Hanukkah Archives - SMART Union

Brothers, sisters and friends,

I want to wish you and your families a very happy holiday season. No matter what you celebrate — Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or your own tradition — this is a special time of year. I hope each and every one of you gets the chance to enjoy time with family and friends: observing your family traditions, cherishing the ability to see loved ones, and reflecting on the things we all value as working people.

The holiday season also gives us a chance to reflect on the past year.

Brothers and sisters, we faced some huge challenges in 2025. We had to fight back against attacks on our jobs, on our collective bargaining rights, even on our basic freedoms. Above all, we had to face constant attempts to divide us. To make us afraid of each other — of our own SMART brothers and sisters.

That’s why one of the things I’m most grateful for, this holiday season, is our union.

Just like everyone has their own holiday traditions and celebrations, we have our individual differences across SMART. That’s natural — we span different countries, states, provinces, backgrounds, industries and beliefs. But no matter what those differences are, we are a union family. And we all believe in the right to good jobs, the right to have a good life and the right to be able to spend time with the people we love, whether during the holidays or any other time of year.

All of those values — and our ability to see them come to fruition in our lives — come from our common ground: our solidarity. And I believe that’s a big part of what we all celebrate during the winter holidays. The spirit of giving, the idea of common humanity, the practice of extending a hand and helping those in need. I see members doing all those things in communities across North America, whether participating in Toys for Tots toy drives, helping pack meals for elderly neighbors or simply making sure our fellow SMART brothers and sisters are doing okay. That makes me so proud to represent you, and that is the true character of our union.

So as we close out the year, I hope you’ll join me in recommitting to our unity. Together, let’s stand united, all of us having each other’s backs, in 2026 and beyond.

As always, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the many members and SMART families who are working during the holidays. The essential jobs you do to build and move our two nations will never go unappreciated by your union brothers and sisters, and we all thank you.

So again, happy holidays to you and your families. Enjoy the season, and please stay safe.

In solidarity,

Brothers, sisters and friends,

I want to wish you and your families a very happy holiday season.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or practice your own tradition, this is a meaningful time. I hope all of you are able to spend these days with loved ones.

The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

The labor movement has been resurgent in recent years, with working people organizing like they haven’t in decades and union approval ratings close to all-time highs. That includes in our industries: More than ever, Americans and Canadians realize just how crucial SMART members are to our two nations. They understand the importance of the workers who manufacture and install HVAC systems and who help maintain the quality of the air we breathe. They finally recognize the essential work performed by freight railroaders and public transit operators. And they see the true value of our collective power: We are the workers fighting to raise the standard of living for our neighbors and communities.

With that foundation, we made history over the last 12 months.

We put members to work on megaprojects across the United States and Canada. We negotiated strong contracts across industries and trades. We fabricated HVAC systems for hospitals, chip plants and more. We won a nationwide two-person train crew rule. And we grew as a union, bringing in tens of thousands of new SMART members.

The truth is this, sisters and brothers: Our two nations simply don’t work without sheet metal and transportation workers, whether we’re helping build new schools or bringing freight from coast to coast. I want to thank you for all that you do — every single day.

The holiday season means different things to different people. But at its core, I believe it’s about our common humanity. As union members, that is one of our core values; the idea that every working person deserves safety, fair pay, a secure retirement and a life with dignity, and that we will organize together to win those rights.

That principle — our solidarity — will guide us in the future. As we close out 2024 and head into 2025, we will continue to stand united, to organize and to have each other’s backs.

Again, happy holidays from me, my family and the SMART General Executive Council. Enjoy the season, and please stay safe.