News Archive
SMART statement on implementation of President Biden’s executive order on PLAs
On Monday, December 18, the Biden-Harris administration announced regulations that will implement President Biden’s executive order requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects costing $35 million or more. In response, SMART issued the following [...]
Victory in the Empire State: N.Y. two-person crew bill signed
Given a second chance to act, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has chosen to side with safety. In late 2022, a bill requiring two-person crews on freight trains in the state reached her desk and she vetoed it. But something changed this year — perhaps it was seeing legislatures and [...]
Local 27 training coordinator honored with Patriot Award for support of the National Guard and Reserve
Note: This article was originally published by Eye On Sheet Metal, a resource for the unionized sheet metal industry. John Espinos has mentored many apprentices in his time as training coordinator at SMART Local 27 in central and southern New Jersey, but receiving a Patriot A [...]
President Biden announces $6B to realize high-speed rail connecting Las Vegas and Southern California
As the expression goes, there is strength in numbers. The SMART Transportation Division is about to get a whole lot stronger thanks to yesterday’s announcement by President Joe Biden in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Dec. 8, President Biden and SMART-TD President Jer [...]
SMART Transportation Division announces members of Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety committee
Independence, Ohio — The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division (SMART-TD) has announced the members who will participate in the Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee. This committee, [...]
SEPTA bus members ratify new contract
Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, has been known for being anything but loving when it comes to wage increases and quality of life benefits for its transportation professionals. First-year General Chairperson Anthony Petty of SMART-TD’s SPT General Committee announced [...]
FTA announces random drug and alcohol testing rates for 2024
The calendar year 2024 drug and alcohol random testing rates for specific recipients of Federal Transit Administration financial assistance were published in the Federal Register on Nov. 30, 2023. The minimum random drug testing rate will remain at 50 percent, and the random [...]
Buffalo sheet metal worker discusses his “purpose” and pride as a SMART member
The last Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) challenge of 2023 asks SMART members to share their stories in response to the question, “Why are you proud to be a SMART union member?” For Local 71 (Buffalo) sheet metal worker and organizer Andre Mayes, the answer to that [...]