SMART TD Local 818 (Ft. Worth, Texas) Alt. Legislative Rep. and BNSF Conductor Cristhian Sosa (pictured) was on BNSF train M-TULIRB1-02A with Engineer Justin Luster heading southbound from Madill, Okla., to Irving, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 3 when they spotted a woman near the tracks waving her arm in the air for help. “Engineer Luster […]
For graduating high school seniors, conventional knowledge dictates that the most viable career paths require a college degree. But an increasing number of young people are beginning to seek alternatives in the unionized trades – including HVAC technician Tyler Ziztka of SM Local 265 (Northern Illinois). The reasons? Better pay, less student debt, rewarding work […]
This summer, the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust Inc. (SMOHIT) welcomed Aldo Zambetti as program director. Zambetti started in sheet metal in 1980 and spent 20 years at the same company where his father worked his entire 36-year career. Of Zambetti’s own 41-year career, he worked in the field for 20 years, 16 of […]
Adriana Farren has always been into numbers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources with a minor in finance and worked in the front office of the former Sheet Metal Workers Local 41 in Puerto Rico before moving to Pennsylvania in 2011. This was the point where her life took a much different turn, […]
After years of working on railroads, Ron rose within his union’s leadership because he wanted to help passengers and workers feel safe and supported. pic.twitter.com/zuTX5haZNh — Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) September 6, 2021 New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol met with federal Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Westfield, N.J., an encounter […]
SMART TD Local 1470 (Edmonston, Md.) Secretary-Treasurer and Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Charles “Chuck” Wetzelberger is doing his part to get the public vaccinated against COVID-19. A 35-year member of the National Guard, Wetzelberger was on the reserves list when he heard about his unit possibly being part of vaccination efforts. With 33 […]
SMART Local 88 Organizer Al Lopez was featured earlier this month in the weekly newsletter of the Western Region of the AFL-CIO. Below is the full text of the newsletter’s profile. Congrats Brother Lopez! Al Lopez is a member and organizer for International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 88 […]
After 44 years with Union Pacific and Missouri Pacific, John Dunn of Local 756, a great advocate for members in the great state of Texas in which he lives, has called it a career. Dunn joined our union back in November 1977 after hiring on with Missouri Pacific in July 1977. That began a long […]
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to move a lite engine from customer to customer. I like moves like this because they are different from the normal everyday work of a local road switcher. This move was no different from normal railroading, other than this yard bird caught my attention. It was an […]
Ty Dragoo: On Making A Difference By Becoming A Convention Delegate Ty Dragoo is the Kansas State Legislative Director for SMART TD. From roll calls and speeches to flags and ticker tape, the national conventions are usually conventional pep rallies for the two major parties. But this year, the Democratic and Republican delegates and […]