Category: Spring 2024
SMART-TD, NS agree to pilot C3RS safety reporting program
The SMART Transportation Division began a new era in rail safety and worker protection by working with Norfolk Southern to accept and act on anonymous safety reports. How It Works The one-year pilot program, called the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), is simil [...]
Jackie Miesner retires from SMART International staff
SMART Administrative Assistant Jackie Miesner retired from the SMART International staff on February 1, 2024, bringing an end to a nearly 40-year career in our union. Miesner began her career in 1986 and provided endless assistance to the SMART Departments of Governmental Aff [...]
Deyette elected general vice president
In December 2023, 30-plus-year sheet metal worker Lance Deyette was elected a general vice president on the SMART General Executive Council. Deyette is a graduate of Bates Technical College and started his apprenticeship with SM Local 66 (Seattle, Washington) in 1988. Deyette [...]
Sheet metal leaders work to secure a unionized future at Partners in Progress 2024
The Partners in Progress 2024 conference brought sheet metal and signatory management leaders to Orlando, Florida, from February 27–28. With a conference theme of “The Future Is Now,” labor and management representatives came together to focus on seizing this moment of opport [...]
SMART Rail, Mechanical and Engineering (RME) Department updates
From local union visits to new member organizing, the SMART RME Department is actively working to strengthen and grow our union. Read updates on the department’s recent activities: SMART RME International representatives visit local unions SMART RME International Representati [...]
SMART members help pro-union candidate Tom Suozzi win special election
On February 13, 2024, Tom Suozzi won a special election to represent New York’s Third Congressional District following former Representative George Santos’ expulsion from the House of Representatives. Suozzi’s victory resulted in no small part from the mobilization and voting [...]
56-year Local 80 member stays active with DAD’s Day event
Donald Ratzel, a proud Local 80 (Detroit, Michigan) member of 56 years, continues to stay active in his local union: attending union meetings, supporting his brothers and sisters and participating in Local 80’s annual Dollars Against Diabetes (DAD’s) Day events. DAD’s Day is [...]
Vietnamese-speaking organizer, shop stewards help Local 85 achieve success in Ga.
In Georgia, so-called “right-to-work” laws make it hard for unions to organize and retain members, particularly when language barriers in the workplace already present challenges. Despite such obstacles, though, SMART Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) has made big inroads at Price Indu [...]