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Since November 2019, SMART members in the Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department on Class 1 freight railroads have been engaged in intense negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), a coalition of employers representing the railroads. Throughout that entire time, the NCCC has continued its assault on labor by seeking agreements which are both unfair to workers and bad for the industry.

The NCCC’s wage proposals would result in an actual reduction in employee earnings in “real wages” (adjusted for inflation). The carriers have proposed such measures as increases to the amount of work that is contracted out and changes to the 40-hour work week, all while demanding that workers pay more for H&W coverage. Despite posting record profits during the pandemic, employers refuse to admit that it is the workers who have risked their lives to keep trains running. And after the experience of the pandemic, the carriers still refuse to agree to paid sick leave. Apparently, management doesn’t see the link between their higher earnings and the harder work performed by our members.

One thing is clear: Our members are prepared to seek the protections, wages and respect they deserve.

Unlike many at SMART, those working on the railroad negotiate with employers (the carriers) under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), a law enacted in 1926 to settle labor disputes using arbitration and mediation instead of the more familiar collective bargaining model under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Because of the particular structure of bargaining under the RLA, parties often end up negotiating through the National Mediation Board (NMB), an independent federal agency that helps resolve contract issues. Repeated failures to reach an agreement can even result in negotiations being pushed to an emergency board established by the president of the United States.

After 18 months of unsuccessful bargaining, SMART’s coalition requested mediation from the NMB in June 2021. After several sessions of both mediation and “super mediation” – in which no productive dialogue occurred and carriers only offered deals that would substantially diminish any increase in compensation while simultaneously refusing the unions’ proposals – the NMB finally released the parties on June 17, starting a 30-day cooling off period.

On July 15, in order to avert a shutdown of the rail industry, President Biden established a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), an entity that is tasked with investigating rail disputes and issuing non-binding recommendations. Under the RLA, if a PEB concludes and the parties do not accept its recommendations within 30 days, the parties may then exercise “non-violent self-help” (strike or lockout). Ultimately, however, Congress has the final authority to impose a resolution, and it has done so in the past in order to avoid such an outcome.

While this process is complicated, we are hopeful that it will provide the framework for an agreement that is beneficial to workers. One thing is clear: Our members are prepared to seek the protections, wages and respect they deserve.

Have you ever left a concert, sporting event or jobsite with a high-pitched ringing in your ears? This is called tinnitus. Virtually everyone will experience some tinnitus from time to time throughout their life. Although it is usually the result of being around loud noises, that’s not always the case, and not everyone experiences tinnitus the same way. For example, tinnitus has been described as ringing, roaring, clicking, hissing or buzzing in the ears that only you can hear.

What causes tinnitus?

Exposure to loud sounds, or long-term exposure to moderately loud sounds, can lead to tinnitus. The loud sounds damage the inner ear’s ability to send clear signals to the brain, which causes mix-ups that your brain interprets as a ringing sound.

Tinnitus can also be caused by certain medications, like aspirin, NSAIDS, loop diuretics and some chemotherapy and cardiac medications. However, the tinnitus usually stops when the use of the medication is over.

Lastly, sometimes the cause is simply unknown. And although most people will experience temporary tinnitus, there are some people who may develop permanent tinnitus.

How to treat tinnitus

While there is no permanent cure for tinnitus, there are several treatments that can lessen its effects. In mild cases, using a sound generator can help mask tinnitus — especially when you’re trying to sleep or in very quiet situations where tinnitus can become more noticeable. If the tinnitus is more severe, hearing aids can also help.

Many hearing aid models today are built specifically to combat the effects of tinnitus by helping you hear better and by counteracting the tinnitus with sounds and tones meant to mask it. In some extreme cases, counseling can even reduce the psychological effects of tinnitus and provide strategies for dealing with it.

If you are experiencing tinnitus, SMART encourages you to talk to a hearing healthcare provider today. As a SMART member, you can save 30–60% on hearing aids through TruHearing®. Call TruHearing at 1-877-760-1437 to get started.

In 2021, SMART, SMACNA and ITI came together to launch Belonging and Excellence for ALL (BE4All). BE4All is a bold, multi-year effort to transform the sheet metal industry, and to do this in two ways:

1) By creating work environments and jobsites that are welcoming to ALL workers and contractors;

2) by helping workers and contractors achieve the highest standards of performance and excellence with respect to their trades or crafts.

To make this vision a reality, BE4All has adopted several strategies. One is the use of micro-affirmations. Micro-affirmations are small — but important — ways that we can acknowledge the humanity, dignity and worth of others.

Below are nine micro-affirmations that we encourage you to practice as often as possible, and with as many people as possible. These practices can be used in the workplace, and we can also practice them in our personal lives.

1. Name recognition. Asking a person for their name, and then remembering and repeating the name later (whether it’s five minutes or five days), is one of the most powerful ways that we can signal to another person “I see you.” “You matter.”

2. Life events. Inquire about important events in people’s lives. These include birthdays, anniversaries and important holidays. Record these dates in your calendar. Then, when the dates arrive, take a moment to acknowledge them by sending a card, email or text. Or simply say to the person, “Happy Birthday!”

3. Feedback and affirmation. Take time to give other people feedback (positive or otherwise). But remember, for feedback to be effective, it needs to be specific and genuine. It’s also important that you have enough of a relationship with the other person that they’ll be open to receiving what you have to say.

4. Shout outs and public recognition. It’s great to praise people in private. But it’s even better to give public recognition. It can be as simple as saying: “Joe, that was incredible work you did yesterday.” Or, “Melissa, thank you for everything you’re doing to make us a stronger team.”

5. The daily greeting. Pause, every day, to simply say, “Good morning!” and ask another person, “How are you?”

6. Interacting versus transacting. But it’s not enough to ask another person, “How are you?” We must then take time to truly listen/hear how the other person is doing, and be willing to share our own response to this question.

7. Inviting feedback. We mentioned the importance of giving feedback to others. Another way to practice micro-affirmations is to invite another person to give us feedback. This can be as simple as saying, “Joye, would you be willing to share three things I do well? And three areas where you think I can do better?”

8. Life goals. Take time to learn about another person’s life goals, whether it be work or personal. These goals may include going back to school or seeking a higher position. Then look for ways to support these goals. This can be in the form of sharing an important resource or piece of information, or connecting the person with someone you know who can help them in their pursuit.

9. Presence and attention. Finally, be 100% present for other people. Simply put, this means giving another person our non-rushed and undivided attention when interacting with them. One powerful way to do this is to silence your cell phone during conversations (individual or group). And to avoid looking at or touching your phone throughout conversation.

Pictured in the governor’s office, left to right: Senator Carolyn McGinn (R); Mike Scheerer, LR Local 94; Troy Fansher, Local 1503; Governor Laura Kelly (seated); Nick Davis, Local 527; Ty Dragoo, SLD Kansas; Chad Henton, ASLD Kansas; Kyle Brooks, Local 1503.

In late April, members of the SMART Transportation Division joined Kansas legislators and Gov. Laura Kelly at the state capitol, where Gov. Kelly officially proclaimed April 28th “A Day of Honor and Remembrance for Railroad Workers” in the state of Kansas. Along with witnessing Kelly sign the proclamation, Legislative Representative Mike Scheerer of TD Local 94 (Kansas City), Troy Fansher of TD Local 1503 (Marysville), Nick Davis of TD Local 527 (Coffeyville), Kansas State Legislative Director (SLD) Ty Dragoo, Alternate SLD Chad Henton and Kyle Brooks of TD Local 1503 joined the governor to discuss the vital role railroaders play in the state and in the nation at-large — as well as honor, recognize and remember the ultimate sacrifice some railroaders have made.

“Today reflects our ongoing relationship with Kansas’ government and the recognition that rail labor is vital to the state, and that we are appreciated,” Dragoo said. “It is a proud day for Kansas’ SMART Legislative Board.”

Dragoo also noted that Gov. Kelly has been a steadfast champion of SMART TD members and all of railroad labor throughout her time in state government. “She has proposed the two-person crew regulation and has been a steadfast wall of support when legislation is directed to harm our jobs,” he explained. “She has been there on every issue; she includes us in policy discussions, and we always have a seat in Kansas.”

The text of the proclamation is below:

WHEREAS, since the first railroad was chartered to carry freight and passengers in the United States in 1827, this nation’s railroads have been vital to the national economy and defense; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that each American freight rail job supports 9 jobs elsewhere in the U.S. economy; and

WHEREAS, over one-fourth of all freight movement in ton-miles annually in this country occurs by rail, including many of the goods upon which Kansas residents and businesses rely; and

WHEREAS, thousands of passengers arrive, depart, and travel through Kansas on Amtrak passenger trains annually; and

WHEREAS, the rail lines crossing Kansas provide a vital transcontinental link facilitating the movement of this freight and these passengers; and

WHEREAS, the safe and efficient movement of the trains transporting this freight and these passengers through Kansas is due foremost to the dedication, professionalism, and knowledge of those employees who are directly involved in train movements, including Train and Crew Dispatchers, Maintenance of Way personnel, Signal Maintainers, Mechanical personnel, and fully staffed two-person Train crews;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LAURA KELLY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim the day of April 28, 2022, as A DAY IN HONOR OF RAILROAD WORKERS.

Jim Trimby (left) and Neal Dahlman.

After 37 years of dues-paying SMART membership, Jim Trimby has decided it is time to put his hammer away. He is humbled that it is finally time for him to reap the benefits of his many years of service

Trimby came to the trade by way of his family. His father, Homer, was a member of SMART Local 50/265 in Carol Stream, Ill., for 50 years, serving as a business agent for the last 10; his grandfather, Ray, began his career at Local 50 in 1940, and his uncle, Ike, joined Local 50 after serving in World War II. Jim also has a twin brother retired from Local 265.

During Homer’s elected term, he signed up a shop in 1989, Dahlman Sheet Metal. Coincidentally, Jim worked his last day at Dahlman Sheet Metal, at a jobsite with the Dahlman owner’s son, Neal, where Jim had previously worked in 2008 installing a stack. Having worked his last day, the end of Jim’s career also signifies the end of the Trimby generation of sheet metal workers, with a total of 80 years spent actively working in the industry.

In addition to being a strong union member, a mentor and a great asset to our trade, Jim also served as a paratrooper in the Armed Forces. Local 265 wishes him a happy retirement and hopes to see him at the local’s retirement club events.

Ashley Deschenes has been with Kansas City’s Local 2 for six years, working at an architectural shop for the first three before moving to a specialty shop. Additionally, Ashley has spent the last two years working hard to grow her local’s Women’s Committee, where she was elected chairperson in 2022. Within her local women’s group, Ashley has worked closely with the LGBTQ+ community in order to recruit and retain a more diverse SMART membership. This year, she has seized the opportunity to get involved in the SMART International Women’s Committee, and she has also started working with two SMART Women’s Sub-Committees: Increasing Women and Parental Support/Resources. Ashley is eager to see where this career takes her and her family of seven!

See Ashley in our video featuring SMART members who do architectural sheet metal work.

Members of the SMART Transportation Division and other unionized rail workers came together for a day of protest on May 10 outside the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) annual meeting.

Early in the day, SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo, TD Auxiliary President Kathryn Seegmiller and many other union members, spouses and supporters spent hours outside and around the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Mo., to draw attention to Class I carriers’ Precision Scheduled Railroading scheme, BNSF’s “Hi-Viz” attendance policy and the fact that National Rail Contract negotiations are approaching a third year.

“We had people joining in just walking by, people honking showing support as they drove by,” Dragoo said. “We had people from many different Class 1 railroads there, not just BNSF.”

Dragoo thanked many of the lead organizers of the event, including SMART TD National Safety Team Alternate Director — East and Kansas State Legislative Secretary Dan Bonawitz (Local 1409, Kansas City, Kan.), Kansas State Alternate Legislative Secretary Mike Scheerer (Local 94, Kansas City, Kan.), Legislative Representative Tim Alexander (Local 1532, Kansas City, Kan.) and Local 1532 Trustee Matt Collins, as well as 1532 member Jason Bluett and member Rodney Sparks of Local 5 (Kansas City, Mo.).

Some of the protesters outside the North American Rail Shipper conference hold signs May 10 in Kansas City. (Photo courtesy Kansas SLD Ty Dragoo)

“Dan Bonawitz and his team have done a tremendous job getting the word out. These events are crucial as we wage the war of public opinion in legislatures across the country and Congress,” Dragoo said. “Citizens need to know that their communities are in danger not only by reducing crews from a public safety standpoint, but the economic impact that has on communities when good union jobs leave. We will keep the fight up, and we won’t back down!”

“The goal of this informational picket was to raise awareness with the public of the BNSF Railway policies that are not only degrading our workforce and harming our families but directly impacting our communities and increasing the cost of goods for all Americans,” he told reporter Mark DeLap. “The informational picket was also an effort to spotlight how BNSF Railway is directly at fault for the regressive policies causing these hardships.”

SMART TD Local 445 was in attendance at the May 15 rally in Ft. Madison Iowa.

The demonstration outside the NARS gathering, which was attended by C-suite-level executives from many of the Class I freight railroads, was not the only coordinated demonstration that has taken place.

More than 100 people took part in informational pickets in Guernsey and Gillette, Wyo., Local 465 Chairman Kevin Knutson told the Platte County Record Times.

“We, as families, friends, employees and retirees, have never experienced such an antagonistic approach to a workforce and their employees before,” Knutson said.

Additional events will continue to be organized at all levels in order to inform the public and other groups about the concerns of rail workers.

Stacy DeMonbrun – a journeyperson, instructor and recording secretary at SM Local 5 (East Tennessee and North Carolina) – has worked in the sheet metal trade for 30 years, where her leadership skills and unique perspective have made her a natural trailblazer. Read more about Stacy and her career as a SMART member below.

What unique strengths do you bring to your trade?

Leadership and a different point of view.

What do you love to do when you are not at work?

Spend time with the family, especially my grandchildren.

Goals in the future — any ambitions or changes to your trade?

I love where I am currently, so my future ambition is retirement (in about 15 years).

What surprised you about your trade?

All of it, honestly. I had no idea what sheet metal was about when I started, I just knew I wasn’t happy with where I was headed. My dad told me the hall was taking applications, and I figured I would give it a try.

What do you find frustrating about your job/trade?

Past coworkers that automatically thought a female couldn’t handle construction work.

What’s the coolest job you have been on?

The Department of Energy site I am on now. I love knowing what we do, the history of the site and where we are headed.

What traits do you think a good sheet metal worker has?

Show up — on time — every day with a willingness to learn (even if you have been in the trade for 30 years).

Why sheet metal?

I love how we can take flat stock material and make whatever we want. We are only limited by our imagination.

Tool you can’t live without?

The ability to think outside the box if needed.

Best advice you got as an apprentice?

It was from my dad: You make the same amount of money I do, you better do the same amount of work I do. (He never cut me any slack.)

Best advice for an apprentice?

Get involved. You are part of a family now, and family doesn’t sit back when there is a need.

What do you think about Tradeswomen Build Nations?

It is an amazing experience. Many times [in my career], I was the only female sheet metal worker (several times I was the only female) on the jobsite. To see that many like-minded women in one place was unbelievable. To know you really are not alone on a jobsite helps when you are having a rough day.

Are you active in trade-related activities such as career fairs, volunteer work or the SMART Army?

Absolutely. Any time I can make it, I am there to help out.

There is no doubt that recruiting has been impacted by the pandemic. Virtual hiring is here to stay, and for good reason. Virtual recruiting efforts are more cost effective and extend an employer’s reach, whereas in-person recruiting events and career fairs require supplies, travel costs and time spent by employees. They can also be a challenge for prospective candidates to attend, whether due to lack of transportation, childcare needs or time spent traveling. It’s important to recognize the investment involved for all parties and ensure you are set up to take complete advantage when such events do come together — while they are challenging, the opportunity for meeting candidates face to face is valuable if you are well equipped and prepared.

The best skilled worker recruiting strategy is to show that your local is a place where people should want to work.

Online tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter and Facebook Jobs can be effective in recruiting sheet metal apprentices, especially as we target a younger generation. LinkedIn Recruiter is a hiring platform that helps you find, connect with and manage potential recruits. Sixty percent of the workforce is not looking for a new job but is willing to discuss a new opportunity, and LinkedIn Recruiter allows you to search for such passive candidates. It also provides advanced search filters and recommended matches to prioritize candidates based on who is most open to hearing from you.

With nearly 3 billion users, more than any other social media platform, Facebook can reach a wide pool of candidates. Posting a job to a local’s business page only takes a few minutes, and applicants can apply with a few clicks. Facebook also has groups and pages related to sheet metal work, such as Metal Fabrication Tips and Union Sheet Metal Workers. To reach a more relevant audience, a job posting can be shared in these groups (just be sure to read the group’s rules!).

Many locals already have their own Facebook business page. Jobs can be posted here, and that post can be shared by employees and seen by their network of family and friends. This method can be very effective; candidates will be more likely to click on a job listing posted by someone they know and trust compared to an ad that happens to appear in their feed.

Task force findings

The Partners in Progress Best Practices Market Expansion Task Force has developed a number of resources designed to support local areas in their recruiting efforts. A few points were discussed at the recent task force meeting:

1. The average age of a first-year sheet metal apprentice is 26. That age seems to be a sweet spot, where individuals are mature enough to understand the value of a career in sheet metal; they have some work experience; and they are starting a family and/or seeking stability, good wages and the benefits that are offered in a sheet metal career.

2. Parents are more involved in career selection. Because kids are waiting longer to get married and start a family, parents are more influential in their kids’ career choices. As groups are looking at online options for attracting apprentices, taking parents’ involvement into targeting consideration can be helpful.

3. Local areas are using the task force resources in a number of ways, as well as creating their own.

Print and physical recruiting materials available

As 26 is the average age of first-year sheet metal apprentices, many potential workers are more likely to currently hold lower-paying jobs. As a recruiting tactic, a couple of local areas have created “Consider a Career” business cards to show those individuals the benefits of a career in sheet metal. The task force will be making similar cards that can be given to people you meet who you feel may be good candidates for a sheet metal apprenticeship; you can hand them out when you have a great service experience at a car wash or cash register, for example.

Infographics and other materials are available to order at pinp-materials.org or by contacting info@industrialathleteofficial.org; we will happily send you the posters, banners and/or handouts you need! All materials can be customized for your local area, can be used in digital or print form, and they are offered in Spanish and English. There is even a handout that can work as an online ad or a banner ad for your site that is designed to help parents understand why sheet metal is a great career choice.

Kathy Kerber, a member of the task force, has seen in-person job fairs return in recent months, and her local has been creating engaging handouts for their booth at trade shows. Working with Local 24 (Southern Ohio), Kathy has found success generating excitement and interest in the trade by giving away laser-cut metal projects instead of traditional printed materials. Contact information is included on the giveaway. Additionally, the JATC hands them out at job fairs, replacing the toolkits they distributed in the past. The result: They have lines of career seekers at their booth, and interest in the trade is high.

Spreading the word

A large percentage of sheet metal workers heard about the trade through friends and family. For that reason, the Partners in Progress Best Practices Task Force has created a social media campaign to encourage sheet metal workers to post about their jobs. When union sheet metal workers post about their job with the hashtags #MJMG (“My Job is My Gym”) or #tinisin, they are recognized by the task force, and members with notable posts are awarded $100 gift cards.

The best skilled worker recruiting strategy is to show that your local is a place where people should want to work. Build your digital brand via social media, share videos of your employees and members, and give real-life examples of the work culture. Utilize the resources provided by the Best Practices Task Force and invest in an updated, mobile-friendly website that includes a career tab for trade workers to apply through your site. For assistance navigating the resources available, feel free to reach out to info@industrialathleteofficial.org, or go to pinp-materials.org to order!

During the first week of May, the SMART Department of Education held an in-person basic organizing training session in Portland, Oregon — part of the vital work the education department performs to keep our union strong and geared towards growth.

Participants from across the region immersed themselves in study and conducted role play exercises to prepare for circumstantial and situational topics that are important for building a basic organizing foundation for local unions.

Topics included, but were not limited to:

1. Organizing under the National Labor Relations Act in both construction and production settings;

2. Basic “street law” rules for in-field activity;

3. Initiating and perpetuating value-based representation communications with nonunion workers;

4. Initiating and perpetuating value-based business, top-down conversations with employers;

5. Investigating and outlining basic organizing strategies; and more.

Participants were also given a presentation on the SMART indoor air quality (IAQ) initiative. Instructors broke down the complexities of the initiative’s sequences, answered questions and discussed with participants how the IAQ initiative could be utilized as a tool for organizing, growing market share and increasing density within their local unions.

In addition to in-person sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage in the training via remote conferencing with both SMART Director of Organizing Darrell Roberts and SMART Director of National Campaigns James White, both of whom gave presentations about their departments and answered questions.