Author: alyssahansen

Home>Articles by: alyssahansen

Irish immigrants played a crucial role in building the American railroad, with many working to build the rail system we still use today. They ran the trains that built our economy, which made this country into a global power. This is a tradition that continues today.

The Irish laid the tracks, carved paths through mountains, and endured the most dangerous jobs on the continent.

Watch the History of the American Railroad, Part I ►

SMART-TD members showed up to honor these accomplishments and to salute the enduring contributions of the Irish across the country this weekend.

We marched in two notable St. Patrick’s Day events: the historic Southside of Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 16th, and the Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Eastampton, New Jersey, on Saturday, March 15th.

Chicago Southside Parade

The renowned Chicago Southside St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a staple for 47 years, celebrating the Irish heritage of the city. The parade, known for its rich history and vibrant celebration of Irish culture, provided the perfect backdrop for SMART-TD members to show our solidarity with the Irish community and honor our institution’s roots among Irish immigrants.

*SMART-TD members marching in the famous Chicago Southside St. Patrick’s Day Parade.*

SMART-TD Illinois State Safety and Legislative Director Bob Guy told SMART News that, “Our members really showed up today to highlight the work they do and I’m so proud of them. Our group was even bigger than it was last year even though the weather was worse. That didn’t deter our people because they proudly work in these conditions day in and day out.”

Burlington County Parade: Celebrating Labor with Pride

SMART-TD also marched in the Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Eastampton, New Jersey. The parade has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated celebrations. Former SMART-TD New Jersey State Legislative Director Daniel O’Connell was honored as the Grand Marshal this year.

*Former SMART-TD New Jersey State Legislative Director Daniel O’Connell*

“My Irish heritage is a source of great pride for me. To be selected as Grand Marshall and to have the opportunity to select the theme for this year’s parade are honors I will never forget,” O’Connell said.

As Grand Marshall, O’Connell chose to honor the men and women of organized labor, with an emphasis on essential workers. Like the Irish immigrants of the past, they are due our respect as the backbone of our economy. The nation would halt without their hard work and perseverance.

*Pictured in our parade banner are Mother Jones and James Connolly. Connolly was an Irish Labor leader put to death in 1916 for his role in the “Easter Rising” against British rule in Ireland.*

Ron Sabol, SMART-TD’s current SLD in New Jersey, had this to say about his predecessor’s selection as Grand Marshall: “I want to congratulate Dan on this accomplishment and well-earned recognition. O’Connell’s connection to both his Irish heritage and the labor movement is deep-rooted. His choice to highlight essential workers and organized labor in this year’s parade theme underscores the ongoing struggles of workers today. Just as the Irish immigrant laborers of the 19th and 20th centuries stood firm in the face of adversity, we must always remember that our labor is our voice, and through solidarity, we can impact the world around us.”

*Ron Sabol (far right), current New Jersey SLD, marches in the Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day Parade*

The Role of Rail Workers in the Fight for Irish Independence

Irish rail workers played an important role in the international labor movement and the Irish Revolution, where they tried to gain independence from the British. One of the most significant chapters in the fight for independence took place in 1920 when the Irish rail workers and longshoremen made a unified stand. They declared that they would not transport British troops, weapons, or military equipment, refusing to be complicit in British rule over Ireland.

Their historic act of resistance was a powerful example of how solidarity has the power to shape not only our immediate surroundings but also the course of national and international events.

Continuing the Tradition of Labor Solidarity

SMART-TD’s participation in these parades celebrates Irish heritage, but importantly, also recognizes the vital role that solidarity plays in ensuring fair treatment and equality for all workers.

As President Jeremy Ferguson put it, “Our labor movement has always been a source of strength for working men and women, and being present and represented in our communities is a reminder of the essential role that organized labor plays in our daily lives. We honor the sacrifices of our ancestors and stand united in our commitment to a better, fairer future for all workers.”

As SMART-TD members continue to support one another, we as an organization also remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring the traditions of those who came before.

Colorado 2025 Regional Training Registration Now Open! 

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Hotel

Dates: June 23-26, 2025 (S&T: June 23-27)

Room Rate: $159/night

Registration Fee: $75

The Denver RTS will begin on Monday, June 23, 2025, with an evening Welcome Reception. The training will cover topics such as local governance, the roles and responsibilities of local presidents, secretaries, treasurers, legislative representatives, and local chairpersons in member advocacy, an overview of the SMART Constitution, and other key subjects. 

For a detailed meeting agenda, please visit the Meetings page via the SMART Union mobile app. 

We look forward to seeing you in Denver! 

Space in some of the training tracks is limited and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Register early. 

The RTS will conclude by noon on Thursday, June 26 (for all tracks excluding S&T). Please keep this information in mind when making your travel and hotel arrangements.

Registration closes on June 16, 2025, and no onsite registration will be available.

To Register for Classes: RTS Registration ► 
To Book Your Hotel Reservation: Hotel Reservation Link ► 

Please note: Attendees are responsible for making their hotel reservations. To ensure that you secure a room at the discounted rate, please make your reservation by May 25.

For more information, contact Nick Torres in the SMART-TD office at 216-227-5269 or by email at ntorres@smart-union.org. 

Dallas, Texas — Over the past week, 180 local officers and union leaders gathered to enhance their skills, knowledge, and boost member representation at SMART-TD’s first Regional Training Seminar (RTS) of 2025.

“There is power in numbers, in knowledge, and power in FACTS. That is why we are all here,” SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson reminded attendees during his opening speech, setting the tone for a productive week of training and development. 

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson welcomes members to the Dallas RTS.

Ferguson’s tenure as president emphasizes the importance of solidarity and education in combating the increasing challenges posed by railroads and transit agencies. 

New Specialized Training

SMART-TD Local Legislative Representatives (LRs) were treated to a new curriculum, taught for the first time in Dallas. Led by Minnesota and Michigan State Safety and Legislative Directors Nick Katich and Don Roach, our LRs learned how to properly onboard and mentor new employees, a crucial aspect of ensuring the future success and safety of the railroad workforce. New content also addressed de-escalation training for our passenger rail members. 

Katich and Roach used the Dallas classes to refine the content, with the intent to bring the same education directly to any interested SMART-TD member. 

Michigan State Safety & Legislative Director Don Roach debuts the new curriculum.

The course was expanded thanks to a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) program.

Local Leaders Sharpen Their Skills, Knowledge

Local Chairs could choose to attend a beginners’ or an advanced course on how to represent their members.

Newly elected Chairs could focus on the foundational principles of union leadership. 

More experienced leaders deepened their understanding of union operations and best practices. Both classes were led by SMART-TD Vice President Jamie Modesitt.

SMART-TD Vice President Jamie Modesitt guides Local Chairs in his class.

Secretaries and Treasurers learned how to ensure that locals are up to date on federal and state filings. Led by the Local Support Department from the International office in Cleveland, the course provided the necessary tools and guidance to maintain compliance with legal requirements. 

Under the guidance of President Ferguson’s staff, Local Presidents strengthened their leadership abilities and enhanced their understanding the responsibilities that come with managing a local. 

“We are committed to giving our local leaders the tools they need to defend our members and protect their rights,” Ferguson explained in his speech. “This training ensures our local leaders are better equipped to handle the challenges we face and fight for our members’ best interests.” 

Knowledge is Power, Training gets Results

SMART-TD’s Regional Training Seminars, which began in 2020, have proven a highly effective to enhance the union’s strength. Since their inception, the win rate for discipline and appeals have increased from the mid-20% range to nearly 65%.

A group of SMART-TD brothers listens during the Dallas RTS.

This success underscores the power of education and the importance of equipping local officers with the information they need to succeed. 

SMART-TD is developing informed and capable leaders at every level of the organization. This can only strengthen our ability to organize together, stand up and protect our rights in the face of the ever-evolving challenges presented by our industry. 

Recently, public comments from officials within the Presidential Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency have reignited discussions that could lead to the catastrophic decision to privatize Amtrak. SMART-TD’s position is clear: privatizing Amtrak is not just bad policy, it’s a direct threat to our Amtrak members, the American people, and communities that depend on this vital service.

Passengers: Prepare to Pay More for Less

Supply and demand is a simple law. A private company is obliged to raise prices on popular routes while abandoning the unprofitable ones. This means higher prices for urban areas while parts of the country with low ridership are left stranded.

Profit Motives Contradict Low Margin Public Services

First and foremost, fully privatizing Amtrak would only serve to prioritize profit over public service. As it stands today, Amtrak technically operates as a federally subsidized, for-profit corporation. In reality, the organization has never turned a yearend profit, because it is set up as more than a company, it is a public service and resource. Both federal and state funding allows it to operate as a public transportation provider with reasonable ticket prices and operational stability. They receive federal dollars to ensure the public’s transportation needs are met. Federal oversight ensures that Amtrak is accountable to the public interest.

Profit-driven companies are unable and unwilling to guarantee reliability and affordability to rural and less profitable sections of our country. The trains still need to run even in areas with population densities that won’t necessarily make it a profitable proposition.

Where will the savings come from? Your Pay, And Your Safety!

If Amtrak’s new goal is to increase profitability in a low-margin market, its first move will be to cut costs. This is the fastest way to boost its bottom line. The easiest target? Eliminating staff, who are already stretched thin. We all know Amtrak is running more and more trains that are short-staffed without the support of Assistant Conductors. Where will the staffing cuts end under a new “profit at all costs” business model?

The SMART-TD transit union is deeply concerned about this threat. Aside from our responsibility to protect our member’s livelihoods, staff shortages lead to fatigue and an overall decline in service quality. We have learned this lesson multiple times: understaffed trains and fatigue cause mistakes, mistakes accumulate into accidents, and accidents can claim lives. Should our nation’s leaders choose to make this mistake again our members are the ones who will experience the trauma, and struggle to clean up the mess.

Success comes from taking care of your front-line workers ►

Tragedy comes when there are too few people on the job ►

In 2014, Manda Snide was working at a nursing home. She was burnt out and underpaid.

“I’d asked the director of nursing for a raise for a quarter an hour, and she said ‘no,’” Snide remembered. “The brand-new people were coming in making exactly what I was, and I had 10 years and a college degree.”

Sister Snide also volunteered as a firefighter and EMT. One night, at a regular first responder meeting, she met a railroader. That conversation changed her life. “If I can run a fire truck,” Snide said she realized, “there’s no way that I couldn’t handle trains. I could go do this and not be so burnt out and make a lot more money than I was making.”

Railroading as a new life continues a union family tradition

It’s been over a decade since Sister Snide started working on the railroad.

“Union leadership started a process years and years ago, and I still continue it today,” she explained. “We take [new hires] out to supper with our Designated Legal Counsel so that we can be truthful about what railroad life really is, because in the hiring process they don’t really give you all the facts. They don’t talk about the hours and how grueling that that can be.” Sister Snide is also carrying on the tradition of union membership within her family.

In September she helped her father celebrate 45 years of service with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).

“That side’s been really cool to come from a union family and to have been taken care of and had the insurance and the benefits from that my whole life,” she reflected. “To become a member and have those benefits bestowed upon me has been great.”

Snide identifies critical issues in Nebraska

As the Alternate Safety & Legislative Director (SLD) in Nebraska, with a longtime dedication to safety, Sister Snide makes it a priority to serve as a voice for other women who work on the rails.

“I think I’m given a pretty unique opportunity of being a female in a leadership role that those females might feel comfortable talking about issues,” she said.

Some of those issues may be surprising; take the issue of locomotive remote-control boxes.

After seeing a video of the powerful radio transmitter in a remote-control box tripping an outlet, Sister Snide remembered that you can even turn microwaves on via your radio.

She reached out to other state directors and learned that not every box emitted as much radiation. But she also reached out to a few women members when one, who had been pregnant, shocked her with her reply.

“She had issues [with the pregnancy] and the doctor removed several tumors, and he had told her that they were likely due to some radio frequencies or radio cell phone-type frequencies,” she explained. “She brought up the concern about the remote-control box, and he said ‘It’s possible, but I can’t prove it.’”

Sister Snide is also focused on creating opportunity for struggling families.

“One of the things I’ve been working on with Union Pacific is trying to provide childcare, and it would benefit everybody,” she explained. “If we could provide childcare, I think it would be a huge access for single parents, not just single mother. This job changed my life financially, and I’m sure it could change a single parent’s life as well.”

Earning respect from management

Throughout her career on the railroad, Sister Snide notes that she was accepted almost instantly into what’s typically a mostly male-dominated industry but credits her background of working with men that made that transition smooth.

She’s also quick to praise her union brothers.

“Most of my guys are really great,” she explains. “They will help out one of my favorite members. She’s 4’10”, 120 pounds, and she has a really hard time throwing switches, but she comes up there and she has a great attitude, and she puts in the effort. If the guys see her struggling, they will instantly go over there and help her out.”

However, things were a little different when she became a local chairman.

“I did have a hard time with some of the managers accepting me at first,” she remembers. “I have great other local chairmen where I’m at, so they would have to come in with me and they would literally say the exact same thing I would say or they would pass my ideas along, and it would happen. So that took a couple of months for people to understand that I had the same title, and I deserve the same respect.”

Leadership: Be the Person Who Can Help

Sister Snide’s decision to pursue a leadership role can be traced to one major factor: her dedication to fighting for her members.

“I chose to get into a leadership role because of seeing how people helped my dad or didn’t help my dad in certain situations. I wanted to be the person that people could go to when they had an issue. It’s terrible if you’re going through something and you don’t know who to reach out to, so I wanted to be that person to help in those moments.”

Even as a child, April Ford knew that she wanted to be a union member.

Her grandfather was a carman, and she still has memories of her dad walking the picket line and carrying picket signs when he worked for Mountain Bell.

Fast forward to today and Sister Ford has held almost every position in Local 951 and is the first female Safety and Legislative Director (SLD) in Wyoming.

“It’s kind of fitting, because Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote,” Ford noted during a recent interview with SMART-TD.

She’s held the role since 2021, but it wasn’t something that she secured by sitting on the sidelines.

“The way I got involved…I just attended quite a few local meetings and attended the special events that my local hosted, and it just gave me a sense of being a part of something bigger than myself…belonging to something that I felt could make a difference.”

A Family Affair

Back in 1998, Sister Ford and her husband (who worked on the railroad) were busy raising three teenagers while she went to junior college for a second associate’s degree.

With a semester left, she found out that the railroad was hiring.

“At that time, I had four brothers-in-law that were working for the railroad, and I knew that the railroads paid pretty well,” Ford said. “So, I decided to apply. Essentially an opportunity knocked, and I jumped.”

She worked as a conductor for five years before being promoted to locomotive engineer.

During her first seven years on the railroad, she was furloughed a few times, but her persistence paid off.

“Eventually, I was able to stay and work in my hometown, and I’ve got two boys that work out on the railroad. If [my grandfather] was still around, he’d be pretty proud of the legacy.”

Taking Her Passion for Safety to Cheyenne

Sister Ford doesn’t shy away from speaking about the reality of her state’s political landscape.

“Politics in Wyoming is tough,” Ford explained. “When you’re trying to talk to lawmakers about workers’ rights and safety conditions, not only for their constituents but also for the workers of Wyoming, it’s a pretty cold reception.”

Still, she hasn’t let that stop her from speaking out about her passion for safety.

Sister Ford became involved with her Local Safety Committee about 15 years ago and is still fighting to protect her union brothers and sisters.

“My belief is that every member and every employee should return home in the same condition that they left it,” Ford said. “Company officials can’t be everywhere, and they don’t see the same things we see. They’re not exposed to the same hazards that we are day in and day out, and I just believe that it’s our duty to report safety hazards and to let them be known and to protect our brothers and sisters as well as ourselves out here.”

When asked about an accomplishment that she’s particularly proud of, you might think that Sister Ford would talk about passing a bill or championing a legislative initiative, but her answer is surprising.

“I think for me, it was just getting involved and working hard to stay involved,” Ford reflected. I think there’s a lot of burnout with the local union leadership roles that we play out here. There’s a huge amount of the armchair quarterbacks that are quick to criticize and who don’t show up for regular meetings.”

Lessons Learned & Looking to the Future

As a female leader, Sister Ford has become skilled at dealing with those armchair quarterbacks over the years and has some words of wisdom for other women in our union.

“I think the first thing that needs to get out of the female vocabulary is ‘I can’t,” Ford stated. “As far as women getting involved…just do it. Get involved. It’s hard, but it’s even harder to stay involved. That’s a struggle.”

If more women are committed to getting and staying involved with our union, Sister Ford is hopeful that translates into easy-to-see results.

“I’ve gone to a lot of conferences and conventions, and I look at that head table. We need women in those spots. We come up with some amazing ideas.”

During the nearly three decades that she’s been on the railroad, Sister Ford is grateful for some of the other trailblazers who came before her.

“There’s been a lot of progress that’s been made over the years,” Ford noted. “I remember kind of idolizing a girl that had been out here for years as a locomotive engineer. I really watched her, and she really paved the road for a lot of us. She did some really great things. She had to share a bathroom at the end of the hall in a hotel that they put the railroaders up in, and she fought hard. I couldn’t imagine that.”

With retirement starting to creep slowly into focus within the next several years, Sister Ford wants to ensure that she leaves things even better than she found them.

“Promoting those other women, getting them involved, pushing them a little bit, putting my arm around their shoulder and dragging them to things. That for me is the biggest takeaway that I will grab a hold of when I leave.”

In 2023, SMART-TD’s Utah Legislative Board successfully passed a law creating the Utah Office of Rail Safety (UORS). Spearheaded by Utah State Safety and Legislative Director Danny Brewer and his board, the bipartisan bill was to ensure railroads in the state, including Union Pacific and multiple short lines, adhered to consistent safety standards. It also gave the UORS regulatory authority and the ability to levy fines directly to the railroads to ensure their compliance.

Despite overwhelming support two years ago, a new bill threatens to repeal it before it even has the chance to begin its vital work. Brother Brewer sent the following letter to legislators in Salt Lake City.

By Danny Brewer, SMART-TD Utah State Safety and Legislative Director

As a Locomotive Engineer and Thru Freight Conductor, I’ve seen firsthand the dangers that come with working on the railroads. Trains are powerful, complex machines operating in environments where even the smallest oversight can lead to catastrophic consequences. That’s why I was deeply disheartened to learn that the Utah Office of Rail Safety (UORS)—a measure unanimously passed into law and supported by cities and communities across the state—is likely being repealed before it even had a chance to begin its vital work.  

The UORS was designed to make our communities safer. It would have hired certified inspectors to evaluate critical aspects of freight rail infrastructure, address at-grade crossing issues, scrutinize railroad operating procedures, and establish rules to ensure safe working environments for railroad employees. These are not abstract concerns; they are matters of life and death for workers like me and for the public who live near rail lines.  

Union Pacific Railroad has made commitments in response to other bills passed in 2023, but there has been no tangible, written commitment to rail employee safety that justifies repealing the UORS. Employees’ attempts to address safety concerns internally with our employer have been met with resistance and inaction. When we asked Union Pacific to provide their own safety standards, they either could not or would not do so. If an agreement was made between the State and the Railroad in response to the passage of these bills, it appears that the safety of rail employees was entirely disregarded.  

Without the UORS, we are left in a precarious position. There are no codified standards for walkways and clearances—basic elements of our daily work environment that directly impact our safety. Instead, our safety is determined by the arbitrary decisions of whoever is in charge on any given day. This is unacceptable.  

We had hoped that the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) would step in to provide oversight and rulemaking, but it seems UDOT has pushed back, potentially due to the challenges they face dealing with Railroads while they work on the critical infrastructure projects underway throughout Utah. It is understandable, but If UDOT is not the right agency to handle this, then who is?  

Trains remain dangerous, and accidents continue to occur. The purpose of the UORS was to prevent train wrecks and personal injuries—not to serve as political leverage in negotiations with Union Pacific to advance other projects. Rail safety is not a bargaining chip; it is a fundamental necessity that must be prioritized.  

We firmly believe that a Utah state-level inspector, certified and knowledgeable in all railroad safety regulations, with the authority to enter railroad property as needed, is essential to ensuring the safety of both workers and the public.  

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is not adequately addressing Utah’s needs. The FRA is understaffed and subject to the political shifts of each administration. Similarly, we do not trust the railroads to regulate themselves. Time and again, they have proven themselves unreliable and negligent when it comes to safety.  

Utah must step up.  

There is a substitute bill from Representative Ashlee Matthews that would preserve the Rail Office. I urge our lawmakers to support this measure. If it is truly too late to save the UORS, we must at least strengthen the authority of the Rail Ombudsman’s office. Currently, the Ombudsman is prohibited from addressing safety concerns raised by rail employees, and without the support of the UORS, the Ombudsman lacks the oversight necessary to hold Union Pacific accountable for its deficiencies.  

The repeal of the UORS is a step backward for rail safety in Utah. It sends a message that the lives of rail workers and the safety of our communities are not a priority. This cannot stand. Utah’s leaders must act now to ensure that rail safety is not sacrificed for political expediency.  

The stakes are too high to ignore.  

Danny Brewer is a Locomotive Engineer and Thru Freight Conductor based in Utah.  

This is a direct appeal to Utah lawmakers to prioritize your safety over UP’s political agendas, ensuring that the hard-fought protections for rail workers remain in place. To our many TD members in the great state of Utah, when you are walking in dangerous conditions, or riding a shove into a yard without proper lighting, know that Brewer and his team fought for and obtained a better way forward. Your state legislature is now siding with your managers and deemed your safety to be less valuable to them than the next campaign check from a U.P. lobbyist.

Whether it’s hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of yet-to-be-released Nike tennis shoes or other high-dollar items, thieves are becoming much more brazen when it comes to how and what they’re stealing from Arizona freight trains.

After escalating over much of the past year, the problem shows no signs of slowing down.

Rise in Rail Thefts

After almost 30 years, SMART-TD’s Arizona Safety & Legislative Director Scott Jones is surprised by how much theft in and around rail yards has grown.

“Many years ago, you might notice a person walking through a rail yard or near some storage tracks out in town,” Jones explained. “They were mainly looking for a box car or something to break into possibly and steal some cases of beer or alcohol. It’s just really escalated in the last few years.”

Prime targets for modern-day bandits are trains parked until they can fit into a yard.

“They end up parking them out in remote areas to store them for a few hours or a 24-hour period before they can get them into their big yards,” Jones said. “What happens is being left unattended out there with very few resources as far as law enforcement to police them and keep people away from them.”

Incidents have gone from petty theft to organized raids on containers stocked with specific items.

“It’s escalated all the way to where you have to say this is pretty organized, and these aren’t your basic, mid-level, lower-level thieves,” Jones said. “This is probably organized crime or something.

Targeting indicates organized criminals

One of the high-profile thefts involved the robbery of $500,000 worth of Nike tennis shoes. Jones believes that someone with insider knowledge might be involved.

“There has to be somebody, because it’s grown all the way to the point where they know which containers,” Jones stressed. “I mean, you’ve got 400 containers out there. How do they know to go to a specific container? That’s what they’re doing.”

No matter who’s responsible, the impact of the thefts is wide-reaching. “Theft always affects everybody,” Jones said. “It affects the carriers we work for. It affects the manufacturers that are shipping. It affects the communities that they’re going to. It’s a huge concern.”

Safety, Vigilance Stressed on the Job

Unless the carriers plan on stepping up by adding more yard crews or easing congestion so that trains don’t have to be left in remote areas for extended periods of time, all Jones can do is educate our members.

Our union’s method of operation has always been “If you see something, say something,” but without knowing who’s behind these crimes and how dangerous it would be for members to involve themselves, Jones wants to ensure that our brothers and sisters don’t feel compelled to confront the criminals themselves and risk serious harm.

“Don’t wait on guidance from the carrier,” Jones said. “Protect yourself. Make sure you know the lead locomotives are all supposed to be able to be secured now.”

Jones used the example of retail stores that have shoplifting protocol.

“[Stores] all have policies for their employees…what to do if somebody’s shoplifting, and for most of them, I understand they do not want them engaging them, because there’s a liability there also,” Jones pointed out. “You wouldn’t ask someone that’s not trained in that area to essentially approach somebody. But we still haven’t heard [from the carriers], and I find that quite interesting.”

Until the heists are brought under control, Jones still has many unanswered questions and mysteries that need to be solved.

“What is causing it?” Jones asked. “The availability. The ease with which they can operate. That’s something I don’t know that I’d love to know the answer to.”

A new type of glare-resistant, bulletproof barrier has been installed in eight SEPTA buses. Senior Bus Vice President Alvy Hughes was present for the second round of testing, which included live fire, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Hughes traveled 510 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina to observe the test. He emphasized the importance of firsthand oversight. “Being here in person was vital. This isn’t just a test of glass; it’s a test of our commitment to our members’ safety. With the stakes this high, I know that our members deserve more than second-hand information.”

The barriers were developed, in part, as a result of SMART-TD’s advocacy. When General Chairperson Anthony Petty learned from the members of Local 1594 that SEPTA had no plans to include safety upgrades in the 2025 budget, he organized a stand to demand better.

Violence and operator harassment on public transit is common. SEPTA Bus Operator Bernard Gribbin, a member of TWU Local 234, was gunned down in 2023 by a passenger as he drove his route. The U.S. Army veteran had 12 years of experience as a SEPTA Operator in addition to his military training. There is no amount of preparation that could have ensured his safety. Physical barriers are a necessity for our members.

When Petty was asked about Hughes’ commitment to being on-site for the test, he praised his dedication. “Alvy sits on the Board of Directors for one of the largest unions in the country. He could have easily delegated this responsibility, but Brother Hughes leads from the front.”

Shots fired

The test included live fire drills conducted by SWAT snipers using both 9mm and .357 magnum rounds. While the barriers withstood the majority of the shots, one round managed to penetrate the glass, striking a dummy seated in the operator’s seat. The bullet-proof glass was eventually breached following multiple shots in the exact same place with a high-caliber weapon.

The results were promising, demonstrating that the barriers could provide significant protection against gunfire.

“There’s still work to be done, especially on durability and weight,” Hughes noted. “But this is a major step forward. The barriers have the potential to protect our operators, which ultimately ensures the safety of the passengers as well.”

Working toward a new national standard in transit safety

The pilot project is now in full swing. The barriers, developed by Custom Glass Solutions, are designed to protect operators from physical assaults and gunfire, while allowing quick access for first responders in case of emergencies. If the barriers prove to be viable for long-term use, we expect SEPTA to expand the program across their entire fleet. Once complete, SMART-TD will use Philadelphia as an example to promote adoption of the barriers nationwide.

Images shared by Senior Bus VP Alvy Hughes taken during the testing.

Clear vision and uncompromising protection: New bus operator barriers mirror the SMART-TD bus department itself

SMART-TD’s Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee was instrumental in identifying the need for a glare-resistant solution to complement the bulletproof capabilities. Traditional bulletproof glass often causes problematic glare that affects the operator’s ability to monitor their passengers, other motorists, and pedestrians.

BTAPS’ research and contacts discovered Custom Glass’ barriers, which are both bulletproof and glare resistant. By providing this solution to Brother Petty and our Bus Department, their due diligence resulted in tangible safety gains for SMART-TD members in Philadelphia.

A Clear Commitment to Member Safety

SMART-TD Local 1594’s ongoing push for improved safety isn’t just about eight buses or even one transit system. It’s about setting a new standard for bus operator protection across the country. As VP Hughes stated, “No worker should have to worry about their life being at risk when they clock in. This is just the beginning. We will keep pushing until every one of our members is safe on the job.”

Kingston, Massachusetts—It is with heavy hearts and profound respect that SMART honors the life and legacy of Brother George Casey, who passed away on Saturday, March 1, at the age of 74.

A service to honor his memory is scheduled for this Thursday, March 6 from 1-3 p.m. at Bartlett Funeral Home, which is located at 338 Court Street in Plymouth, MA. All are welcome to attend.

He worked for Amtrak for 50 years. Brother Casey was a member of Local 1473, the former New England Safety and Legislative Director, and the former General Chairperson of GCA 081. His loss will be felt by all who worked with him.

“George did a lot getting the UTU and SMART where we are today,” said SMART-TD’s current New England Safety and Legislative Director Dave Stevenson. “Whenever I go to meetings, the first thing I mention is George’s name and everybody knows him. Having the same position that he did has helped to open many doors for me, and I know how much he did for us over the years.”

Brother Casey was a proud graduate of Boston College and a die-hard fan of all Boston sports. He also enjoyed traveling and was never a stranger on local golf courses, especially on his beloved Martha’s Vineyard.

We extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to Brother Casey’s family and his Union family at Local 1473. Most importantly, we want to express our gratitude for the powerful impression that Brother Casey left on both working families in New England and our union.

Click here to make a donation in Brother Casey’s name to MSPCA-Angell.►