He Never Asked for Help. That’s Why We Need to Show Up.

There are some railroaders who command attention the moment they walk into a room.

Brother Jerome Perkins (Local 1328, Louisville, Ky.) isn’t one of them.

He hasn’t been with Norfolk Southern since split date. He hasn’t carried a union card long enough to know what UTU means.  In fact, he’s still one of our newest brothers.

But ask the people who have worked beside him, and you’ll hear a different kind of respect.

Jerome is the quiet one. The dependable one. The kind of railroader who puts his head down, does the job right, and never asks for recognition. He carries himself with a quiet strength and humility that has already earned the admiration of his coworkers.

Unfortunately, life has dealt Jerome and his family an unimaginable loss with the passing of his son, Journey.

When his son was born four months premature, Jerome chose a name that reflected the road ahead. He named him Journey, knowing his little boy faced a difficult path from his very first breath. Against long odds, Journey fought. He grew stronger, and there was every reason to believe brighter days were ahead.

Then pneumonia changed everything.

At just four months old, Journey passed away, leaving Jerome and his family to face every parent’s worst nightmare.

No parent should have to bury a child.

Like so many of us would, Jerome tried to shoulder that burden on his own. He never reached out to his Local. He never asked his union brothers and sisters for help.

The truth is that many of us didn’t even know what had happened.

SMART-TD Local 1328 Local Chairperson Kenny Montfort checked in with Jerome just to see how the young conductor was doing, and that’s when he learned the heartbreaking news.

It was a conversation that changed everything.

Brother Montfort understood something that Jerome didn’t know yet:

This is more than a job. When you hire out on the railroad, you don’t just gain a paycheck.

Brotherhood isn’t something you earn after 20 years. It isn’t based on seniority or how long you’ve carried your union card. From your very first day, you’re one of us. And when one of us is hurting, we don’t wait to be asked. We show up.

Now it’s our turn to do exactly that for Brother Perkins.

Local 1328 is rallying around Brother Perkins, and SMART-TD is asking our brothers and sisters across the country to do the same. Every donation, every share, every prayer is another reminder to Jerome and his family that they are not facing this tragedy alone.

Let’s make sure he learns something every seasoned railroader eventually discovers:

You never have to ask your union family to care. We already do.

If you are able, please consider making a donation to support Brother Jerome Perkins and his family during this incredibly difficult time.

Fundraiser for Brother Jerome Perkins, (Local 1328, Louisville, KY)