- Tags COVID-19
Category: Front Page
National Disease Control Standard for U.S. Construction Sites
The North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training released a new national standard for infectious disease exposure control practices for U.S. construction sites. These guidelines aim to prevent disease, disability a [...]
Talking-SMART Ep. 4: COVID-19, Stimulus, Canadian Response, Shipyards and Procuring PPEs
In the fourth episode of Talking SMART, we continue our focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on our members and their communities, and how SMART is mobilizing across North America to help members stay informed and be safe at home and on the job during this crisis. Our f [...]
Update on nose piece requests
SMART sheet metal union members are working with contractors to produce and donate metal nose pieces for the millions of face masks being made by volunteers across the United States and Canada. If you are a member of a volunteer group providing masks to first responders or he [...]
Broad alliance tells White House: Transit workers need better protection from COVID-19
SMART General President Joseph Sellers Jr. and SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson as well as dozens of unions, business groups, economic justice organizations, and local transit advocates from across the nation wrote today to Vice President Mike Pence and [...]
First of its Kind Labor-Management Collaboration Brings Back Major Shipyard from the Brink of Extinction
The Metal Trades Department (MTD), AFL-CIO President James Hart announced today that Philly Shipyard, Inc., had been awarded a contract for the construction of up to five (5) National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) from TOTE Services, LLC. MTD President James Ha [...]
SMART leaders urge full initiation of Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act (DPA) was invoked April 2 by President Donald Trump to expedite the manufacture and eventual distribution of supplies, especially ventilators, necessary to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The first step in getting the products — including surgical mask [...]
Union leaders call on FTA to set mandatory safety standards, ensure pay for frontline transit workers
April 8, 2020 The Honorable K. Jane Williams Acting Administrator Federal Transit Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Acting Administrator Williams: First, we want to thank you and your staff for your hard work en [...]
Cloth Masks and Respirator Uses
With the latest information from the CDC now suggesting that the general public use homemade masks or scarfs when going out in public, we wanted to provide you with information on using them to protect you and your families during the current pandemic. The Difference Between [...]