Largest U.S. Rail Union to Oppose Proposed Union Pacific & Norfolk Southern Mega‑Merger
Largest U.S. Rail Union to Oppose Proposed Union Pacific & Norfolk Southern Mega‑Merger An Overview of the Deal and Union Response On July 29, 2025 , Union Pacific announced plans to acquire Norfolk Southern in an estimated $85 billion merger AP News Reuters . This would create the nation’s first coast‑to‑coast freight rail network , covering approximately 50,000 miles across 43 states and fundamentally reshaping North America’s rail map AP News Reuters Trains Supply Chain Digital . However, the largest U.S. rail union , known as SMART Transportation Division (SMART‑TD), has announced its strong intention to formally oppose the merger . The union has cited serious concerns about Union Pacific’s labor practices, worker safety, and the overall welfare of the rail industry Reuters AOL . Who Is SMART‑TD? SMART‑TD is the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. With around 125,000 members across railro...