PLA Entered Into for Massive “American Dream Meadowlands” Project

Triple Five Worldwide, developers of the proposed American Dream Meadowlands project in East Rutherford, NJ, have signed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with local Building Trades Unions in advance of the project’s final approval.  The development, which is being billed as “o [...]

New SMACNA HVAC Duct Construction App Makes Constructing Duct A Snap

The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) has a new app for its flagship manual, “HVAC Duct Construction Standard—Metal and Flexible, 3rd edition.” This app greatly simplifies the process of finding construction options for rectangular du [...]

Americans Love Amtrak

The following op-ed appeared in the Des Moines Register and was co-authored by SMART Transportation President John Previsich and Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department. “While politicians can’t agree on much, Iowans and the majority of America [...]

Sheet Metal Workers Train For the Challenge

A profile of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 206 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Center in San Diego.  San Diego Planning Commissioner Anthony Wagner attests to the value of a quality training program like that available through Local 206.  “The sheet metal workers hav [...]

CN hiding derailment, falsifying stats, employees say

A CBC News investigation has unearthed allegations that suggest CN Rail has routinely under-reported minor derailments and misrepresented its yard efficiency measurements across Canada and the U.S. The CBC probe was prompted by a whistleblower lawsuit launched in the U.S. by [...]

O’Leary named Alaska Railroad CEO

The Alaska Railroad Board of Directors has named Bill O’Leary President and CEO of the Alaska Railroad, succeeding Chris Aadnesen. O’Leary will start in his new position this Friday, Nov. 1, 2013.  Read the complete story at Railway Age.  

Crew members hurt jumping from UP train

The Union Pacific Railroad is investigating after two employees were injured while jumping from a moving locomotive. According to Mark Davis, UPRR director of corporate relations and media, the incident occurred at 2 p.m. Saturday near Kennard. The village is just west of Bla [...]

John Helak Joins SMART General Executive Council

John Helak, Business Manager / FST of Local 71, Buffalo, New York, was appointed to SMART’s General Executive Council as a General Vice President, effective August 14, 2013. Brother Helak began his career in the sheet metal industry as an apprentice in 1978.  He served as a b [...]

Work begins on Calif. bullet train, locals angry

FRESNO, Calif. – Trucks loaded with tomatoes, milk and almonds clog the two main highways that bisect California’s farm heartland, carrying goods to millions along the Pacific Coast and beyond. This dusty stretch of land is the starting point for one of the most expensi [...]

CN fuel cars derail, explode near Edmonton

EDMONTON, Alberta – A Canadian National Railway train carrying liquefied petroleum gas and crude oil has derailed and exploded about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton, prompting an evacuation in the tiny community of Gainford. Parkland County Emergency Services says it received [...]