SMART union leaders often need to communicate important information to a wide variety of people — politicians, business owners, fellow workers and reporters, to name a few — when fighting to better the lives of SMART members. That’s why the SMART Education Department held its Effective Communication II class in Pittsburgh, Pa., during the week of June 3, 2025, bringing together participants from across North America to enhance their skill sets.
The class focused on improving communication skills by dissecting branding and messaging techniques, practicing lobbying tactics, creating pitches for news stories, framing and reframing talking points, and making spontaneous arguments through debate. On each of the three days of the class, participants honed their lobbying skills with exercises that asked attendees to role play as random organizations that sometimes challenged their beliefs, helping local leaders understand the other side of the argument. Groups were mixed for every exercise, and a point system was in place.
“Congratulations to Christina Bayaniyan (first place) and Jon Davis (second place) for being recognized by their peers as the top two participants in the class!” said SMART Director of Education Eli Baccus.
New policies around federal funding are hitting home for sheet metal workers in San Diego, where cuts to funding from the National Institutes of Health led to the pausing of two huge construction projects and dozens of sheet metal workers losing out on pending jobs, according to local officers. With the funding cuts hitting right when other projects were winding down, Local 206 members are experiencing high unemployment numbers for the first time in years.
“It was like a perfect storm. We had some of the biggest jobs we’ve ever had in San Diego: the airport expansion, the Gaylord Pacific Resort down in Chula Vista, at the bay front, and some other really big pharmaceutical jobs,” said Local 206 Business Manager Dave Gauthier. “So a lot of that was trickling down and slowing down, and then with the NIH funding cutting, we lost, on just two jobs alone, over 100,000 work hours.”
Under President Trump, billions of dollars have been terminated in NIH grants nationwide, including at institutions like University of California San Diego. SMART members may not think of themselves as being affected by the NIH, but that funding is often used for construction that requires sheet metal workers, especially in labs and hospitals. A new lab and a hospital expansion project were the jobs that Local 206 members were slated to take on before the NIH funding cuts hit.
Now, after years of 100% employment, 19% of Local 206 members are out of work.
“Over five years, we haven’t had any mass layoffs. We’ve been organizing like crazy — we’ve grown our membership by close to 30% in the last five years. For a lot of our members who have joined in the last five years, they’ve never seen a layoff. They’ve never received that check,” Gauthier said. “I’d say that the Trump administration and all their funding cuts … is affecting our members.”
“I think our members that are now on the out of work list for the first time, or the first time in a long time, are starting to realize the affect that this administration is having even on a construction worker here in San Diego that’s trying to feed his or her family,” he added.
The negative impacts of federal policies show the importance of local politics, according to Local 206 Business Representative Dom Luyo. Over the years, the local has worked tirelessly to secure project labor agreements with cities and school districts throughout San Diego County. This has put union sheet metal workers on an enormous range of jobs, and it offers a road map for Local 206 moving forward. Even as work slows — whether resulting from federal funding freezes, shifting tariff policies that spook some investors and developers, or other factors — Luyo encouraged fellow SMART members unionwide to build relationships with pro-labor candidates at the local level.
“Getting local politicians on your side will help regulate local rules for your membership,” he said. “I think we’ve done a great job doing that collectively, not just the sheet metal workers but with all the other building trades unions together: working to get the right politicians in place to help us secure more work from more labor-friendly candidates.”
As the spending legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” made its way through the United States House and Senate in spring and summer of 2025, SMART had a constant presence in the offices of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. SMART’s Governmental Affairs staff met repeatedly with representatives and senators, explaining how provisions in the legislation that cut tax credits, infrastructure funding, clean energy funding, Medicaid funding and more would negatively impact SMART members’ work opportunities and health care coverage.
“Cutting the waste and fraud, nobody’s against that. But these cuts go way deeper than that,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman in a video message to members explaining the bill. “These cuts are actually going to have an impact on our plans and our members. We’re all for cutting waste in the federal government, but they’re going to have to end up cutting programs that are essential for regular, working people.”
Unfortunately, in a move that says a lot about how politics works in today’s day and age, representatives and senators moved forward with a bill that included those cuts.
While some of the worst elements of the bill — including the most extreme energy tax credit cuts and an AI provision that threatened SMART-TD bus operators — were removed due to the collective work of SMART members nationwide and the labor movement, Congress pushed through cuts to Medicaid that will cause working families to suffer and raise the costs of health care plans for SMART members and families, cuts to tax credits that will lead to canceled projects and lost work hours for sheet metal workers, and more. And on July 4, President Trump signed the bill into law.
“Members will lose work. Costs will go up. And that just doesn’t make sense,” Coleman said in a video on tax credits cut by the bill.
Across the construction sector, the bill threatens millions of jobs and work hours, which translates to billions of dollars in lost annual wages and benefits. Members may not feel the consequences immediately. But in the years to come, construction workers and their families, alongside working people everywhere, will lose out on important jobs.
“Simply put, it is the equivalent of terminating more than 1,000 Keystone XL pipeline projects,” said North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey in a statement.
The legislation signed by President Trump included a tax exemption on overtime earnings. However, despite advocacy and proposed fixes, the bill does not extend this benefit to employees covered by the Railway Labor Act — AKA, railroaders.
“Our members sacrifice holidays, family time and weekends to keep this country running. Excluding them from a policy aimed at easing the burden on working Americans is more than disheartening,” said SMART-TD National Legislative Director Jared Cassity. “But we’re not walking away from this. We’ll keep pushing until our voices are heard.”
The cuts to Medicaid are simply devastating across the board. They don’t take effect right away, but once they do, they will hurt blue-collar workers and their families.
“The biggest impact will be on families that are fighting to keep their healthcare. Right now, the CBO scores that 16 million people will lose their healthcare coverage, which inevitably is going to lead to preventable deaths in the future,” said Coleman in another video to members. “And for members who don’t think cuts to Medicaid are going to have an impact on them, I can tell you that history has proven that any cuts to Medicaid lead to an increase in the costs of the health plans that we fund and that we fight for every single day.”
SMART will continue to advocate for members and working families, at the federal level and in states and cities across the United States. But make no mistake: The bill signed into law in July will hurt workers for years to come.
While the 2025 spending bill passed in early July included a number of harmful pieces for SMART members, one provision that would have been particularly damaging to bus operators is no longer included.
Automation is already a growing threat, but this would have given big tech companies even more leeway to operate unchecked and with limited accountability.
Bottom line: Including this provision would have made a bad situation worse.
TD members directly at risk
SMART-TD bus drivers and operators would have been directly impacted by this dangerous proposal, with their jobs and livelihoods at serious risk.
There is no substitute for a human operator, and this proposal would have opened the door to replace skilled workers with unregulated technology that can’t function with the precise skill and expertise that’s needed to perform this work, especially in the event of an emergency.
It is incredibly disappointing that legislators did not stand up for their constituents and stop this harmful bill from becoming law; however, it’s a crucial victory that the Senate took the important step of removing the AI provision before it moved any further through the legislative process.
What’s next
In a video released in early July, SMART General President Michael Coleman thanked members who took the time to reach out to their lawmakers to let them know how this bill will impact them and their families.
“I want to thank President Ferguson, his entire team and all of you that engaged to get that harmful provision out of the spending bill,” General President Coleman said in his video message to members. “This would have hurt all SMART members — threatening to replace skilled workers with machines and robotics.”
SMART will continue fighting to ensure that members and their jobs are protected from the threats posed by AI. And on the road ahead, one thing is certain: Whether at the local or federal level, it is vital that we keep speaking up and contacting elected officials. Members’ input and collective strength can make a difference, and the fight is just beginning.
Former local union organizer and SMART International Instructor Eli Baccus has begun his tenure as director of the SMART Education Department — another step in a career dedicated to advancing the interests of union workers across North America.
“Eli’s extensive experience, dedication and passion for labor education make him exceptionally well-suited for this role,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman. “I am confident that under his leadership, our Education Department will continue to thrive, equipping our members with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.”
“I am honored to work with the International’s staff to help General President Coleman implement his vision of SMART as a union that is focused on benefiting the lives of the members,” Baccus said. “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve our membership in this position and will strive to ensure SMART’s local union officials are getting the best training possible.”
Baccus joined the SMART Education Department as an International instructor in April 2024. Before then, he served as the director of organizing and partnership development at Local 33 (Northern Ohio) — a role he held since July 2015, and one in which he demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to labor education.
“His tenure there was marked by a renewed focus on growth, engagement and strategic partnerships,” Coleman said.
Before his time at Local 33, Baccus spent five years as a labor attorney at the law firm Widman and Franklin, where he represented unions across Ohio, advocating for workers’ rights and fair labor practices.
As SMART’s new education director, Baccus said he plans to deliver engaging, relevant and fun programming that meets the immediate and long-term needs of our organization.
“Class content will be driven through a collaborative process between the Education Department and other International departments to ensure we are providing the skill training that new officials need to improve members’ lives,” he explained. “We will be creating experiences for union officials that allow them to immediately apply class content in near real-world scenarios in a meaningful way.”
“Learning does not have to be boring,” Baccus added. “In fact, it will be more impactful if class participants enjoy the experience.”
Canada’s unionized construction industry is experiencing significant victories for workers. From prevailing wage requirements on green infrastructure projects, to tax deductions for travellers, to new federal legislation designed to expedite nation-building projects, the future is bright for SMART members and the broader labour movement.
As Canada gears up for a wave of megaprojects from coast to coast, it is more important than ever to remain focused on organizing. Organizing victories ensure SMART has the capacity, skill and strength to meet the demands of high-profile, intensive projects, while protecting the wages, benefits and working conditions that members deserve.
Across the country, SMART locals are rising to this challenge by prioritizing organizing and expanding their reach. On the West Coast, Local 280 (Vancouver) has grown its membership by 35%, thanks to successful organizing campaigns involving 15 new companies. Their most notable victory was organizing a roofing company with over 50 members, marking a significant step forward for both the local and broader construction industries in B.C.
In Northern and Eastern Ontario, smaller locals are also ramping up their efforts. Local 504 (Sudbury) and Local 269 (Kingston) have hired full-time organizers for the first time, a sign of their commitment to signing nonunion companies and preparing for the influx of new projects.
Newly organized Local 562 member Brian Vos in the shop in Kitchener, Ontario
Meanwhile, in Southwestern Ontario, Local 562 (Kitchener) achieved a breakthrough after years of determined efforts, welcoming 56 new members who made the switch from the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC). The turning point came when CLAC compared their current wages and benefits, which highlighted the clear advantage of SMART membership. Even with a recent $18/hour raise from CLAC, the workers realized they were still behind SMART’s collective agreements. Ultimately, this move wasn’t just about higher wages; it was about joining a union that provides meaningful representation and long-term security.
But our largest organizing victory came in Windsor, where Local 235 mobilized 450 SMART travellers to support work on the NextStar Energy megaproject. At peak, the site had 950 union members working, a clear demonstration of SMART’s capacity to scale up organized labour.
Looking ahead, more megaprojects are on the horizon. From the PowerCo (Volkswagen) battery plant to multiple hospital builds across the country, these projects offer incredible opportunities for SMART members to develop their skills, secure steady employment and sustain rewarding careers in their local communities.
But seizing these opportunities requires organizing. It is only through continued organizing efforts that we can ensure all construction workers, regardless of their location in Canada, can reap the benefits of union representation. Better wages, safer worksites and stronger worker protections start with a commitment to grow our union. Together, we’re building more than infrastructure; we’re building a stronger future for every SMART member across Canada.
The Spring 2025 Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) Challenge asked SMART members to answer the question: Why are you proud to be a SMART member? Dozens of members answered the call, with three selected in a raffle as the quarter’s winners. Read their submissions below.
Local 280 (Vancouver, British Columbia) Business Rep. Troy Clutchey went long in his answer:
“I am proud to be a union member, as I believe in the union movement all around. I am a third-generation sheet metal worker. I have benefitted from Local 280, as well as unions in general, since well before I was born.
“My grandfather came to British Columbia and joined Local 280 as a journeyman sheet metal worker in 1950. He told me that the journey rate was about $2.50/hour when he started here. This obviously would have had an influence on my mom’s upbringing, as she wasn’t born until 1953. My mom also understood and believed in the benefits of union.
“She met my dad many years later, and in 1974, at the suggestion of my grandfather, he too joined Local 280, obtaining his Red Seal in 1979. This led to my family having a good, full, enjoyable lifestyle. Born in 1983, the benefits and pride that came from union membership have been with me my whole life. My father’s membership in 280, and my mother’s union membership as an employee of the government provided so many great aspects to our life.
“In 2003 I started my pre-apprenticeship at SMART Local 280, and I have never looked back. I went through my apprenticeship, and I obtained my Red Seal certification in May 2008. The benefits that I have received are amazing. From the very beginning, everything from the ‘automatic savings’ to go through apprenticeship, to the registered program for training that entitled us to unemployment insurance benefits while in school, to the more affordable tuition costs, to having our own training centre with amazing instructors who are Red Seal certified tradesworkers.
“Move ahead a few more years, and I started a family of my own. With my wife being able to get benefits, and then us having two children together, the union has never stopped helping with our lives. Everything from psychology assessments, medical benefits, dental coverage, to glasses coverage and even wage indemnity coverages during times of need.
“The benefits are great, and so is knowing that everyone is together and looking out for one another. Safety conversations are much easier with everyone on the same page and a backing the size of a local union. We believe that we are setting the standards for industry all over the place.
“Knowing that even things like counselling and mental health services — not to mention addiction services and everything along those lines — are covered and organized through the union is amazing.
“For the last seven years, I have had the honour of serving as an elected business representative at Local 280. This work can be stressful and draining at times; however, the benefits and belief that I am helping as many people as I can join and benefit from the union makes it all worth it. Knowing that I might be able to get even one more person to join the union, grow and strengthen it, while obtaining some of the amazing benefits union membership affords the working class, is so fulfilling.
“I hope that the union, and all proper unions, can thrive for generations to come, as I truly believe that they bring out the best in everyone.”
Scott Raia, a member of SMART-TD Local 1626, said in his answer:
“My membership in this union has been the single most important step I have taken in my family’s financial life. It came right after my daughter was born. Finally, we were able to purchase a home, access quality medical care and think about the future. Every worker in this country should have those privileges. The men and women in this union have fought hard for generations to afford us the protections and security we enjoy as members. I owe this organization everything.”
Adrian Murcia, a member of SMART Local 565 (Wisconsin), discussed not just his union pride, but the support and happiness his membership gives him as well:
“I am very happy to belong to SMART. Ever since I was hired and joined the union, I have felt proud to belong to it. It was incredible to receive the bonus in the negotiation of the contract after just six months of joining Sub-Zero. With SMART, I feel supported in the resolution of any conflict that may arise, and SMART gives me the peace of mind that I have job stability. Additionally, and thanks to the strong negotiation of our salary, I have been able to make investments for my future.
“Thank you, SMART.”
Adrian Murcia, right, pictured wearing BE4ALL jacket with Local 565 Business Manager Jesse Buell
SMART-TD Local 202 (Denver, Colo.) sister Tierney Gallegos started her journey as a union railroader just six years ago. But in that short time, she has emerged as a model of leadership, service and solidarity.
“Union leadership is a voluntary position, and not every position is filled with people determined to make a difference,” said Omar Ledesma, local chairperson and alternate safety and legislative representative in Colorado. “Sister Gallegos strives to make that difference. She wants people to know that railroaders still exist. We may not have the numbers we once had, but we are still present in our community and a leader among other unions.”
A conductor for BNSF Railway and the vice president of Local 202 in Denver, Colorado, Sister Gallegos also serves as the secretary of the Local Committee of Adjustment (LCA) for the yard, a role that she was elected to in 2022, and has quickly become an indispensable force.
She mobilized support for SMART-TD’s legislative priorities and broader labor initiatives. From state Senate and House hearings to street-level rallies, Gallegos ensures our members show up proud, powerful and ready to fight for positive change.
Union influence creates a community-wide benefit
Elected to her first four-year term as Vice President two years ago, Sister Gallegos hit the ground running. She assumed leadership of both the Charity Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, where she has redefined what it means to connect union strength with public good. Her efforts have brought Local 202 into collaboration with key organizations such as:
Toys for Tots
The Colorado Railroad Museum
SMART-TD Colorado Legislative Board
Women on the Tools Event
For the third consecutive year, she successfully organized Local 202’s support for the National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, forging a powerful partnership with the Bienvenidos Food Bank and a local post office to combat hunger and raise awareness. She has made it her mission to bring the message of SMART-TD into the broader community: if something needs to be fixed, the union will get organized and fix it.
Our values lead to a brighter future
Gallegos demonstrates what all SMART-TD members stand for: determination in the face of adversity, strength through unity, service to the community and a commitment to lifting one another when any of us has fallen. Her rise in prominence is a testament to her unshakeable dedication to these values. Great work, sister!
Following the conclusion of the 2025 North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) Legislative Conference, officers from Local 28 (New York City and Long Island), Local 137 (New York City) and Local 38 (Brewster) took to the halls of power, lobbying representatives to support sheet metal workers and all working-class families in New York.
The SMART International leadership team is adding two new staff members, bolstering the International’s capacity in order to better serve members across North America.
DeyetteBailey
Lance Deyette joined Darrell Roberts and Tom Wiant as an assistant to the general president (AGP) following the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference. Deyette is a long-standing member of SMART Local 66 in Washington — more than 34 years — and most recently served as president of the Northwest Regional Council, as well as a general vice president on the General Executive Council.
The International also established a new assistant to the general secretary-treasurer (AGST) position to support General Secretary-Treasurer John Daniel in his work. Aaron Bailey, a 28-year member of Local 66, began his position on June 21, following many years spent strengthening our union as an International organizer, Local 66 business representative and local union organizer.
