Category: Member Spotlight
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.
Railroader Nabs Pulitzer Nomination
Brother Carlos Wallace (Local 11 Houston, TX), a fifth-generation railroader, has received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his third book. In a recent interview with SMART-TD News, Brother Wallace reflects on his initial reaction to the announcement, the experiences that have impacted his writing, and what it means to be a part of the SMART-TD union family.
Sharp-eyed conductor saves two lives in winter crossing accident
SMART-TD conductor Brandon LaBombard saved two lives after a chain-reaction of accidents at an icy Michigan grade crossing. Disaster struck mid-train, without any indication in the head end. Eagle-eyed LaBombard witnessed the accident and was able to take heroic action, again proving the value of a two-person freight crew.
First woman business representative at Local 104 discusses her career in the trade
SM Local 104 (northern California) Business Representative Alicia Mijares – the first woman business representative in the local’s history – talks about her career and her life as a unionist
Two-person crew saves the life of missing woman
SMART TD Local 818 (Ft. Worth, Texas) Alt. Legislative Rep. and BNSF Conductor Cristhian Sosa (pictured) was on BNSF train M-TULIRB1-02A with Engineer Justin Luster heading southbound from Madill, Okla., to Irving, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 3 when they spotted a woman near th [...]
Fortune Magazine highlights the benefits of a union sheet metal career
For graduating high school seniors, conventional knowledge dictates that the most viable career paths require a college degree. But an increasing number of young people are beginning to seek alternatives in the unionized trades – including HVAC technician Tyler Ziztka of SM L [...]