News Archive
SMART Leadership Conference concludes with stellar lineup of speakers, allies
The 2023 SMART Leadership Conference concluded Wednesday, Aug. 2. The joint session featured a wide variety of pro-labor speakers and allies from Congress, the Biden administration and beyond, demonstrating the strength of our union’s relationships as we work to seize this mo [...]
Union sheet metal leaders prepare for bright future on conference’s final day
The 2023 SMART Leadership Conference’s final sheet metal session, like the joint session, brought an array of pro-labor guests to union leaders, solidifying our union’s relationship with figures in the Biden administration and beyond. Then, conference attendees heard departme [...]
AFL-CIO TTD, carrier associations oppose House budget cuts targeting RRB funding
This letter was co-signed by Greg Regan, the president of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, of which the SMART Transportation Division and SMART Mechanical Divisions are members. July 31, 2023 The Honorable Patty MurrayChairCommittee on AppropriationsUnited [...]
2023 SMART Leadership Conference continues forward momentum on second day
Union leaders continued the work of ensuring the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference theme – “This Is Our Time” – is more than just a catchphrase as the conference rolled into its second day in Washington, D.C. Throughout the morning’s joint session, attendees were presented wit [...]
Sheet metal union leaders gather on day two of Leadership Conference to focus on progress
General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell opened the day two SMART 2023 Leadership Conference sheet metal session, appropriately, by calling on union leaders: “Let’s get back to work.” He then brought Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) Administrator Aldo [...]
“This is Our Time:” Second SMART Leadership Conference kicks off in Washington, D.C.
SMART leaders across sheet metal and the Transportation Division gathered in Washington, D.C., on July 31 to kick off the second annual SMART Leadership Conference. With a conference theme of “This is Our Time,” attendees convened to begin the hard work of making sure SMART s [...]
Sheet metal union leaders get to work on first day of Leadership Conference
Following the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference day one joint session, Transportation Division and sheet metal union leaders went their separate ways for industry-specific sessions. General President Michael Coleman began the sheet metal session with remarks that detailed the [...]
Vice President John D. Whitaker III passes away at age 50
Vice President John D. “J.D.” Whitaker III, whose vital and key roles in negotiating numerous contracts on the general committee and national levels that improved the lives of many SMART-TD rail members, passed away July 27, 2023, of cancer. VP Whitaker was 50 years old. “It [...]