SMART-TD Members on UP Properties Ratify Five-Year Agreement - SMART Union
https://www.smart-union.org/smart-td-members-on-up-properties-ratify-five-year-agreement/
After nearly a year of determined negotiations, SMART-TD and UP reached a TA that mirrors the recently ratified national pattern agreement while securing additional, critical protections tailored for our UP members.
What the Agreement Delivers
Substantial Wage Increases — The contract provides a compounded wage increase of 18.77 percent over the five-year life of the agreement, as detailed in the national SMART-TD agreement ratified on October 30, 2025.
Enhanced Benefits & Quality-of-Life Improvements — Members will see strengthened health benefits (medical, dental, vision), improved vacation accrual, and other quality-of-life enhancements reflected in the national agreement.
Critical Protections for UP Members — Importantly, the TA resolves longstanding issues unique to UP:
It ends the rail carrier’s two-decade-long practice of deducting “outside earnings” from back pay awards in wrongful termination cases. This is a major win for fairness and financial security.
It ensures fully reinstated members are made whole, reimbursing medical premiums and expenses incurred while awaiting arbitration decisions.
It expands meal allowances in recognition of the changing costs rail workers bear on duty.
How do we have a new contract and nothing on our off days. Also not getting all of our pl days is a big fail pl days are essentially for holidays so we have to work for many years to get paid for those. I do like some of the things that we got so good work on that but theres still alot of work to be done.