Sister Heather Steele Turns Adversity into Action

Women’s History Month is not about looking back. It is about recognizing the history being written right now by the women of our union. Across rail and transit, our sisters are not waiting for their place in history to be recorded. They are actively shaping it through courage, resilience, and leadership.

Sister Heather Steele (Local 168, Chicago, Ill.) is one of those women. 

A conductor for Amtrak and a SMART-TD member since late 2012, Steele comes from a proud railroad family that dates back three generations. Her father, Jack, retired from Amtrak after working in mechanical airbrakes and welding. He also worked in the employee training center for a few years. Heather’s brother, Wallace, is an engineer with Amtrak based out of Indianapolis, and her grandfather worked for Amtrak. That deep legacy of commitment to the craft and to the people who make the industry run is something Steele carries with her every day. 

Strength in the Face of Adversity

Just last month, SMART-TD shared a difficult part of Heather’s story. In August of 2024, she experienced a brutal on-duty assault that changed the course of her life. The physical, emotional, and financial toll continues to be significant, not just for Heather but for her young family as well.

But if there is one thing that Heather’s whole story makes clear, it’s that she is not about to be defined by what happened to her.

When SMART-TD members were asked to rally around Heather and her family, they answered in a powerful way. The GoFundMe Local 168 put together has raised nearly $23,000 to support her during a difficult time. That outpouring of solidarity speaks to the strength of this union. But it also speaks to something else: the impact of Heather’s story.

Because her story didn’t end on that dark day in 2024.

In the months since SMART News shared Heather’s story, Sister Steele has made a decision that embodies what Women Making History Month is all about. Working alongside SMART-TD’s Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee and the union’s National Safety and Legislative Department, she has chosen to step forward. Not just as a survivor or as a victim, but as an advocate. 

Taking the Fight to Washington 

Right now, there is a bill in Congress known as the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act, introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). The legislation is designed to strengthen protections for passenger rail crews and help prevent the kind of incidents that have impacted too many transportation workers from coast to coast.

After careful consideration, Heather believes in the purpose of this bill and in its ability to make a real difference in the safety of transit professionals.

Now, she is preparing to take that belief to Washington, D.C.

In the coming weeks, Sister Steele will meet with lawmakers and their staff to share her perspective and help build support for the legislation. These are not easy conversations. Walking into those rooms carries a lot of weight. She won’t just be standing up for herself, but for every man and woman affected by the epidemic of transit violence. She will be speaking both for herself and for her fellow conductors, her union brothers and sisters, and the generations who will follow. 

Still Moving Forward 

Sister Steele is a Vice Local Chairperson in Local 168, but this kind of responsibility doesn’t come with the VLC job description.

It requires a lot of courage.

Even as she continues intensive physical therapy five days a week, Steele is making time to prepare for this next chapter. She is navigating recovery, family life, and now the national stage, all while staying grounded in her commitment to her craft and her union.

This is what leadership looks like.

It is not always found in titles or positions. Sometimes, it is found in the willingness to step forward when it matters most, or to turn personal hardship into collective progress.

Heather Steele is doing exactly that.

She is helping drive a conversation about safety in the transportation industry, lending her voice to an effort that aims to protect not just today’s workforce, but tomorrow’s as well. Her work on The Hill has the potential to leave a lasting impact on this union.

And she’s not done.

Steele remains focused on returning to the career she loves, continuing her recovery with determination and purpose. At the same time, she is embracing the opportunity to contribute to something bigger. She is becoming the face of the movement to help strengthen protections that could benefit railroaders across the country.

That is why SMART-TD doesn’t simply observe Women’s History Month.

We celebrate Women Making History Month.

Because sisters like Heather Steele are not waiting for history to catch up or notice them. They are building it in real time.

Through strength. Through solidarity. Through action.

And through an unwavering commitment to making this industry safer and stronger for all.