Author: alyssahansen
An official, dedicated funding mechanism for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail service is now a reality in Kansas thanks to SMART-TD led legislative efforts.
“This is an historic milestone that was years in the making,” Kansas Safety & Legislative Director Ty Dragoo said. “Our shared vision of a more connected, accessible Kansas is on step closer to reality.”
Getting passenger rail included in the budget was a hard-fought victory for the state’s labor community and allies. Getting results requires a coalition of organizations and continuous pressure for years at a time. Each step completed is a victory.
Breakthrough for Midwest passenger rail
Signed into law by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, the state’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year creates a “passenger rail service revolving fund.” The budget, which takes effect in July 2025, provides funds for infrastructure and operational needs at a time when federal rail funding across the country is on the chopping block.
Some of those needs include connections to the Heartland Flyer expansion and additional Midwest and national routes.
“The inclusion of a passenger rail service revolving fund [in the budget] marks a breakthrough for expanding rail service across the state,” Dragoo said. “I’m very proud of the labor community and our supporters for getting this across the finish line and never backing down, especially in the face of so many line-item vetoes to the budget.
Union advocacy also protects two-person crew laws and rail safety regulations
In addition to the Passenger Rail Service Revolving Fund, SMART-TD and its legislative allies achieved several other wins during the session, including protecting two-person crew laws and stopping harmful deregulation efforts.
“Whether it’s preserving rail safety laws, winning new funding for passenger rail service, or pushing back against deregulation, there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish when we work together to get things done,” Dragoo said. “We scored an historic victory for Kansas rail and are more motivated than ever to add to our legislative accomplishments.
In statehouses across the country, SMART-TD members demonstrate what it means to fight for their brothers and sisters. SLD Dragoo provides an excellent example of what we can accomplish by staying focused and working together to get things done.
The Situation Room on CNN featured SMART General President Michael Coleman, who appeared on their broadcast Wednesday, April 16th to discuss SMART apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s ongoing case and his right to due process.
“I’m heartbroken. I’m angry,” Coleman said. “He’s a good man. He’s an outstanding employee. They [his employer] would like to have him back.”
He spoke candidly about the struggles our brother’s wife and children are facing, including trying to keep their health insurance alive, and made it clear that SMART will always fight for the rights of every single member.
“We just want due process. Our union is founded on due process.”
We encourage every member to take a few minutes to watch this important clip and see our General President speak out with the strength, clarity and conviction that defines SMART.
A Maryland bill designed to protect bus and passenger rail workers from violent assaults has officially passed both chambers of the state legislature and is now headed to the governor’s desk for signature.
The bill was championed by SMART-TD Maryland State Safety and Legislative Director David Pendleton, who took office in September 2024. HB-1144//SB-858 State Public Transit – Exclusion for Assault and Other Bodily Injury is his first legislative victory.
Bill to create labor-lead workgroup, passenger code of conduct, dangerous passenger bans and more
The new legislation requires the Maryland Transit Administration to form a safety-focused workgroup in consultation with SMART-TD, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), AFSME, and WMATA. Together, they will create a passenger code of conduct and roll out a variety of internal safety improvements.
The bill also enforces bans on individuals who commit assaults, an provides an appeals process and ensures protections for individuals being treated for behavioral disabilities.
“This is more than a bill. It’s a green light for unions and workers to take ownership of solving the transit violence problem in Maryland,” Pendleton said. “It took teamwork to make this Dream Work! Through the efforts of our Legislative Board especially Assistant Director Tom Cahill, through a strong partnership with the Amalgamated Transit Union as well as AFSCME, and with our friends in the Legislature, Delegate Jackie Addison (Dist.-45) and Senator Shaneeka Henson (Dist.- 30) who led from the front on transit safety, we got this done.”
The workgroup begins in June, with new policies going into effect by October 1, 2025.
Member Testimonials Turned the Tide
SMART-TD members came to Annapolis to share their harrowing experiences of being assaulted in the performance of their duties. “We had so much support from our members here who helped us pass this bill. Our members submitted written testimony, made calls, and they came in person to testify. It’s not easy to step into the state house and handle the pressure, but they did, and it made all the difference for this bill,” Pendleton said.
Assistant Safety and Legislative Director Tom Cahill, drawing on his extensive tenure as a Legislative Representative for SMART-TD Local 631 and his 10 years of service on Maryland’s State Legislative Board, emphasized that the way legislators reacted to the testimony of SMART-TD members was both powerful and effective.
“You could tell from the reactions in the room and the thoughtful follow-up questions they asked that the legislators really heard us,” Cahill said. “They connected with the stories, and that kind of engagement doesn’t happen by accident.”
Among the Maryland members who lent their voice and experience to this cause was Brother Jay Johnson (Local 1470). During Brother Johnson’s testimony about an assault he was subjected to on the job, he showed Maryland’s legislators the scars he was left with. He bravely showed the lawmakers the evidence of the need for this bill by displaying the marks left on the back of his head following plastic surgery done to repair damage from when he was attacked with a blunt instrument while working his train.
Brother Brian Perry (Local 1470) shared a testimony about how he suffered assault while defending a Co-worker aboard his train. He was trying to keep an unruly passenger away from a fellow employee when the attacker turned on him.
Sister Trena Few (Local 1470) gave her testimony about how she was spit on while working and how another conductor had to step in to defend her.
Cahill also gave powerful testimony to Maryland legislators, speaking from his three decades of experience as a railroader. He laid bare the reality of life on the rails, stressing that “on the railroad, a routine day can go sideways in an instant.”
Cahill explained that this bill lays the groundwork for union members to formally log repeat offenders who harass, threaten, or assault transportation workers and ultimately get them barred from all forms of public transportation across the state. “This is about protecting the men and women who protect your constituents every day,” Cahill said. “When our members are safe, the public is safer too.”
Former SLD Larry Kasecamp laid the groundwork for victory
Brother Pendleton credits much of the success passing the bill to his predecessor, Larry Kasecamp.
“Larry laid the foundation for everything. This was my first Legislative Session as Director. Many legislators might not have known my name, but they sure as hell knew what SMART-TD was and what we stand for,” Pendleton said. “That’s all because of Larry’s passionate advocacy over his 30-plus-year career. This bill is part of his legacy in Maryland.”
Pendleton garnered unanimous support for the bill
SLD Cahill was quick to acknowledge the work of SLD Pendleton’s pivotal role in the bill’s success.
“David is a very good communicator,” Cahill said. “He told our members’ story in a way that got buy-in from both houses of the legislature and both political parties. That’s not something you see every day.”
Cahill praised SLD Pendleton’s strategic selection of union members to testify. “He chose people who could speak to the heart of the issue, and he chose well,” Cahill said. “You could see from the body language in that room that it hit the mark.”
Regarding our members’ testimony, SLD Pendleton had this to say, “When I first introduced HB-1144, I couldn’t find a legislator willing to sponsor it. After Delegate Addison and Senator Henson heard our members’ experiences, everything changed. They powerfully took up our cause. Protecting not only our members, but also their constituents and everyone who utilizes transit services in Maryland.
“Once our members got done sharing their stories and experiences, the conversations completely changed. I had legislators mad that I didn’t bring it to them to get first dibs on being the lead sponsor. When our members’ testimony was all said and done, it was a very popular bill and passed with unanimous support from both sides of the aisle!”
SLD Pendleton told SMART News the power of the testimony given by these two members and many more like them, absolutely turned the tide and was the difference between pushing for and passing this legislation.
Brother David Pendleton’s Mission and Leadership
Pendleton (Local 1470-Edmonston, MD) is an Amtrak Conductor and Brakeman who took on the role of SLD with a clear mission to stand up for the safety and dignity of every member in Maryland. “Like many of us, I grew up on the railroad. My father, Joe was a conductor for 27 years. I used to come to work with him all the time as a kid.
“I was 20 years old when I hired onto Amtrak. This is more than just a job for me. More of my life has been spent on the railroad than off of it. The membership of SMART-TD is more than just my union brothers and sisters; you ARE my brothers and sisters. I’ve seen firsthand our members being physically assaulted for doing their jobs. I know firsthand of members who were sexually assaulted onboard trains we work on. I have been physically assaulted in the performance of my duties as a conductor.
“This legislation will help ensure a safer working environment for not only us, but all transit workers and the public utilizing transit services throughout the State of Maryland.”
Congratulations to Brother Pendleton and all SMART-TD members in Maryland for your historic victory.
April 12, 2025, CLEVELAND, Ohio — Local 1760 Chairperson Andrew Wirth entered the ring at the historic LaSalle Theatre in Cleveland on Saturday night, and three rounds later emerged a champion. Wirth earned a victory by decision over reigning champion Michael Pinto. He is now the 168-pound Masters Amateur Division Title champion.
It was a fight defined by heart, endurance, and strategy, three traits Wirth carries with him as a conductor and as a Local Chair. Like all railroaders, Wirth has plenty of experience meeting pressure with purpose and turning adversity into motivation. When the final bell rang, there was no doubt: Brother Wirth had put in the work to earn the title.
Legislative Representative Andrew Curto, also from Local 1760, was in attendance along with nine others repping SMART-TD. “Everyone in the local was excited for Andy,” Curto said. “He had some nerves before the fight, which anyone would, but I’ve known him long enough to recognize the moment everything shifted. Before that bell rang, I saw the look — stone cold and locked in. When he’s like that, you just know. Pinto might’ve been favored to win and had the reach advantage, but the second I saw that look, I knew the champ was in for a bad night.”
Curto added, “There’s a reason he (Brother Wirth) can win a boxing match, and it’s the same reason he is the best LC around.”
Over the years, Wirth has become a familiar face in discipline hearings, defending the rights of SMART-TD members with precision and fire. Michigan State Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach, a member of Local 1760 himself, had high praise for the new champion:
“He’s a fighter in every sense of the word. I told him he’d better start bringing that title belt with him into disciplinary hearings. Let CSX see exactly who they’re messing with when they try to come after our members.”
Belt in hand, Wirth returns to the rails and Rougmere Yard, ready as ever to stand up for his brothers and sisters in SMART-TD.
Congratulations, Brother Wirth! You represented SMART-TD well, and we are all proud of you!
The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) stands in unwavering solidarity with Brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He is a first-year apprentice of SMART Local 100, who was mistakenly deported by the U.S. Government, then imprisoned in El Salvador without due process or opportunity for appeal. If this can happen to Garcia, it can happen to anyone.
If you are able and willing, please donate to support Brother Abrego Garcia’s wife and three small children. Please follow this link to a verified GoFundMe Account.
►Fundraiser for Jennifer Vasquez Sura by National Day Laborer Organizing Network : Aid for Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia’s Family
Kilmar fled El Salvador after enduring threats and extortion from the violent Barrio 18 gang. These threats were so severe that a U.S. immigration judge granted him legal protection in 2019. Despite this protection, Brother Abrego Garcia was unlawfully detained and forcibly deported by ICE agents on March 12, 2025, while driving home from work with his son. He was delivered into the hands of the very gang he fled. He is said to be imprisoned in El Salvador’s CECOT prison, infamous for inhumane conditions and gang violence.
The United States Government has no legal authority to snatch a person who is lawfully present in the United States off the street and remove him from the country without due process. The Government’s contention otherwise, and its argument that the federal courts are powerless to intervene, are unconscionable.
This egregious violation of our brother’s rights has been acknowledged by federal courts and even the U.S. government, which admits his removal was an “administrative error.” However, Kilmar remains in custody overseas, and the federal government has failed to take action to bring him home, even contesting a court order to do so.
Brother Kilmar and his family need the support of his Union family during this critical time. His wife, Jennifer, and their young children need financial support and help in the legal fight for Kilmar’s return.
Let us honor the fundamental principles of our union: solidarity, justice, and standing up for our own. We urge you to consider donating and sharing Kilmar’s story to help bring this brother home.
Support Kilmar. Support justice. Stand with SMART Local 100.
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If you change your address, it’s important to update both of us. Forgetting to update your SMART-TD profile means you won’t receive ballots or other important news crucial for standing up for your rights.
Staying up to date is extremely important
With 2025 national negotiations underway, and many on property agreements also needing ratification, this is the time to make sure your vote gets counted.
Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Don’t sit this one out.
We understand that you may not want to receive every update, and that’s okay. But staying connected to receive ballots and contract information is your responsibility. It’s not only common sense, but it’s required under the SMART Constitution.
Update your contact info today—and help build a stronger, more connected SMART-TD.
LANGLEY PARK, MD. — Leaders of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), as well as members and community supporters, will rally at CASA headquarters in Langley Park, Md., to support Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and his family.
WHAT: Rally to support Kilmar Abrego Garcia and family
WHO: SMART leaders and members, CASA, community supporters
WHEN: Friday, April 4, 10 a.m.
WHERE: 8151 15th St., Langley Park, MD 20783
Abrego Garcia is a first-year SMART Local 100 apprentice, Maryland resident and father of a five-year-old son with disabilities; the Trump administration conceded in a court filing that it had mistakenly deported him to El Salvador “because of an administrative error.”
Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D) said on Tuesday, April 1: “In court yesterday, the Trump Administration admitted that a Maryland father with protected status was deported due to an administrative error. That is unacceptable. This incident underscores the Administration’s complete disregard for due process rights as they pursue their indiscriminate mass deportation policy. The Trump Administration must take immediate action to right this wrong.”
SMART General President Michael Coleman issued the following statement on Monday: “Kilmar, our Local 100 brother, is a legal resident of Maryland and a sheet metal apprentice who works full-time to support his five-year-old son, who has autism and a hearing impairment. It is my understanding that he has fully complied with requirements to regularly check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has no criminal record in the U.S. and is an example of the hard work that SMART members pride themselves on. And yet, the Trump administration still — seemingly with full knowledge of his protected status — deported him to El Salvador, leaving his wife to discover that information from photographs in a news release.
“In his pursuit of the life promised by the American dream, Brother Kilmar was literally helping to build this great country. What did he get in return? Arrest and deportation to a nation whose prisons face outcry from human rights organizations. SMART condemns his treatment in the strongest possible terms, and we demand his rightful return.”
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DETROIT, Mich. — Whether he’s in a hearing room or the boxing ring, Local 1760 Chairperson Andrew Wirth knows how to time a punch. A CSX conductor working out of Rougemere and Oak Yards, Wirth balances his career on the rails with another demanding calling: boxing. On April 12, he steps into the ring in Cleveland to challenge for the 168-pound Master Amateur Division Title.
Brother Wirth’s title fight is April 12, in Cleveland, Ohio at the LaSalle Theatre. Call or text Gedeon Promotions at (216) 956-1364 for tickets.
A Champion’s Mindset
Wirth’s work as a Local Chair has honed the instincts that now guide him between the ropes. Representing members in discipline hearings requires sharp timing, quick thinking, and the ability to strike when it counts. These are all skills that transfer seamlessly to boxing.
“It’s all about reading your opponent,” Wirth said. “In a hearing or a fight, you have to figure out what the opponent is capable of. You go into both with a game plan, but you better be ready if it doesn’t work. You look for the opening, then you go for it.”
Brother Wirth had a similar anxiety in his first few fights as he did in his first hearings as a Local Chair. “In both, I was facing down the great unknown. But I found out that the payoff of winning gives me a similar rush in both circumstances, too, and I can’t get enough of either one,” he shared.
He added that in boxing and in being a Local Chair success is all about having a passion for it. “You can’t half-ass either one, or you are setting yourself up for a disaster.”
No Stranger to Being the Challenger
This time, he’s up against reigning champion Mike Pinto. But Wirth is no stranger to the role of being the challenger. Years of advocating for his fellow SMART-TD members have prepared him to stand toe-to-toe with anyone.
Michigan State Safety and Legislative Director Don Roach, also of Local 1760, has seen Wirth’s grit firsthand and plans to be in Cleveland for the fight.
“Andrew represents everything this union stands for,” Roach said. “He fights hard for his brothers and sisters on the job, and he does the same in the ring. I’m proud to stand with him, and we’re all hoping he brings the title belt back to the Rougemere crew room!”
Tough Balance of Trains, and Training
Balancing railroad life, fatherhood, and training for a title fight is no easy feat. Working on-call while preparing at a championship level requires relentless discipline. But Wirth has never backed down from a challenge. SMART-TD is proud to stand behind him.
Good luck, Brother Wirth. We’re all in your corner.
Nevada’s rail safety efforts are maintaining their momentum with a new piece of legislation. This year’s attempt follows two previous bills that passed the legislature but were vetoed by the Governor’s pen. It is crucial that SMART-TD members take action to help make this one a reality.
The first hearing for the Nevada Rail Safety Bill (AB 446) is scheduled for April 1 and Brother Gabe Christenson, the state’s safety and legislative director, asks all Nevada members to reach out to their legislators before that date.
“This is a call to action for all our Nevada members,” he said. “We can’t do this alone. We need you to contact your representatives and Governor Lombardo. Your voices are what will make the difference. We can knock on every door in Carson City, but it’s hearing directly from you that will open them.”
Show your support by sending a message ►
SLD Christenson and Leo Palomo, his assistant SLD, are at the forefront of improved rail safety. They join Assemblyman Max Carter (D-12th District), a staunch ally of labor and a key sponsor of the Nevada Rail Safety Bill, AB 446. The Nevada AFL-CIO also supports the bill.
Train Length, Yard Safety and the Right to Investigate Accidents
Christenson and Carter refuse to back down despite past bills passing both the Assembly and Senate, only to be vetoed by Governor Lombardo. Rail safety is too important to accept defeat.
The legislation includes a limit on freight train length to 8,500 feet, regulations on wayside defect detectors, and measures for blocked crossings.
AB446 also introduces lighting requirements in rail yards and walkways on mainlines, among a long list of other workplace improvements. It also requires railroads to allow union representatives to investigate safety issues, injuries, and compliance with both state and federal regulations—at the same time as management.
Rail Safety is a Bipartisan Issue: Everyone is at Risk
“Rail safety is not a matter of ideology. It’s about protecting the workers who serve our communities and the communities themselves. This is about making sure our members can go home safely every day. I am committed to building a bipartisan coalition to ensure this bill gets across the finish line,” said Christenson. “We need everyone on board, and that includes both sides of the aisle in the legislature. Let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear.”
In the 2023 session, the Nevada train-length bill passed through both houses with overwhelming support from Democrats but lacked backing from Republicans. Despite this challenge, Christenson sees an opportunity to build broader support in 2025.
“Last time, the bill almost made it. This time, I’m determined to finish the job,” he explained. “I believe we can grow bipartisan support for rail safety. It’s about protecting the public and our workers, and that’s a goal everyone should be able to get behind.”
Nevada Assemblyman Max Carter Understands the Importance of Labor Unions
Second-term Assemblyman Max Carter, who is sponsoring the bill in the legislature comes from a union family and is a union member himself.
Carter’s grandfather worked as a conductor for Union Pacific, which is what led his family to relocate from California to Nevada. Carter also worked as an electrician and is an active member of the IBEW. Carter now serves as Co-Chair of the Assembly’s Growth and Infrastructure Committee, which will hear AB 446. He has promised a fair hearing for the bill.
“Throughout my career with the IBEW and in my time in the legislature, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of safe working conditions and the need for stronger regulation. We cannot afford to wait any longer for changes,” said Carter. “This bill will make a tangible difference, and I’m proud to sponsor it with Gabe and the rest of the SMART-TD team.”
Call To Action for Safety in Nevada
SMART-TD members are encouraged to stand together, show up for their safety, and ensure that their representatives understand the importance of this vital legislation. The time to act is now, and Christenson’s call for solidarity and action is clear: “This is about the safety of every railroader across the state, and it’s about time we get it done.”