SMART Local 80 shows what union solidarity means in Detroit

What does union solidarity mean?

For SMART members, solidarity means action — from the jobsite, to the cab of a locomotive, to city council meetings, to marches, rallies and well beyond. And on March 13 in Detroit, it meant taking on harsh conditions to make life better for area students: Local 80 staff and nine members volunteered to help clean up a local park ahead of the annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The week prior, Local 80 Wayne County Business Agent Scott Lewis connected with leadership at Maybury Elementary School, asking where and how the school most needed help. In response, the school made a simple request: help cleaning the adjacent Murphy Park to ensure it was safe and welcoming for students to enjoy during recess and after school.

Local 80 answered the call.

Although the days leading up to the cleanup brought mild weather, conditions took a sharp turn the day of — dropping to 15 degrees with 40 mile-per-hour winds and scattered snow showers. But that didn’t stop Local 80. In a true demonstration of what solidarity means, the members took on the weather, working diligently to restore the park.

That effort made a real impact. Through their hard work, the Local 80 volunteers helped create a cleaner, safer and more inviting environment not only for the students of Maybury Elementary, but also the surrounding Detroit community.

SMART Army: Building Better Communities.