March 27, 2026
Omaha, Nebraska – On March 26, 2026, the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) reached a major protective agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad (UP), related to the railroad’s proposed merger with Norfolk Southern (NS). The agreement was finalized following a March 20 meeting between ATDA President Ed Dowell and UP CEO Jim Vena, and provides a list of robust protections for those ATDA members on the Norfolk Southern System. The agreement provides both stability and job security for ATDA members, including:
“ATDA Train Dispatcher for Life” Protection
Under the agreement, all ATDA-represented NS train dispatchers employed immediately prior to the merger control date are guaranteed continued employment for life as ATDA Train Dispatchers. This provision ensures that no dispatcher covered by the current ATDA/NS CBA will be subject to layoffs because of the merger, or beyond, in an industry where automation technology is increasingly prioritized.
Minimum Five-Year Commitment to Atlanta
ATDA members currently working on the NS system will remain in Atlanta for a minimum of five years following the control date, which is 60 days after Surface Transportation Board (STB) approval. This guarantee provides stability for ATDA members and their families, while removing uncertainty about relocation during the critical early years of the merger transition.
270-Day Advance Notice Requirement for Any Relocation
If relocation eventually becomes necessary, UP will be required to provide a minimum of 270 days’ advance notice to ATDA. This extended notice period provides members with meaningful time to plan, evaluate options, and make informed decisions for themselves and their families, and is far beyond typical industry standards.
Protection of ATDA Dispatch Territories
The agreement also ensures that all territory currently dispatched by ATDA-represented train dispatchers will continue to be dispatched by them unless modified through a formal Implementing Agreement under the collective bargaining process. This provision directly protects against the transfer of union work to non-union Train Dispatchers and prevents unilateral changes by the Carrier.
ATDA endorses the proposed UP/NS merger
In response to the agreement, ATDA will now officially support the proposed UP / NS merger. This position reflects a negotiated outcome in which the lives and livelihoods of ATDA members have been significantly and materially protected, in both the near and long term. Based on real and impactful commitments in writing, ATDA has moved to protect and prioritize those it exists to serve.
Reflecting on the monumental Agreement, ATDA President Ed Dowell said, “After the proposed merger was announced, I attended NS union meetings in Atlanta and asked our members what concerns they had with the proposed UP-NS merger. Overwhelmingly, they responded with concerns about relocating out of Atlanta, fears of losing their jobs, and losing ATDA union representation. Now, our NS members know they will remain in Atlanta through at least the summer or fall of 2032 and receive 270-day notice should they have to relocate! Together with the guarantee of an ATDA train dispatcher job for life, this agreement will certainly help provide our members and their families with the stability they deserve. Additionally, I hope that other Railroads take note that a 90-day relocation notice is as insufficient as it is antiquated. This and the other protections included within this agreement should be the pattern moving forward. With Union Pacific guaranteeing our members work as ATDA Train Dispatchers for life, committing to the preservation of their right to their union work, and collaborating with us to maintain their stability, I now support their effort to merge with Norfolk Southern. In closing, I'd like to thank ATDA Vice President Brandon Denucci and ATDA Executive Assistant to the President David Ursini for their work and contributions to this agreement.”
