News Archive
“You’re either at the table, or you’re on the menu”
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-TD mourns the loss of Local 1374 conductor Erik O’Brien
Local 1374 (New Castle, Pa.) conductor Erik D. O’Brien, 44, lost his life Saturday, May 21, 2022, when his car hit the back of a semi-truck on his way home from work around 4 p.m. A 1996 graduate of Marlington High School in Alliance, Ohio, Brother O’Brien was a member of the [...]
SMART University: TD Membership 101 available in Member Portal
May 24 marks the rollout of the Membership 101 portion of SMART University, an online video-based educational resource designed for new SMART Transportation Division members to get acquainted with their union. The first flight of releases includes video primers on local meeti [...]
Members unite for protests in K.C., elsewhere
Members of the SMART Transportation Division and other unionized rail workers came together for a day of protest May 10 outside the North American Rail Shippers (NARS) annual meeting. Early in the day, SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo, New Mexico State Leg [...]
LAST CALL: TD San Antonio Regional Training Seminar room reservations
May 27 is the last chance for local officers to book a room for the SMART Transportation Division Regional Training Seminar from June 7 to 10 at the historic St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. Accommodations must be arranged at The St. Anthony’s website by May 27th! Thi [...]
General President Sellers’ Victoria Day video message
Victoria Day is a day that we not only spend with our loved ones, but also honour the birthday of Queen Victoria, the Mother of Confederation. While last year’s celebrations were muted due to the pandemic, things have changed considerably, and we are now approaching a new sen [...]
Coordinated Bargaining Coalition welcomes face-to-face mediation over national contract negotiations
CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 20, 2022) — The Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) Rail Labor Unions* are preparing for in-person mediation sessions before the National Mediation Board (NMB) in Washington D.C., May 24-26. The Unions hope this will help to settle their ongoing nation [...]
House subcommittee leaders take aim at PSR cuts in STB reauthorization hearing
U.S. Rep Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) testifies before the House Rail and Pipelines Subcommittee on May 12. Following up a hearing in late April on freight rail problems caused by Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), members of the Surface Transportation Board appeared before the [...]