News Archive
How the Irish Helped Create America
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 Open for Denver Regional Training Seminar
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.
Local 435, North Florida Building Trades win big on Jacksonville Jaguars stadium
Thanks to the advocacy of SMART Local 435 and the North Florida Building and Construction Trades Council, locally hired apprentices will help build the new Jacksonville Jaguars stadium — a more than $1-billion project. “Jacksonville has not seen a project this size in decades [...]
Dallas Training Empowers Local Leaders
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.
SMART GP Coleman statement on tariffs impacting North American workers
“We need trade policies that strengthen North American industries, protect union jobs and reinforce the shared success of the United States and Canada. What we are getting instead are policies that weaken the U.S.-Canada relationship, threatening the industries that put union members to work."
Eli Baccus to lead SMART Education Department
Former local union organizer and SMART International Instructor Eli Baccus has been named director of the SMART Education Department — another step in a career dedicated to advancing the interests of union workers across North America. “Eli’s extensive experience, dedication [...]
Privatizing Amtrak: a disaster in the making
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.
National Careers In Trades Week spotlights opportunities in construction
To raise awareness for the abundance and evolution of trade careers, building trades unions and skilled trade associations, including SMART, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) and International Training Institute (ITI), have come together to launch the first national Careers In Trades Week, April 7-11, 2025.