Category: Front Page
SMART-TD, Sen. Sherrod Brown take action to protect Cleveland railroad jobs
In fall 2024, CSX Railroad announced plans to change how the carrier moves freight between Chicago and the East Coast; a plan that would have forced more than 120 SMART-TD members to choose between relocation to either Buffalo, N.Y., or Willard, Ohio — or be laid off. SMART-TD officers and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown took action in response. And with the senator’s help, union railroad jobs stayed in Cleveland where they belong.
Local 55 member details union pride for BE4ALL challenge
The spring 2024 Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) challenge asked SMART members to tell their union story, prompted by the question: Why are you proud to be a SMART member? For Paul Garner, a longtime Local 55 sheet metal worker out of Boise, Idaho, the answer boils down to our union’s tradition of mentorship and solidarity.
GP Coleman’s Thanksgiving message to members in Canada
Sisters, brothers and friends across Canada, On behalf of myself, the SMART General Executive Council and all your brothers and sisters across this union, I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. Today is a day to gather with loved ones and enjoy precious time with family and [...]
SMART sisters “Let the Good Jobs Roll” at Tradeswomen Build Nations 2024
More than 420 SMART sisters and allies from 47 local unions and regional councils descended on New Orleans, Louisiana, from September 27-29 for the 2024 Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference.
Yardmasters recognized by Federal Hours of Service bill
A Federal bill known as the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act was introduced today, following our recent success protecting yardmasters in Minnesota. The SMART-TD railroad union is gathering additional co-sponsors for the bill, which would bring Yardmaster hours in line with those of other critical railroad employees across the nation.
Ohio sister wins Local 24 apprenticeship award with perfect attendance
While many teenagers were figuring out what classes to take the next school year, Emilee Och was making plans to be a union welder. As a student in the School to Apprenticeship Program, her aspirations were complemented with training while she was still in high school, and sh [...]
Don’t let outsiders drive a wedge between us
No one deserves to wake up in the morning and wonder, is today going to be the day that I'm verbally assaulted while I'm doing my job? Is someone going to lay hands on me, spit on me, stab me, shoot me? No one deserves to wake up and wonder “is today the day that I lose limbs? That I suffer a career or life altering injury? Is today the day that I don't make it home?” That's not Republican. That's not Democrat. That is union. And we should stand united when we talk about these issues. Do not let someone else drive a wedge between you. We must move forward together.
Education Department hosts class on so-called “right to work” to boost member engagement, organizing
The SMART Education Department held its new “Right to Work and Member Retention” class in Detroit, Mich., during the week of September 30th. The class focused on the open shop movement, the impact of so-called right to work, strategies for improving membership retention, and [...]