Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the course of history, leading a pioneering crusade for racial justice and civil rights. Unfortunately, his bold vision for the country and the world is often diluted in favor of a sanitized version of history, and many important characteristics of his activism are swept under the rug – including […]
“From the Ballast” is an open column for SMART Transportation Division rail members to state their perspective on issues related to the railroad industry. Members of the union are encouraged to submit content by emailing to news_TD@smart-union.org. Columns are published at the union’s discretion and may be published in the SMART-TD newspaper. Most of us […]
Pro-labor elected officials in Michigan this week pushed the state one step closer to restoring workers’ right to collectively bargain and ensuring workers are offered competitive wages. House Democrats voted to repeal the state’s decade-old so-called “right-to-work” law in a 56-53, party-line vote. In 2012, the country watched as SMART members joined over 10,000 […]
In a video profile for Women In Construction Week 2023, Local 17's Kerry Sampson talked about her apprenticeship experience and the life-changing impact of joining SMART.
Prince George’s (PG) County in Maryland is currently considering a project labor agreement (PLA) for the county’s blueprint schools program, which will use a public-private partnership model for more than $1 billion in school construction in the county. The PLA, which has faced opposition from entities like the Association of Builders and Contractors, would be […]
In a video profile for Women In Construction Week 2023, Local 17's Adrian Mobley took SMART through a day on the job and discussed her journey in the trade.
As has been documented, we’ve been pushing quite a few pieces of rail safety legislation in many states. Of all the places SMART has legislation, Utah State Legislative Director Dan Brewer may have had the most-ambitious agenda this cycle especially considering his state has one of the hardest climates to create traction for labo- friendly […]
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19, and International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical and Engineering Department (SMART-MD) issued the following statement: On February 24, the IBEW, IAM District 19, and SMART-MD filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway in the United […]
The state of Michigan is a great microcosm of the United States as a whole. It has major metropolitan areas, heavy industry, expansive agriculture and a diverse transportation network. Train tracks crisscross “The Big Mitten,” moving people to and from the state and getting products to both national and international markets. Belying their role in […]
The daughter of General Chairperson Richard Finley (GCA-RCL), Tori Brianna White, passed away at the untimely age of 28 on Feb. 26, leaving a huge void in the lives of Brother Finley, her mother, Stephanie L. Brown, and members of SMART Transportation Division Local 1558 in Bergenfield, N.J., in mourning. GC Finley says Tori helped […]