American Train Dispatchers Association

"ATDA" redirects here. For the Augmented Target Docking Adapter, see Agena Target Vehicle § Augmented Target Docking Adapter.

The American Train Dispatchers Association (Train Dispatchers) is an American trade union representing railroad workers. The Train Dispatchers belong to the AFL–CIO as one of the organization's smallest members.

American Train Dispatchers Association

American Train Dispatchers Department
Train Dispatchers
Founded	1917
Headquarters	1370 Ontario Street, Suite 1040, Cleveland, Ohio 44113, USA
Location	United States
Members	2,718
Key people	L E Dowell, President
Affiliations	AFL–CIO
Website	National Site, Regional Site

Jurisdictions

ATDA operates mostly as a craft union representing railroad dispatchers. Specialized forms of dispatchers including trick train dispatchers, night chief dispatchers and assistant chief dispatchers are also members of the union.^[1]

The organization also represents the crafts that provide power to electrified trains, mostly on commuter lines. The titles in this jurisdiction are power supervisors, power directors and load dispatchers.

On short line railroads, the organization acts as more of an industrial union and also represents trainmen, enginemen, maintenance of way employees, mechanics and clerical staff.

Employers

The Train Dispatchers hold collective bargaining agreements with the following companies:^[2]

• Alaska Railroad
• Amtrak
• Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway
• Belt Railway of Chicago
• Conrail Shared Assets
• CSX
• Grand Trunk Western Railroad (CN)
• Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
• Kansas City Southern Railway
• Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad
• Metra
• Montana Rail Link
• New Jersety Transit
• Norfolk Southern
• PATH
• Soo Line (CP)
• South Shore Line
• Staten Island Railway
• Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
• Wisconsin Central Ltd. (CN)

History

The union was founded in 1917 at a convention in Spokane, Washington. An earlier organization called the Train Dispatchers Association of America preceded the establishment of the ATDA by 27 years.^[3] During the Great Railroad Strike of 1922, the Train Dispatchers did not participate but neither would they perform work of other unions.^[4]

See also

• Rail traffic controller
• Train Dispatcher (computer simulation)