SMART-TD Members Ratify CPKC Labor Agreement

The new three-year contract for former Soo Line workers includes retroactive wage increases and future pay bumps.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Unions

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty freight locomotive coupling assembly, representing structural labor agreements in the railway sector. — SMART-TD union members ratified a three-year labor contract with CPKC, securing retroactive wage increases and future pay adjustments through 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Members of the SMART-TD union have officially ratified a new three-year labor agreement with CPKC. The contract covers former Soo Line workers and includes retroactive pay adjustments.

Why it matters

This ratification provides long-term wage certainty for railroad employees through the end of 2027. It marks a significant milestone in labor negotiations for the transportation sector.

The three-year labor agreement was approved with 75.6% of participating members voting in favor. The contract remains in effect through December 31, 2027.

The players

SMART-TD

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers represents transportation employees across the United States.

CPKC

Canadian Pacific Kansas City is a major North American railroad company formed by the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.

The details

The agreement includes hourly wage increases that are retroactive to the beginning of 2025. Workers will see additional pay increases take effect starting on January 1, 2027.

Wage increases are retroactive to 2025.
Voting on the labor agreement concluded on October 15, 2026.
New wage increases take effect January 1, 2027.
The agreement term expires on December 31, 2027.

Political Context

This agreement reflects the ongoing collective bargaining processes mandated by the Railway Labor Act. Opposition to such rail contracts often centers on concerns regarding work-life balance and staffing levels during these intense negotiation cycles.

The ratification ensures continued service for rail operations, minimizing the risk of immediate labor-related disruptions for the supply chain. Workers covered under the agreement will see increased compensation reflected in their paychecks.

The takeaway

This agreement secures predictable labor conditions for the rail industry for the next three years. Employees should verify how the retroactive wage increases will be applied to their specific payroll accounts.