Delegates to the First SMART Convention at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas have returned General President Joseph J. Nigro and General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sellers Jr. to five-year terms in office by acclamation.
Nigro
Sheet Metal Division delegates also returned by acclamation all 11 current vice president to the General Executive Council.
In keeping with provisions of the SMART Constitution, each officer was nominated and seconded and voting delegates were given the opportunity to propose other candidates.
All 1,007 certified voting delegates, representing a variety of crafts from SMART’s new, diverse membership, were eligible to vote for the offices of general president and secretary-treasurer. Only Sheet Metal Division delegates were eligible to participate in yesterday’s elections for the sheet metal vice presidents.
Transportation Division officers were elected at the Transportation Division Convention June 30-July 2.
First General Vice President Bruce Word took over the convention chair to conduct the electoral process, beginning with the nominations to elect Nigro and Sellers, followed by nominations and elections of 11 general vice presidents.
After the voting was concluded, Word administered the oath of office to 20 international officers, including the officers of the Transportation Division.
SMART General President Joseph Nigro and General Secretary-Treasurer Joe Sellers Jr.
In late June, 21 high school girls convened in Washington, D.C. to participate in WTS International and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) annual D.C. Youth Summit. Participants met with senior federal transportation officials and toured some of the capitol’s transportation facilities. The event is offered as part of Transportation YOU, a mentorship program created by WTS and USDOT that aims to build awareness of transportation-related careers to girls between the ages of 13 and 18.
Launched in 2011, Transportation YOU involves connecting women who have successful careers in transportation fields with girls who have an interest in obtaining engineering- or transportation-related degrees. WTS members recruit Transportation YOU participants by using their connections with school districts officials, teachers, Girl Scouts and local Boys and Girls Club chapters.
When Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Executive Director and CEO Fred Myers asked attendees at the first SMART Convention how many of them hunted, fished, or spent time outdoors with their families, nearly 100 percent raised their hands. That was a fairly decent sign that Myers would be well received by the SMART delegation and that he and his audience have more than one thing in common. That and the fact that SMART is one of 11 International unions that provide financial and promotional support to the USA. “Thanks to the dedication and foresight of yours and other unions, the 11 million members of these unions have an outdoor organization they can call their own. It’s 100 percent union and it’s your organization,” Myers said. The mission of the alliance is to educate and organize union members, their families and like-minded individuals who share a passion for hunting, fishing, shooting and the great outdoors. Members volunteer their time and unique trade skills to expand and improve public access to the outdoors, conserve and maintain critical wildlife habitats, restore our nation’s parks and provide mentoring programs that introduce youth to the outdoors. Myers told SMART members that two television shows produced by the alliance will raise more than $1 million for conservation efforts. Brotherhood Outdoors is a unique television series that showcases the talents and passions of working men and women as they set out on extraordinary hunting and fishing adventures across North America. “Your union supports that show and the show has featured six of your members over the last few years going on hunting and fishing trips, trips of a lifetime,” Myers said. “Local 36 member Dan Riegler is going on one soon.” Myers also spoke about USA’s Work Boots on the Ground, a conservation program that utilizes the unique skills of its members for projects that educate future generations of sportsmen, conserve wildlife habitat and pass on our outdoor heritage to future generations. “It is our boldest effort yet to rebuild, renew and restore the country’s state parks,” he said. “We connect you at a lifestyle level with your members, not just on who they are, but what they do for a living. We put a white hat on union members. We frequently hear from members that this is the best thing they spend money on, instilling pride and creating good will.” “Thank you for helping to create the USA, thank you for what you’ve done to make this organization the success it is today.”
Sometimes, when a train bears down on a person who has gotten onto the rails, his eyes meet the engineer’s just before impact.
“We have fatalities where people just lay themselves on the tracks, and they could be possibly staring right up at you,” said Anthony Bottalico, 58, a union official who began working as a conductor 38 years ago.
SMART General President Joseph Nigro opened the proceedings of the First SMART General Convention Aug. 6 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with a message stressing education, strength and unity.
Following the presentation of the Colors by the Palo Verde High School Junior ROTC and the singing of the Canadian and U.S. national anthems by former Sheet Metal Local 67 former bookkeeper Melina Narezo, Nigro advised delegates and guests that union leadership at all levels need to make sure they know their jobs and responsibilities.
“Let’s make sure you represent the people to the best of our ability — whether it’s planes, trains, buses or sheet metal, our leaders have to be educated; they can’t just shoot from the hip.”
After affirming that a merger between the former Sheet Metal Workers International Association and United Transportation Union was formally consolidated, Nigro acknowledged that some differences of opinion among the membership remain and encouraged discussion and debate.
“We’re going to fight some. We’re going to bleed some. But we’ll all bleed the same blood,” he said. “I’m tired of saying ‘we’ and ‘them.’ I want to feel comfortable saying ‘us.’ So, get all your animosity out.”
“We need to close the convention on Friday with one mission — that we are one union. That we are not divided, and we won’t let anything divide us. A house divided will fall. We will not go that way.”
Nigro spoke directly to all levels of union leadership — business managers, business agents, general chairpersons, and local chairpersons — when he said that service to the membership must come first.
“We will not tolerate anyone who won’t represent their members,” he said.
“You don’t have to like Joe Nigro, but you do have to like and work for your membership. Our mission is to make SMART the strongest union in North America.”
Noting the strength that can be found through SMART’s united membership, Nigro referenced a labor dispute between members of Transportation Division General Committee of Adjustment GO 505 and management of the Long Island Rail Road. GO 505 General Chairperson Anthony Simon led eight coalition unions in the dispute.
After asking for members of the delegation of GO 505 to rise, Nigro said his attendance at a labor rally there this summer was one of the most fulfilling moments of his union career.
“It was outstanding. Seeing sheet metal workers and transportation people, getting together and fighting together for the same cause — the SMART union! When I walked into that parking lot with over 3,000 people, I was so proud. Anthony, you and your boys, we’re proud as hell of you!”
Nearing the end of his address, Nigro offered his vision for the organization’s future.
“Transparency, transparency, transparency. And accountability. Our books are open to our members. We’re going to show them how we’ve spent their money. We also need to be accountable as officers for our actions and our decisions,” he said.
“Our deliberations over the next five days will give us the opportunity to move forward renewed, stronger, and united. This is our time to forge a new future with the dignity, with the integrity and the honor that built this great union. It’s all about our union . . . our members . . . our strength. Together, we are all SMART.”
In closing, Nigro advised it was time to move forward with the union’s business at hand.
“As a famous conductor once said: ALL ABOARD!”
SMART General President Joe Nigro addresses delegates and guests at the first SMART General Convention Aug. 6 in Las Vegas.
Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions (AFL-CIO), was the first of two speakers to address delegates to the SMART Convention August 6, telling attendees, “We are on the threshold of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for membership and market share growth.” He cautioned, however, that union membership growth and job opportunities hinge upon how fully employers and government embrace a strategic approach based upon the value that unions deliver day-in and day-out. “We provide the safest, most highly-skilled and productive workers found anywhere in the world,” McGarvey said. Still, unions must provide assistance at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure job opportunities keep moving forward. “We need a 21st-century model of labor relations that helps to ensure the success of our contractor partners which, in turn, helps to ensure on-time/on- budget results for our end-user customers.” McGarvey noted that we must ensure an enhanced commitment to people of color, women, veterans and young adults and a commitment to pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, which will create ladders to the middle class. He said that while union members’ fortunes do not rise and fall solely through political engagement, political action is a necessary and vital component in moving forward. He noted, however, that unions can not put all of their eggs in one basket. “We will stand shoulder to shoulder with, and we will work in support of, any candidate for office … who supports us and our issues. We will not blindly support candidates from one political party just because other people think we should, or because that’s how it has always been.” McGarvey asked that unions keep a watchful eye over their pension funds to ensure that the companies they invest in are companies that generate vast job opportunities for their members. “Hold your investment consultants accountable, and be armed with good questions.” Finally, McGarvey noted the growth in Canadian trade union membership over the past five years, resulting from increased development of the nation’s domestic energy sources. He believes that if U.S. unions follow the strategic approaches that their Canadian counterparts have applied, they can grow their membership and their market share. “No one, and I mean no one, can achieve these goals by themselves. Whatever we achieve, it must be achieved together at the local, state and national levels,” he said.
NEWARK, N.J. — A report released Friday on New Jersey Transit’s Super Bowl performance in February describes confusion on the ground and disagreement among top officials as train delays worsened, but praised the agency’s overall performance.
The 148-page report was commissioned by NJ Transit’s board of directors and prepared by the law firm of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter. The agency was criticized after fans had to wait hours after the end of the game at MetLife Stadium because of overcrowding. More than 33,000 took trains back to Secaucus Junction after the game, more than double pre-game estimates.
SMART General President Joseph Nigro opened the proceedings of the First SMART General Convention August 6 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas with a message stressing education, strength and unity. Following the presentation of the Colors by the Palo Verde High School Junior ROTC and the singing of the Canadian and U.S. national anthems by former Sheet Metal Local 67 former bookkeeper Melina Narezo, Nigro advised delegates and guests that union leadership at all levels need to make sure they know their jobs and responsibilities. “Let’s make sure you represent the people to the best of our ability—whether it’s planes, trains, buses or sheet metal, our leaders have to be educated; they can’t just shoot from the hip.” After affirming that a merger between the former Sheet Metal Workers International Association and United Transportation Union was formally consolidated, Nigro acknowledged that some differences of opinion among the membership remain and encouraged discussion and debate. “We’re going to fight some. We’re going to bleed some. But we’ll all bleed the same blood,” he said. “I’m tired of saying ‘we’ and ‘them.’ I want to feel comfortable saying ‘us.’ So, get all your animosity out.” “We need to close the convention on Friday with one mission—that we are one union. That we are not divided, and we won’t let anything divide us. A house divided will fall. We will not go that way.” Nigro spoke directly to all levels of union leadership—business managers, business agents, general chairpersons, and local chairpersons—when he said that service to the membership must come first. “We will not tolerate anyone who won’t represent their members,” he said. “You don’t have to like Joe Nigro, but you do have to like and work for your membership. Our mission is to make SMART the strongest union in North America.” Noting the strength that can be found through SMART’s united membership, Nigro referenced a labor dispute between members of Transportation Division General Committee of Adjustment GO 505 and management of the Long Island Rail Road. GO 505 General Chairperson Anthony Simon led eight coalition unions in the dispute. After asking for members of the delegation of GO 505 to rise, Nigro said his attendance at a labor rally there this summer was one of the most fulfilling moments of his union career. “It was outstanding. Seeing sheet metal workers and transportation people, getting together and fighting together for the same cause—the SMART union! When I walked into that parking lot with over 3,000 people, I was so proud. Anthony, you and your boys, we’re proud as hell of you!” Nearing the end of his address, Nigro offered his vision for the organization’s future. “Transparency, transparency, transparency. And accountability. Our books are open to our members. We’re going to show them how we’ve spent their money. We also need to be accountable as officers for our actions and our decisions,” he said. “Our deliberations over the next five days will give us the opportunity to move forward renewed, stronger, and united. This is our time to forge a new future with the dignity, with the integrity and the honor that built this great union. It’s all about our union . . . our members . . . our strength. Together, we are all SMART.” In closing, Nigro advised it was time to move forward with the union’s business at hand. “As a famous conductor once said: ALL ABOARD!”
Previsich
Amtrak links the Hudson Valley to the rest of North America. From Hudson and Albany, you can take the train to western New York, to New York City and to Canada. And people do just that: Last year, Amtrak’s Empire Service alone brought more than a million riders through the Hudson Valley, carrying business travelers and vacationers alike. A recent poll suggests that residents of the North Hudson Valley and the Catskills want to keep it this way. Like Americans throughout a wide cross-section of the nation, residents of the 19th Congressional District want more, and safer, Amtrak service.
According to the poll prepared by Dean Mitchell of DFM Research in Minnesota on behalf of the Transportation Division of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Union (formerly the United Transportation Union), 87 percent of residents would like to see daily passenger rail service increase or remain the same. This support cuts across party lines: More than 80 percent of residents like the idea of additional train service to cities like Boston, Buffalo and Chicago, including 75 percent of self-identified conservatives.
Wytkind
In a time of partisan gridlock and ideological polarization, these numbers are striking. With Congress preparing to rewrite the law that governs Amtrak — which carries more than 30 million passengers each year — elected officials should listen to their constituents and support one of the nation’s most important transportation resources.
A thriving Empire Service doesn’t come for free, but not only do North Hudson Valley residents want Amtrak to stick around — they’re willing to pay for it. Nearly 75 percent of residents, including almost 7 out of 10 Republicans, support funding at the current level or greater, even when told that the federal government subsidizes Amtrak by more than $1 billion per year.
Many of the rail lines used by Amtrak are shared by freight trains, and residents of the Hudson Valley also want to ensure that the rails passing by their towns and homes are safe. One idea that is wildly unpopular in the Hudson Valley is the use of one-person train crews, an unsafe practice that received attention last year when a train operated by a single crew member leveled a town just outside Quebec and killed 47 people. An overwhelming 84 percent of Hudson Valley residents would vote in favor of proposed legislation requiring two-person crews on freight trains, including almost 8 out of 10 Republicans. These numbers are similar to the results of polls around the country, reflecting a strong nonpartisan desire to prioritize safety.
Given the broad public backing for more Amtrak service and two-person crews on freight trains, one might think that congressional approval of expanded passenger rail and increased safety measures was a foregone conclusion. But many other common-sense transportation proposals have languished in Congress over the past several years. While here in the Hudson Valley, Amtrak is supported by residents (and by the local congressional delegation), there is little guarantee that it will continue to get the support it needs in Washington, D.C.
Providing long-term funding to ensure a strong national rail network is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Because we have failed to invest in a modern rail system, we are lagging behind much of the developed world. While we force Amtrak to use 50-year-old equipment, countries like China are introducing 300-mph train service.
During this dangerous era of austerity in Washington, too often policymakers have offered budgets that attempt to advance an old, tired and inaccurate idea that we can privatize and cut our way to a successful national passenger rail system. It’s time for Congress to listen to the American people and provide the long-term funding for the world-class Amtrak passenger rail network this country needs and deserves.
The preceding column by John Previsich and AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Edward Wytkind was published Aug. 6 by the Albany Times-Union.
U.S. rail traffic gained ground in the week ending Aug. 2, 2014, effectively wrapping up a solid month of gains, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Aug. 7.
U.S. freight carload volume for the latest week rose 5.6 percent measured against the comparable week in 2013, while U.S. intermodal volume continued to flex muscle, up 6 percent over the year-ago week. Total U.S. rail traffic for the week was, up 5.8 percent compared with the same week last year.
U.S. rail traffic gained ground in the week ending Aug. 2, 2014, effectively wrapping up a solid month of gains, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Aug. 7.