Category: Talking SMART

TALKING SMART is the podcast of the the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, a diverse union of more than 200,000 members. Each episode, we bring you news, guests and discussions of interest to working families across the United States and Canada.

We are a member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network — working people’s voices, broadcasting worldwide 24 hours a day.

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“You’re either at the table, or you’re on the menu”

May 27, 2022 This episode we sit down with two more SMART members who have successfully run for elected office. We discuss their sheet metal and transportation careers, what motivated them to run for elected office, specific steps they took to build and run successful campaigns and key issues they focused on once in office.

SMART Local 40 member and Conn. State Rep. Joe de la Cruz speaks on the floor of the state legislature.

SMART Member Brings Voice of Working Families to CT Statehouse

April 27, 2022 A conversation with 25-year sheet metal worker and Connecticut State Rep. Joe de la Cruz.

TD President Jeremy Ferguson Discusses ‘Hi-Viz’ Policy, National Rail Contract

March 21, 2022 The March 2022 episode of Talking SMART featured a discussion with SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson about the BNSF "Hi-Viz" attendance policy and national rail contract negotiations.

Tags BNSF, Hi-Viz policy, National Rail Contract

The 1st Year of the Biden-Harris Administration

February 12, 2022 The May 2021 episode of Talking SMART focused on how the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration impacted SMART members and industries.

Tags American Rescue Plan, Amtrak, COBRA, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, multiemployer pensions, pensions, President Biden, PRO Act, rail safety, talking smart, two-person crews, unemployment, unemployment benefits

The SMART Member Assistance Program

October 5, 2021 The October 2021 episode of Talking SMART focused on suicide prevention, substance abuse disorder and all the resources and support available to our members through the SMART Member Assistance Program, or SMART MAP.

Tags addiction, SMART MAP, SMART Member Assistance Program, substance abuse disorder, suicide prevention

Union Mentorship and the “I Got Your Back” Campaign

August 24, 2021 The August 2021 episode of Talking SMART explored the power of union mentorship and SMART's "I Got Your Back" campaign.

Tags I got your back, mentorship, solidarity, talking smart

Long Trains, Two-Person Crews and Freight Rail Safety

June 10, 2021 In the June 2021 Talking SMART episode, we dug into freight rail issues that affect both the safety of railroad workers and the safety of communities around the country. Our featured guests were SMART Transportation Division Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo and former Transportation Division Nebraska State Legislative Director Bob Borgeson.

Tags Bob Borgeson, Kansas, long train legislation, Nebraska, pensions, rail safety, train length, two-person crews, Ty Dragoo

The 1st 100 Days of the Biden-Harris Administration

May 17, 2021 The May 2021 episode of Talking SMART focused on how the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration impacted SMART members and industries.

Tags American Rescue Plan, Amtrak, COBRA, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, multiemployer pensions, pensions, President Biden, PRO Act, rail safety, talking smart, two-person crews, unemployment, unemployment benefits

The State of Your Retirement

February 11, 2020 The inaugural episode of the Talking SMART podcast looked at a proposal from Senate Republicans that posed a serious threat to SMART members' retirement security, as well as the overall state of retirement security in America.