Category: Member Spotlight
Martha Claugus Marks Three Decades with Alaska Railroad
For nearly 30 years, Martha Claugus has worked for the Alaska Railroad. What started out as a summer job turned into a second family, with the solidarity to see one another through thick and thin. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to find out how things have changed and what we can do to welcome more women into our ranks.
Like Mother, Like Daughter: New Jersey Transit is All in the Family for Rashonda Brown & Shakyia Ward
Rashonda Brown and her daughter, Shakyia Ward, are both conductors for New Jersey Transit. Even though they hold the same job title, they’ve made it a priority to forge their own professional paths. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to find out who persuaded each of them to work for New Jersey Transit and what positive and negative changes they’ve seen during their time as conductors.
Nation Honors Transit Employees
March 18 is National Transit Employee Appreciation Day. Read on to join us in a celebration of the dedication and advocacy of transit workers across the U.S., whose hard work and solidarity keep our communities connected and safe.
How the Irish Helped Create America
St. Patrick’s Day is our opportunity to honor the hard work and sacrifices Irish immigrants made while helping build our country, and the continued importance of their solidarity in keeping our communities strong. Read on to see how our union marked the holiday in Chicago and New Jersey.
From fire truck to train: Manda Snide leads by example
Growing up, Manda Snide saw the benefits of union membership firsthand. Now, she’s committed to paying it forward through her role as Nebraska’s Alternate Safety & Legislative Director. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to learn what spurred her work on the railroad and why she’s committed to serving as a resource for her members.
From Safety to Sisterhood, April Ford Makes an Impact on Wyoming’s Working Families
April Ford didn’t become Wyoming’s first female Safety & Legislative Director because she sat on the sidelines. By speaking up and getting involved with her Local from Day 1, she made a tremendous impact for women and working families in her home state. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, read on to learn what she considers her biggest accomplishment and what advice she has for her union sisters.
Call for photos: “From America’s roads to rails, we want to see your best shots!”
If you have a memorable snapshot of the rails or on the road, consider sharing it with your union brothers and sisters! If your photo is featured by SMART News you could receive free swag! Read on for details.
Making history and breaking barriers: The women of White Pass
Over the past 125 years, very few women have worked in train and engine service on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway, Alaska. Five female members of Local 1626 are making history and redefining what it means to work on the railroad. Read on to discover what spurred their individual journeys to working for White Pass, how they’re charting new territory in a mostly male-dominated field, and what message they hope to send not only to other women but the entire community.