Category: Summer 2022
Members continue to protest rail shipper policies
Members of the SMART Transportation Division and other unionized rail workers came together for a day of protest on May 10 outside the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) annual meeting. Early in the day, SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo, TD Auxiliary Pres [...]
Member Spotlight: Meet Stacy DeMonbrun
Stacy DeMonbrun – a journeyperson, instructor and recording secretary at SM Local 5 (East Tennessee and North Carolina) – has worked in the sheet metal trade for 30 years, where her leadership skills and unique perspective have made her a natural trailblazer. Read more about [...]
Partners in Progress Task Force recommends recruiting tactics
There is no doubt that recruiting has been impacted by the pandemic. Virtual hiring is here to stay, and for good reason. Virtual recruiting efforts are more cost effective and extend an employer’s reach, whereas in-person recruiting events and career fairs require supplies, [...]
Two-person crew saves the life of missing woman
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 th [...]
SMART Education Department holds in-person organizing training in Portland
During the first week of May, the SMART Department of Education held an in-person basic organizing training session in Portland, Oregon — part of the vital work the education department performs to keep our union strong and geared towards growth. Participants from across the [...]
TD President Ferguson, three members testify before STB
From left, Local Chairperson Chris Bond (Local 513, Gainesville Texas); Local Chairperson Steve Groat (Local 329, Boone, Iowa); General Chairperson Matt Burkart (GCA-341); SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson and AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department Pre [...]
Local 9 members complete mid-air spiral duct install
L–R: GMMI Owner Greg Martin, SMART Local 9 members Brandon McPherson, Eric Biermann, Larry Hall, Derek Costa, Brandon Inskeep, Jason Ramon, Mitchell Pinnell and Jesse Redeye In the fall of 2021, the craftsmanship and skill that defines union labor was on full display, as memb [...]
Workers get SMART by organizing in Portland, Ore.
By: Matt Haines, Organizer, Local 16 As of April 15, 2022, SMART SM Local 16 (Portland, Ore.) is in the middle of negotiations with Vancouver, Wash.-based 360 Sheet Metal after workers there successfully won their vote to unionize. Getting to the negotiating table is statisti [...]