Brother John Lynch, Local 1494 (Chicago, IL), retires after 32 years of railroad service and decades of union leadership, leaving a lasting legacy of mentorship, integrity, and dedication. Read on for more about his remarkable career.
Iranian cyberattacks against America’s transportation systems are no longer hypothetical, and growing automation is increasing the risk to critical infrastructure, supply chains, and public safety. Read on to see why transportation workers remain America’s strongest defense and how LACMTA was just the canary in the mineshaft.
Brother Richard “Richie” Hazlewood (Local 771, Needles, Calif.), an engineer for BNSF and UTU/SMART-TD member for over 30 years, was killed in a motorcycle accident on May 21, 2026. Read on to hear how his union family is remembering their larger-than-life union brother and the impact that he left on those who knew him best.
President Donald Trump delivered a perfectly timed shot of support for the Rail Safety Bill, helping SMART-TD get it passed in the Transportation Committee and on to the floor of the House and Senate. Read on to hear how his TRUTH Social message moved the needle for rail safety!
On Friday, May 22, 2026, Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. dismissed the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, “ruling that the Trump administration had brought human trafficking charges against him as part of a vindictive effort to punish him for challenging his wrongful deportation to El Salvador last year,” according to the New York Times. Read SMART General President Michael Coleman's statement in response.
On this Memorial Day, we at the SMART Transportation Division solemnly honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the United States of America. Their selfless service protects the freedoms we cherish and upholds the values that define our nation. Read on for a Memorial Day message from SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson.
With overwhelming bipartisan support, lawmakers took a pivotal step forward for rail safety reforms after voting to include key Railway Safety Act provisions in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. Read on to learn more about what it took to make today's victory possible.
Thursday, May 21 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be voting on the Rail Safety Act being added to the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill in front of Congress. SMART-TD's Safety and Legislative Department is weighing in with Committee members who hold the fate of our safety reform in their hands.
With two carriers petitioning the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for one-person train crews, SMART-TD is sounding the alarm on what this would mean for rail safety and the two-year-old federal rule that was crafted from input across a broad range of stakeholders, including our union. Read on to see our full response.
