Let’s offer our Sisters, Brothers and Friends to the north a belated “Happy Canada Day” on Sunday, June first.
Before the rest of us begin to enjoy ourselves and spend time with our friends, family and loved ones on this Fourth of July, let’s pause to remember the liberties we have and what made them possible.
To preserve the freedoms we enjoy today—from fear, from want, and from tyranny and oppression of all kinds—each of us must take responsibility to stand and protect those blessings.
Freedom is not free. It was forged through the sacrifices of past generations of Americans and Canadians, many during times of war and conflict. Our forefathers—such as those who scaled the cliffs of Normandy to defeat a violent and unstable dictator who personified evil—offered their lives to protect our freedoms.
Those who came before us also defended our foundation of freedom when they marched, picketed, fought, and sometimes died in the streets to bring their children and grandchildren a better future.
Let’s remember their individual efforts and sacrifices. That responsibility is now on our shoulders, so let’s recommit to keeping our nations free from want and fear—and free from all who want only to enrich themselves by denying the hopes and dreams of the many generations of workers and families—including ours—who seek only to work hard and forge the dream of a good, safe, stable life.
Those many generations have been working to build a good life and to protect this democracy, since even before July 4, 1776. Let us show the same courage and character in defending those precious freedoms today.
Happy Fourth of July!
In Solidarity,
Joseph Sellers, Jr.
SMART General President
Author: paul
Assaults on bus and transit operators occur daily, threatening the safety of working members and the riding public. Every day there is more news of incidents where unruly passengers have spit on, threatened, beaten, stabbed or even shot some of our Brothers and Sisters while they are just doing their job. In response, SMART is leading the way in support of the bipartisan Bus Operator and Pedestrian Protection Act, introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32), and U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY-24).
Text SAFETY to 21333 to take action on this important legislation. (message and data rates may apply)
Michigan Republicans just voted to take prevailing wages away from all construction workers on publicly funded projects across the state.
The legislature could have let the issue go to the ballot, but chose to take it up and approve it on Wednesday. Shortly after the Senate passed it 23-14, the House passed the measure 56-53.
Because the measure was proposed by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) through a petition process, it immediately becomes law – without the Governor’s signature.
Contact your state Senators and Representatives by filling out this form and remind them you will not forget their vote this coming November!
Click here to check on your voter status or register to vote.
Note: Only those who voted to take your prevailing wage away are listed. Those who voted with Michigan sheet metal and construction workers can be thankedhere.
By signing up for text message alerts will be be the first to know about breaking news from across our Union and new job opportunities via periodic updates via sites such the Job Bank.
You will also be the first to take advantage of giveaways and services provided to you as a member of this Union. This includes promotions from the SMART Marketplace where new offers and discounts on anything from work boots to tools to movie tickets and park passes are available.
Text SMART to 21333 to join the SMART Army and receive periodic messages about events, work opportunities and other offers throughout the year (Message and data rates may apply).
The Alliance for Retired Americans recently released its 2017 voting record which scored every U.S. Representative and Senator on issues affecting current and future retirees.
The annual report examined 10 key Senate and House votes in 2017, highlighting issues concerning the health and well being of retirees. Specific votes affected Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; prescription drug re-importation from Canada; the Affordable Care Act; medical malpractice lawsuit caps; and tax cuts for wealthy Americans and corporations, combined with tax increases for lower-income and middle class families, that increase income inequality.
Thirty-four members of the U.S. Senate achieved perfect scores of 100 percent in 2017, while another 40 received zeroes. In the U.S. House of Representatives, 178 members received perfect scores of 100 percent in 2017 while 191 received scores of zero.
Click here to view the scores
Call Jim White at 717 579-3480.
Local 20’s Darryl Easterline visits a local news show on ABC 21 in Indiana to talk about Building Futures, a free Allen County pre-apprenticeship class to prepare people for careers in the skilled trades. Brother Esterline is President of the Northeast Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council and business representative at Local 20. Click to view: http://www.wpta21.com/story/38081449/opportunity-knocks-a-profile-of-the-building-futures-class
In recent years, there’s been plenty of conversation in America about income inequality, with talk of the one percent versus the 99 percent. People have rightfully asked how corporate profits and CEO incomes can rise so high, while working-class and middle-class wages continue to stagnate as union density has declined.
This year, working-class construction workers in New York City across all the trades have begun to participate in a movement labeled #CountMeIn.
Construction workers are saying “count me in” in the fight against corporate greed. Sheet metal workers have been joined by laborers, carpenters, cement masons, electricians, painters and others to demand fair wages, benefits, and working conditions from those who work to build the luxury apartments in the high rises they could never afford to live—and the high-end commercial space where it takes a multi-million dollar income stream to occupy an office in a closet. “Count Me In” demands every worker treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual preference.
This campaign was launched because union members and the general public realize that corporate greed has now gone unchecked for far too long. As developers continue to get richer, workers are being asked to sacrifice more and more.
The #CountMeIn movement and this rally is sending a message to developers that they cannot divide, separate or ignore workers any more in their fight for what every working person deserves – a basic fair days pay for a fair day’s work.
Count Me In Rally
Union Square Park
New York City, NY
Tuesday, May 8 at 3:30 PM – 5 PM
Click here to RSVP
The Penny Hoarder profiles Local 66 member Vanessa Carman who has made a career of smashing the glass ceiling at work as a Local 66 sheet metal worker and in her free time as a weight lifter. Ads the article points out, “fifteen years ago, she helped her brother change out a broken furnace in her uncle’s house.” Today that turn of events has led to a rewarding career in the sheet metal industry.”
You can read the rest of the article, which details the hurdles women like Carmen face, here: https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/women-in-construction/ A future issue of the SMART Journal, scheduled for this summer, will profile her career and competitive weight lifting successes.
Local 100 SMART Army Volunteers are preparing to bring Christmas in April to local families in PG County, MD. This effort is part of SMART inaugural Month of Community Action where events are being held coast to coast in support of local communities. Click here for video.