CSS Freight, SMART TD Sign New Pact
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
CSS, an affiliate of Anacostia Rail Holdings, provides freight service over 127 miles of line between Chicago and South Bend, Ind., and Chicago and Kingsbury, Ind., with connections to all Chicago-area railroads as well as the Port of Chicago.
Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) and SMART TD (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) have agreed to a new five-year contract for the short line’s 32 represented locomotive engineers, conductors and brakemen.
CSS, an affiliate of Anacostia Rail Holdings, provides freight service over 127 miles of line between Chicago and South Bend, Ind., and Chicago and Kingsbury, Ind., with connections to all Chicago-area railroads as well as the Port of Chicago (see map below). It hauls 60,000 carloads annually of steel products, chemicals, coal, grain, minerals, scrap metal, pig iron and roofing materials.
The pact for transportation employees, ratified March 18, 2022, runs from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2026, the short line reported on April 8.
“I’m pleased we could get the contract successfully passed,” CSS President Todd Bjornstad said. “It’s a nice package for a talented group of railroaders who run our trains and serve our customers.”
“Our membership of Local 1526 who work for CSS Freight are pleased with the new contract,” SMART Vice President Jamie Modesitt said. “Collaboration with the company over the past eight months has created a win-win outcome for both sides.”
“After many months of negotiation, our members got a quality contract that helps transportation employees and their families get some help to offset the inflation increase that started in 2021,” SMART Local 1526 Vice-General Chairman Brian “Freddie” Krueger said.
