Rashonda Brown and her daughter, Shakyia Ward, are both conductors for New Jersey Transit. Even though they hold the same job title, they’ve made it a priority to forge their own professional paths. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to find out who persuaded each of them to work for New Jersey Transit and what positive and negative changes they’ve seen during their time as conductors.
March 18 is National Transit Employee Appreciation Day. Read on to join us in a celebration of the dedication and advocacy of transit workers across the U.S., whose hard work and solidarity keep our communities connected and safe.
St. Patrick’s Day is our opportunity to honor the hard work and sacrifices Irish immigrants made while helping build our country, and the continued importance of their solidarity in keeping our communities strong. Read on to see how our union marked the holiday in Chicago and New Jersey.
Registration is open for the Denver Regional Training Seminar (RTS), which is set for June 23-26. Space in some of the training tracks is limited and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis, so please make sure to secure your spot and book your hotel room early. Read on for registration details.
Since they were first held in 2020, SMART-TD’s Regional Training Seminars (RTS) have proven to be highly effective in enhancing the union’s strength. Local officers and union leaders came together in Dallas to enhance their skills, knowledge, and boost member representation. Read on to find out what new content made its debut at this training and what additional topics were featured on the agenda.
Discussions about privatizing Amtrak gain new momentum without a clear understanding of why this plan, which is not a new one, always results in failure. Read on for a roundup of the top reasons that our proud national rail line is better for the country and our members without DOGE intervention.
Growing up, Manda Snide saw the benefits of union membership firsthand. Now, she’s committed to paying it forward through her role as Nebraska’s Alternate Safety & Legislative Director. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to learn what spurred her work on the railroad and why she’s committed to serving as a resource for her members.
SMART TD is addressing the closure of seven Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Regional Offices, as announced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which plans to cancel their leases. The RRB has requested an exemption to keep these offices open, and SMART-TD is actively working with lawmakers to highlight the importance of these services.
April Ford didn’t become Wyoming’s first female Safety & Legislative Director because she sat on the sidelines. By speaking up and getting involved with her Local from Day 1, she made a tremendous impact for women and working families in her home state. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to learn what she considers her biggest accomplishment and what advice she has for her union sisters.
SMART-TD's Danny Brewer helped push a bill through the 2023 Utah legislature to establish a Utah Office of Rail Safety. Union Pacific has now “persuaded” the same legislators to gut it before the new office could complete a single inspection or levy a single fine. Read on to see how Safety and Legislative Director Brewer and the rest of Utah’s Safety and Legislative Board are pushing back to protect Utah’s railroaders.