SMART General President Michael Coleman has published a number of videos in recent months — aiming to cut through the noise of corporate media and partisan influencers, and to make sure SMART members are informed about the issues affecting their jobs, their futures and their families.
In an August video, General President Coleman briefly discussed the California high-speed rail project. The Department of Transportation pulled $4 billion from the project — funds that were already committed.
“I believe they’re playing politics with our members’ jobs,” Coleman said.
“This project is covered by a project labor agreement and has already created over 15,000 jobs, many of which are building trades jobs, and it’s going to create even more jobs in the future, and these are jobs for SMART members,” he added. “The California High-Speed Rail Authority also has an agreement with SMART to cover SMART railroaders. And these jobs are covered by the Railway Labor Act, the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.”
“This project is not only an investment for our members now, but for our members in the future,” Coleman concluded. “This administration should stand with our members and recommit to this project.”
Watch the full video here.
Related News
- Special Focus: SMART brings nearly 500 sisters and allies to Chicago for Tradeswomen Build Nations
- Gratitude and determination
- Where we go from here
- The union difference at work
- Canadian Affairs Report: A stronger future
- Real conspiracies: The war on working people
- Education Department, Organizing Department hold course on organizing contractors
- Two new leaders elected to SMART General Executive Council
- Canceled federal funding threatens SMART members’ jobs at port projects
- From the archives: Sheet metal workers rally for fair trade policies and respect for workers at 1999 World Trade Organization meetings