Category: Members Journal
Griffith retires after decades of service to SMART
After decades of service to International staff, elected leadership and SMART members, Kathleen Griffith, executive assistant to the general secretary-treasurer, retired in spring 2025.
SMART represents at Skills Canada
SMART Canada reps were proud to attend the Skills Canada National Competition in spring 2025, showcasing the top student and apprentice talent across the country.
Education Department helps unionists strengthen advocacy in Pittsburgh
SMART union leaders often need to communicate important information to a wide variety of parties — 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.
NIH funding cuts contribute to lost work hours for San Diego sheet metal workers
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.
2025 spending bill will cut jobs, drive up costs for SMART members nationwide
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress in early July includes massive cuts to clean energy tax credits, Medicaid and more that will negatively impact SMART members' work opportunities and health care coverage.
Senate strikes down spending bill’s harmful AI provision
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.
Eli Baccus named SMART Education Department director
Former local union organizer and SMART International Instructor Eli Baccus has begun his tenure as director of the SMART Education Department.
Organizing wins across Canada
Across Canada, SMART locals are organizing to grow our union and take on expected workforce demands.