong Group of Railroaders

SMART-TD welcomes our newest property, Local 406, out of Missoula, Montana. This local represents 125 members who were formerly working on the Montana Rail Link short-line railroad. BNSF officially took over the line on January 1, 2024. 
 
“It was unsettling leading up to that date,” Local 406 Vice Chair Jason Tresner remembered. “Not knowing what the future holds…there was a lot of uncertainty.”  

From Confusion to Confidence 

During the transition from Montana Rail Link to BNSF, our new members faced a whirlwind of changes.  

Local Chairperson Bryan Trimbo explained that “In a short time, we had to learn a brand-new operating system, a new rulebook, new computer systems, how to tie up our time sheets: you name it,” Trimbo said. 

Secretary Treasurer Josh Olson added, “Those first few days, our guys weren’t sure about much of anything, including how much we were getting paid.” 

Montana Rail Link was represented by the BLE, and SMART-TD wasn’t even allowed on the property. When BNSF took over, these brothers and sisters had a choice to make, and many chose SMART-TD. 

SMART-TD Creates Experienced Transition Team  

As the takeover approached, Olson remembers being told that “SMART reps were arrogant and not to be trusted. But that turned out to be the furthest thing from the truth.” 

Led by organizer Pete Trotta from Local 426, a team of experienced BNSF workers stepped in to guide the transitioning crew base. The new members were temporarily brought into Local 426 to get up to speed while they laid the foundation for the new Local 406. The members of 426 answered questions, explained BNSF’s systems, and helped members adjust to BNSF’s way of doing things. 

Members Helping Members: That’s Union 

“Pete and his team really took us under their wing,” said Olson. “You could tell they wanted us to succeed.” 

Tresner felt the same way.  

“We had a lot of great conversations, and the amount of knowledge that comes from these gentlemen is amazing to me. I’m speaking to somebody who knows what they’re talking about. They were very open and knowledgeable. If they didn’t have the answer, they didn’t make up an answer. They waited until they knew.”  
 
Trotta was equally happy to welcome new members. 
 
“We cared,” said Trotta. “These guys might not have known the BNSF systems yet, and they might have been BLE members, but they were railroaders just like us. Helping them was just the right thing to do.” 

Coaching and Tools Ease the Transition 

Trimbo, Olson, and others helped their former BLE members through the transition by building a website, making how-to videos, and coaching one another on the ins and outs of working under BNSF. 

Whether it was filing claims or understanding new rules, the transition team made sure no one was left behind. Trimbo put it like this, “You can’t play in the big sandbox with small toys and think it’s going to work out.”  

A Proud Start for Local 406 

Local 406 held their first official meeting on May 6, 2025. SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson and Vice President Chad Adams traveled to Missoula to swear in the new officers and celebrate these railroaders’ progress. 

“This group has gone through a lot over the past 16 months, but their teamwork, drive to learn, and support for each other have made them stronger. I couldn’t be more proud to have SMART-TD Local 406 and this group of officers in the fold,” Ferguson said of his experience in Missoula.  

In June, Local Chairperson Bryan Trimbo, Secretary Treasurer Josh Olson, and Local President Joe Garland will attend the SMART-TD Regional Training Seminar in Denver, Colorado. They’re excited to continue learning how to run their Local and represent members the SMART-TD way. 
 
“We are all very happy that SMART-TD is listening to the concerns that we do have,” said Tresner. “It’s very reassuring to know that they’re listening and they want to make sure that we’re happy, too. It’s something that we never really necessarily had in the past.” 

Welcome to the union, Local 406. We’re proud to stand with you. 

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In 1954, union membership among American workers reached a high of 35%.

Nearly 70 years later, that same number plummeted to just 10% in 2023.

So, what’s the reason for this jolting drop? Several factors have played a role in the decline, but SMART-TD’s dedicated and passionate organizers are determined to change the narrative, grow our union, and help protect as many Americans as possible.

Turning Talk into Action

SMART-TD’s Organizing Department met in late February to plan their next steps.

Our tireless organizers are actively pursuing campaigns on 12 (10 rail and two bus) properties and acquired five new properties during the Fourth Quarter of 2024.

Applications for new membership also grew, reaching a total of over 8,000 by the end of the year.

Fighting a Broken System

Higher union representation translates into a smaller wealth gap across the country.

Unfortunately, that gap has widened since the 1980s.

Broken labor laws that favor corporate special interest groups and big business tilted the balance of power against the armies of workers who get the job done. This presents many organizing challenges.

Thanks to infamous and well-known union-busting tactics, employers can sow doubt or even swing the vote as soon as they catch wind of any organizing talk.

Captive audience meetings to force anti-union propaganda on their employees were previously banned but are now allowed under the new administration. Selective firings are another of many strategies employers use to protect their “right” to abuse the power they wield over their employees. They often use every trick in the book to sabotage organizing efforts.

Companies often cross the line. They illegally interfere with organizing elections 41% of the time. 20% of workers organizing a vote are illegally fired for their pro-union activity.

The numbers are striking, and the heroism of our brothers and sisters who successfully form a local is unquestioned.

Growing Our Ranks

SMART-TD’s organizers will not be intimidated by a union-busting playbook or employers seeking to line their pockets.

In fact, every corporate misdeed is proof that our work is important. These abuses are our motivation to increase our efforts, expand our team, and sharpen our skill set. We fight. We hold management accountable. And when we have solidarity with one another, we win.

As the saying goes “There is strength in numbers.” And we must all do our part in efforts keeping this union strong and growing into the future.

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Following a nearly unanimous vote, Connecticut Southern Railroad is the newest addition to the SMART-TD union family. This is the second Genesse and Wyoming property that has joined our union in the past two weeks.   

SMART-TD welcomed the Wilmington Terminal Railroad earlier this month. 

Connecticut Southern workers were previously under an umbrella agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), which benefits some (but not necessarily all) properties that it covers. 

With only 15 members in train and engine service, they often felt like they were left in the dark and didn’t have their needs fully addressed. 

“Looking at our own situation, we had to say ‘Hey, are we getting our bang for our buck?’” said Garrett Desjardins who was the Local Chairperson while they were represented by the BLE. 

Tired of feeling like they weren’t being heard, our new brothers reached out to SMART-TD. 

Previous umbrella agreement failed to deliver results 

GCA 687 Associate Chairperson Nick Greficz assisted with the organizing efforts and explained how the decision was made after a lot of thought. 

“It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction,” Greficz emphasized. “There was some apprehensiveness about the contracts in place, the longevity of the contracts, and there was some misinformation that was being spread.” 

Discussions with Local Chairman Matt Pietrzak from Local 352 (West Springfield, MA) eased many of their worries. 

He knew most of our new members before the switch.  

“We worked side-by-side with those guys,” Pietrzak said.  

“I see [Pietrzak] almost every day when I’m at work,” Desjardins said. “We just met each other through doing the job, and you meet good people along the way. So it almost seemed like a no-brainer for us because our representation is right there.”   

He emphasized that SMART-TD’s newest members are excited about the change and look forward to no longer being under an umbrella agreement  like the one they worked under with the BLE.  

“We got held to the standards of other railroads that don’t do our work and don’t carry our qualifications [under our previous umbrella agreement],” Desjardins pointed out.   

New members recognized for their professionalism 

Brother Greficz noted that he’s been very impressed by these workers throughout their journey to join SMART-TD. 

“They’ve got a very tight-knit group of guys over there,” Greficz said. “I was very impressed with the participation and the solidarity that Connecticut Southern showed. That was something that struck me. Everybody was professional, everybody was reasonable.” 

He’s also proud of Brother Pietrzak, who is preparing to become an official organizer, for his leadership throughout the campaign. 

“It’s a true story of organizing from the rocks, because he [Pietrzak] wasn’t an organizer,” Greficz explained. “It doesn’t matter what your title is…everybody is an organizer at the end of the day.” 

For Brother Pietrzak, this is a victory that feels particularly good. 

“It [joining SMART-TD] was years in the making and now it’s finally done.”  

SMART-TD congratulates Brother Greficz and Brother Pietrzak on this organizing win and proudly welcomes the newest members of our union family! 

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Wilmington Terminal Railroad, a subsidiary of Genesse and Wyoming, has voted unanimously to join SMART-TD!

Since coming under G&W ownership in 2005, the workers have been without representation.    

From living in the “Right to Work” state of North Carolina, to dealing with threats from their notorious union-busting employer, the workers’ journey to becoming part of the SMART-TD union family was anything but easy.

New Brother Parker Greenough got tired of G&W’s threats to shut down the terminal and switch the cars elsewhere if organizing talk became a reality.

“I always figured that it [securing union representation] would be difficult and that it would take a long time, but we were finally ready,” Greenough said. “Enough is enough.”

Vice Chairman of General Committee 433 Andy Goeckner is especially proud of how determined Greenough was to fight for representation, no matter what obstacles G&W threw his way.

“Parker did a great job communicating with the crew base and making sure they were singing from the same hymnal, so to speak,” Goeckner reflected.

The Journey to Union Membership

After having important conversations with his co-workers, they decided that they were ready to stand up to G&W’s endless stream of scare tactics and join a union.

There was just one problem: he didn’t know exactly where to start.

A Friday night Google search led him to SMART-TD, and he immediately made a call to the organizing department.

By Monday morning, he was on the phone with Goeckner, who asked Greenough what he and his brothers needed. Authorization Cards were in the mail to them that same day.

Crucial support also came from Local 1105 President Mike Stafford.  He was present during the initial town hall and provided invaluable help as the vote approached.

“I was shocked at how easy SMART-TD and Andy made this process,” Greenough noted. “We could tell that he was excited to be in this fight with us, and that made us even more motivated to organize.”

A Unanimous Vote for a Voice on the Job

Much to the chagrin of G&W, the crew base unanimously voted to join SMART-TD.

Vice Chairman Goeckner then walked our new members through the process of filing the correct documentation with the Department of Labor and other federal organizations.

Fellow North Carolinian Todd McCray, who hails from the CSX General Committee, helped Wilmington Terminal navigate the process at the state level, a responsibility that he wasn’t required to assume.

“Todd’s not an organizer,” Goeckner pointed out. “Being from the same state and having the knowledge to make it happen, he just wanted to help his brothers secure the protection and respect that they deserve. He went above and beyond his job description to bring these guys into our SMART-TD family.”

McCray believes that the vote is a true reflection of the “union difference.”

“SMART has negotiated some great agreements on G&W properties,” McCray said. “These guys see that and what they’re missing out on and what a union can do for you.”

Even in the face of repeated discouragement from organizing for years, Goeckner is impressed that Greenough and his brothers never backed down.

“They didn’t fall for G&W’s blatant attempts to swing the vote and stood firm on what they wanted. That’s what being a part of the SMART-TD union family is all about, and we’re excited to welcome them onboard!”

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School bus company First Student in Gardena, California, turned away the delegation from SMART-TD Local 1909, despite previously agreeing to host our union at their employee orientation meeting.

The yard won several new routes from a local competitor, bringing in more than 90 new operators. Unlike other properties, these employees did not automatically become part of our union family. They must choose.

Seven SMART-TD officers, including SMART-TD Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, were turned away at the door.

But SMART-TD doesn’t step aside.

SMART-TD bus and transit union prepares a warm welcome

The employer decided that it didn’t want to allow space indoors for SMART-TD to meet with new employees, so we met with operators outside.

Chairperson and Local President Maria Morales and Secretary Tanisha Anderson set up on the lawn across the street, while VP Sandoval brought reinforcements in the form of fresh doughnuts.

SMART-TD welcomed the new operators, discussed the benefits of representation, the union’s safety initiatives, and how to protect their quality of life. Our crew gathered 19 signed A-cards on the spot.

Morales and Anderson were joined by Sandoval, Bus Department Alternate Vice President Markeisha Haynes, Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee members Sandra Pineda and Pedro “Pete” Lara, and David Liddle, a UTUIA rep and member of SMART-TD Local 1674.

As management’s scheduled meeting broke up, SMART-TD relocated the conversation to a local restaurant. At the impromptu reception, another 30 employees met our representatives.

Most of them signed up for union communications via Telegram, a preferred way for bus and transit union members to communicate.

“We talked about upcoming contract negotiations and how solidarity is our greatest strength in getting a solid contract.” VP Sandoval said. “We emphasized that the core of solid organizing is solid communication, Telegram is one of the best tools we have to keep everyone informed, engaged, and ready for anything.”

This is what our union family is all about. We confront challenges together, we don’t back down from management, and we will go to any length to make sure bus and transit workers receive the representation they deserve.

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SMART News recently released a story regarding organizer Andy Goeckner’s thoughts on how the Louisville & Indiana (L&I) Railroad members became a part of our union. One would expect the lead organizer to paint a positive picture, so in efforts to get a different perspective, we reached out to a few of our new brothers at the L&I and asked them the very same questions.

Brother Steve McBroom is a 32-year veteran of the railroad industry who has seen more than his fair share of territory. McBroom worked for BNSF until 2020 and has worked for a handful of different short line railroads. He has been a member of our predecessor union, the UTU, SMART-TD, and the BLE.

Brother Dustin Dudley is the newly elected Vice Local Chairperson for the L&I’s LCA in Indianapolis’ Local 1518 and has over 20 years of railroad experience working for Norfolk Southern from 2003 through 2023. Last summer, he left the NS and joined the Louisville and Indiana Railroad, looking for a change in quality of life and hoping to avoid a career sleeping in hotels.

In the two decades Dudley was with NS, he was local chairperson of SMART-TD Local 1328. When he came to the L&I in the summer of 2023, there was already plenty of interest in the crew base about joining the SMART railroad union. When his new coworkers approached him about the idea of leaving the BLE in favor of SMART-TD, he tried to stay out of the conversation initially. “I told those guys I’m a trainee. I don’t even have a vote right now.” But the more Dudley learned about his new surroundings, the more difficult it became for him to remain silent.

When asked what some of the issues were that made the members of L&I consider changing representation, McBroom and Dudley had several examples to share.

“It all boiled down to a lack of trust,” McBroom said. “We saw how our previous leadership team handled our last contract negotiation. With our next contract negotiation coming up, we knew how important it was for us to be with an organization that would stand up for us.”

Predecessor’s contracts, communication fell short

McBroom said that, for starters, the contracts being achieved by their former union weren’t to members’ satisfaction.

“In the last round of negotiations, our general chairman from the BLE settled for $4 a day for our guys to work an RCO job. Apparently, that was where the company started, and our GC agreed with it.” he said. “Additionally, our assigned BLE GC signed a side letter with the railroad without consulting any of our members and to make it worse, he never bothered to inform us that he had signed it. We operated for two months without knowing we had a new agreement. It cost our members hundreds of dollars in runaround claims that we had no idea we were owed or should be putting in. When it came to light at a meeting, his response was, “My bad. I forgot to tell you.” Like I said, we lost faith in their organization’s ability and will to properly represent us. That’s the long and short of it.”

Much like Brother McBroom, Dudley also took offense to the BLE’s lack of communication on contract negotiations. He pointed out the same two examples that McBroom provided, stating that the BLE general chairman did not take the time to inform the members that their agreement had changed or ask for their thoughts on the RCO pay issue.

“We’ve always come back on the board first out after a rest day. The GC signed an agreement in October of 2023 that changed that to where we would come off our rest days last out,” he said. “That is a good thing, but he didn’t bother to tell any of us about it until January of 2024! That is not leadership and is simply disrespectful. And it isn’t like we can look back on the computer system and figure out who is owed what claims because our extra board is kept on a chalkboard! There’s no accounting for what our guys lost from that mistake.”

Dudley also reiterated that they were not part of the discussion on how much of an allowance they should receive for operating an RCO box. “Again, that is simply disrespectful.”

Misinformation and baseless threats

On top of the lack of trust in the ability of their prior organization to represent their best interests, the crew base on the L&I said they lost faith that they were being told the truth from BLE leadership. Once the BLE learned they were in jeopardy of losing L&I as members, workers there said they pulled out all the stops with BLE President Eddie Hall making personal calls to members trying to sell them on staying with his union.

Brother McBroom stated that when Hall called him about staying with the BLE, he used scare tactics by saying, “SMART-TD could easily abandon you like they did to the Arizona Eastern Railroad. If they do that, you would all be (at-will) employees when they decide to walk away from you.” Curious, McBroom took the time to investigate that accusation himself.

McBroom said what he found was that “the story Hall told us about the Arizona Eastern Railroad and SMART-TD was a total misrepresentation of what happened. Those guys in Arizona thought they could get a better contract if they dropped the union, and SMART told them they disagreed, but wouldn’t hold them hostage. So, they allowed them to vote and abided by the result. SMART-TD didn’t abandon those guys, they got tricked by their carrier and walked away from the union. I didn’t appreciate his scare tactics or his twisting of the truth, and it didn’t help with the trust issues we already had with him or the organization.”

Dudley stated: “When I got to the L&I, there was already some distrust of the BLE going around. Once they heard we were considering leaving, that’s when they came in trying to scare us with their half-truths. Actually, I don’t even know if I can call them half-truths, they were downright lies.

“First, Hall tried to tell us we would lose our contract and have to start over from scratch, which simply was not true. Then he tried to scare everyone with his fabricated Arizona & Eastern story.”

When Hall attended a town hall meeting with L&I workers to win them back, McBroom and Dudley said that those in attendance called him out on his “misinformation of facts.”

“Eddie Hall, the president of the BLE, came to talk with us and started telling our guys lies about SMART-TD and how it treated the Arizona and Eastern Railroad. I was so mad, I was shaking,” Dudley said. “It was hard to imagine he thought we would actually believe what he was trying to sell us. What he claimed SMART did doesn’t even line up with Department of Labor regulations.”

SMART-TD had the documented proof to prove otherwise (see below), and when it was presented to Eddie Hall, he didn’t have a thing to say and left.

Unfortunately, President Hall continues to try and sell his Arizona & Eastern story.

“Just more lies,” Dudley said.

Improved accessibility and open lines

Dudley and McBroom were asked if they have seen any changes or improvements in the month since they came on board with SMART-TD. They were quick to point out that the level of communication and access to information have been the biggest immediate changes.

“The difference is night and day with our level of access to information and to officers. Since we joined SMART-TD, any one of us can call Andy Goeckner, Rick Lee, or even President Ferguson. Our questions get answered, or someone calls us back with an answer. The access to the information our guys need has been remarkable. I’m not an officer in this local, just a member, but that doesn’t seem to matter to these guys. They really want us all to have what we need to be successful.”

VLC Dudley agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiments from Brother McBroom.

“The level of communication is a big change. I can call Andy (Goeckner), Rick (GC Lee), or even Tommy (GC Gholson of GCA 898), hell I was just texting back and forth with Jeremy (SMART-TD President Ferguson) the other day,” Dudley said. “They are doing everything they can to get our guys where they need to be. The culture and the attitude are a huge change for us. These guys all go out of their way to be helpful. This is what true union representation is all about.”

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