From overviewing the foundation we’ve built to demonstrating what SMART solidarity means in action, local officers didn’t let up on fighting for what matters on the last day of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference. Attendees heard from various guest speakers and honored fellow members, leaving New York City with a reinforced bedrock of solidarity on which to stand as we face the challenges ahead.

Read recaps of day one and day two.

“We’ve had the opportunity to learn, to share, to enjoy solidarity … but we also got the chance to recommit to our fight,” General President Michael Coleman said. “This fight is hard, it’s constant, it’s exhausting, a lot of times it’s thankless, but it is worth every minute.”

STB chair visits SMART conference in the wake of merger news

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) plays a key role in the careers and lives of SMART-TD railroaders, overseeing the economic regulation of surface transportation — particularly freight rail — and the development of major railroad legislation. For that reason, SMART is committed to working with the STB in any way possible to benefit the lives of members; a commitment demonstrated as officers welcomed STB Chair Patrick Fuchs to the leadership conference on Wednesday.

“I have so much respect for your work, you, and all your contributions,” Fuchs told attendees.

In his remarks, the STB chair provided an overview of his role and the structure of the STB, as well as his goals as chair, namely accountability and transparency to the public and to the various bodies that the board serves.

But the biggest talking point for officers in the room was the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger.

Fuchs was prohibited from talking about his personal views on the merger or answering specific questions; however, he was as open as he could be, and he was crystal clear about one thing: “As long as I’m chairman, labor will always have a seat at the table. … We need your perspective.”

SMART-TD found out about the proposed merger from the news. By contrast, Chairman Fuchs — who was appointed chair this year by President Trump — told SMART-TD he wanted labor to be involved. He proved that, to an extent, later in the morning: Following his keynote speech, Fuchs participated in a Q and A session with SMART-TD legislative representatives and general chairs to find out what our issues are at the ballast level.

“What I can promise you is that the board will give [the proposed merger] a fair and thorough review,” he told officers.

Fuchs went out of his way to say that he and the STB are seeking SMART’s input, and input directly from members, to be included in the decision-making process

Officers demonstrate solidarity, honor member engagement in general session

An annual highlight of every SMART Leadership Conference is the Joseph J. Nigro SMART Army Member of the Year award, bestowed upon transportation and sheet metal members who go above and beyond in representing the values of our union.

The SMART-TD winner, Local 200 member Amanda Snide, serves as a local chairperson, local safety and legislative representative and as the Nebraska assistant safety and legislative director — all while working as a switchman and yard foreman in North Platte, one of the largest and busiest rail yards in North America. While introducing Amanda, General President Coleman discussed several stories of her recent service to fellow members and working families.

There was the time when, in response to massive furloughs of car inspectors and workers in the maintenance crafts, she went out of her way to negotiate with Union Pacific management, helping build a path for these formerly non-SMART-TD workers to keep their careers, benefits and pensions by moving to new roles as conductors.

There’s the progress Snide and Nebraska Safety and Legislative Director Andy Foust have made in the statehouse in Lincoln, defying the odds in what is considered to be an extremely unfriendly political climate.

There was the time just this summer when Snide was at the TD Regional Training Seminar in Denver, Colorado, when she got the news that one of her fellow members in North Platte was in an accident and in danger of losing his arm. Without hesitation, Snide left the RTS and headed home to ensure her union brother’s rights were protected, that he received the best possible treatment, and that his family was taken care of.

“That shows exactly what kind of leader Amanda is,” Coleman said. “She truly represents this year’s conference theme.”

“Our union has both provided for me, and provided ways for us to give back — fighting for what really matters, our members,” Snide said, reflecting on her journey. “We refer to one another as family because we rely on mutual support … our collective strength is founded on knowing our brothers and sisters stand ready at our side.”

The 2025 sheet metal Joseph J. Nigro SMART Army Member of the Year couldn’t be in New York City to accept her award. But Local 104 (Northern California) apprentice Rebecca Suen received plaudits from leadership conference attendees all the same. Suen, who spent nine years serving her country in the United States Army — helping her pay for college — originally worked in an office job. But after a while, she just couldn’t take it anymore, and thanks to Local 104’s Veteran Direct Entry Program, she started her sheet metal career in 2022.

Since then, General President Coleman said from the podium, Suen has set an example of what it means to be a SMART member. She is a constant presence at Local 104 volunteer events, and she has spoken in favor of project labor agreements and other pro-worker policies at local city council meetings — offering first-hand testimony that has helped win major victories for both herself and her fellow members.

“That’s the kind of leadership our members need,” said General President Coleman.

Local 104 Business Manager Rick Werner accepted Suen’s award on her behalf, telling attendees: “She is what we all look at as one of our true leaders in the industry. … I can tell you, Rebecca’s in every union meeting, she’s there every time we need her to help out — she steps up.”

Maybe the most inspirational moment of the day came when General President Coleman welcomed host local leaders and HEART 9/11 President Bill Keegan to the stage, where Coleman announced to attendees that, collectively, attendees of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference raised more than $317,000 for the organization.

“I’m humbled by that figure. That is incredible. That will do so much to help people in this country recover from disasters,” said HEART 9/11 President Keegan.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of this organization,” Coleman added. “We have proven the true power of solidarity.”

Practicing our principles, looking ahead

Even as the 2025 Leadership Conference began to close late Wednesday morning, SMART union officers kept their eyes on the future — taking steps to prepare for the fights ahead.

Workers in the construction and transportation industries are disproportionately affected by mental health and substance abuse issues. That’s why SMART places such an emphasis on pursuing innovative programs to support members’ mental well-being, SMART Director of Wellness and Mental Health Support Chris Carlough reported to the joint session. Along with Union EAP CEO Ben Cort, Carlough detailed the need for robust mental health support systems and resources for members and their families, whether for depression, anxiety, loneliness, suicide prevention, addiction or more. One of those resources? Union EAP.

“We can talk about this — talk is cheap. But when we start putting money behind this and demanding professional care for our members, then we’re doing something,” Carlough said.

“I can look you square in the eye and tell you that our people will fight for your members — for their mental health, for their overall well-being. We will provide the same service and care to you that you give to the world,” Cort added.

The session for sheet metal attendees kicked off with SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger. Hilger has worked in near lockstep with SMART to strengthen the unionized sheet metal industry, recognizing the threat posed by bad-faith contractors, the nonunion sector and other competitors. He also discussed the shared attacks SMART and SMACNA face, from cancelled federal funding for construction projects to tariffs that toy with supply chains that the industry relies on.

“We are nothing without each other,” Hilger said. “We can’t do our jobs without the contractors, we can’t build without you. This is a partnership — and we win when we work together.”

Read a recap that includes details on the SMART-TD session here.

Steve Binder, managing director and head of Taft Hartley at Hamilton Lane, spoke to sheet metal officers about the SMART Air and Energy Fund. The fund, Binder explained, is a way to use union funds to benefit members directly: generating competitive returns for SMART funds and promoting industry growth that creates work hours for SMART members.

“This is about seizing the opportunities that align with our goals — driving growth in the green energy sector, creating jobs for our members, expanding work hours and making sure our money works for us, not against us,” Binder said.

SMART has invested in members in Canada in recent years, including by appointing Bob Gougeon as International representative for government affairs and megaprojects. In his address, Gougeon highlighted the momentum building across Canada for SMART members. From coast to coast to coast, the nation is busy with work — major infrastructure and energy projects are not only underway but also being fast-tracked, thanks to a government that is prioritizing nation-building initiatives.

Looking ahead, Gougeon spoke about preparing for the next wave of opportunities in emerging sectors like green energy. With determination and solidarity, he reminded attendees that we’re not just building projects — we’re changing the world, one day at a time, by standing up for each other and helping those around us.

“Through every job, every new apprentice, every conversation and every helpful gesture, SMART is changing the world, one day at a time,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t realize how our words and actions affect someone’s life. It’s a wonderful thing to hear a member say, ‘I didn’t realize that was possible.’ ‘I really appreciate that.’ And the one that gets me in the heart: ‘You changed my life.’”

One of the most persistent challenges facing working families in the United States is childcare. That’s why SMART has partnered with TOOTRiS to offer wraparound childcare benefits to members at participating United States sheet metal locals. TOOTRiS Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Eric Cutler presented on the impact of childcare on SMART members — and how SMART and TOOTRiS are working together to provide a path forward.  

“Childcare is critically important for working families, for members that are considering starting a family. This program continues to position SMART as a leader in the trades,” Cutler said.  

And Christy Foley, SMART office manager and manager of membership services, reported on the Sheet Metal Workers’ Scholarship Fund and Foundation, playing a video of the year’s “best essay” winner reading her awarded effort. The stepdaughter of a Local 265 member, Amina Idris arrived in the United States after fleeing the war in Ukraine; in a video she recorded reading her essay, she detailed the life-changing impact of her stepfather’s SMART membership, stating, “the union has given me the opportunity to build a new future.”

“Another example of how many lives we touch,” General President Coleman said. “It’s just truly inspiring.”

The fight worth fighting

At the end of the joint session, General President Coleman took the podium for closing comments. Meditating on a successful week of hard work, solidarity and skill building, Coleman noted: “I think about the fight, and what we fight for, every single day. How all we do is lift people up, every single day. And then I think, there’s people out there who hate us.”

There are powerful anti-worker forces across both our nations that don’t just hate our movement, Coleman explained; they want to destroy us. They want to destroy us for what we work for, what we do, how we represent members and what we ask for. They want to destroy us because we ask for dignity, fairness and safety.

“We ask that we’re able to take care of our families and our loved ones, and they want to destroy us,” Coleman said, in disbelief.

That’s why these conferences are so crucial, he added. Because we need everyone together as we work to protect and secure the future for our members.

“I want to thank all of you for being in this fight,” he told officers. “That’s what we’re here for. It’s not easy, I know it — it’s exhausting. But you do it, every single day. And members count on you to do that, every single day. And it is the fight worth fighting.”

And with that, the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference came to a close.

SMART local union officers continued their work on day two of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference — digging into remarks from high-profile guest speakers and building skills alongside fellow members in breakout sessions.

Before getting into speakers and conference reports, SMART General President Michael Coleman introduced the 2025 Leadership Conference Charity, HEART 9/11. Originally consisting of a team of first responders who came together in the wake of September 11, 2001 — fire fighters, New York City building trades workers and others — HEART 9/11 has evolved into an organization that responds to disasters, providing relief to communities and families across North America and internationally.

“They started out honoring the sacrifices of all who were lost that day,” said General President Coleman. “Now, their mission is to respond to natural and man-made disasters, providing relief to communities and families all over.”

General sessions welcome congressional allies  

Union sheet metal and transportation workers are greatly impacted by the actions of the federal government — both positively, like the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person crew rule, and negatively, like the recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is set to raise health care costs and cancel projects that would have put SMART members on construction jobs.  

That’s why SMART works tirelessly to develop strong alliances with pro-worker legislators across the political spectrum, advance policy at the state and federal level, and more. On Tuesday, SMART-TD National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity and Governmental Affairs Director Steve Dodd kickstarted the conference’s joint session with a report on our union’s political advocacy.

At the end of 2024, Dodd said, we had billions of dollars invested in infrastructure projects, more than 600 construction projects with project labor agreements in place or being negotiated, investment in registered apprenticeships and updated Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules. Since January 2025, we have seen a freezing of funding for infrastructure projects, a repealing of an executive order requiring labor standards on federally funded infrastructure projects, the cancellation of billions of dollars in energy projects that would have put SMART members to work, and the passage of a spending bill that will cut jobs and drive up costs for union workers across the country. 

“Despite federal changes,” Dodd noted, “we have had some significant wins at the state level,” referencing offsite fabrication legislation, indoor air quality bills and other job-creating laws local unions passed in states like Virginia, Colorado, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Mexico and Oregon.

Cassity detailed the charge and the work his department pursues, which is focused on both legislative advocacy and on transportation safety. Describing the tragic consequences of the East Palestine disaster, and how that derailment and explosion represent the fight SMART-TD faces every day to protect members, TD’s new national safety and legislative director explained that it is people — SMART-TD members — not technology that truly make a difference.

“It’s not about safety for the railroads. It’s about profit — every single time,” he said, noting that any and all technology that is introduced in the railroad industry needs to support, not replace, union railroaders.

Cassity detailed the many safety initiatives SMART-TD is pushing for, such as the Confidential Close Call Reporting System, yardmaster hours of service, curbing train lengths and protecting bus and transit operators. Looking forward, he said, the National Safety & Legislative Department will continue to build bipartisan support for operator assault prevention, the Rail Safety Enhancement Act, funding the Railroad Retirement Board and beyond.

Despite recent setbacks, the work of Cassity, Dodd and SMART members across North America made itself evident in remarks from Congressman Tom Suozzi, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill and Congressman Joe Morelle, political leaders who have stood by SMART members throughout their public service careers.

Congressman Suozzi, who represents Long Island and parts of Queens, addressed the conference on Monday morning. Suozzi has defined his time in Congress by pushing for prevailing wages, strong apprenticeship programs, union jobs and two-person crews, and he proactively stands alongside SMART-TD members at the Long Island Rail Road, advocating for their priorities in Congress. He emphasized that he wants divisive politics swapped out in favor of “back to the basics,” which means that across party lines, politicians should be advocating forfair wages, strong unions and rebuilding the middle class 

Suozzi told attendees that he will remain an ally and has promised to fight for the elimination of taxes on overtime, support pro-worker legislation like two-person crews and will promote collaboration between parties to improve SMART members’ lives. 

“We need to return back to rewarding hard work,” he said. “When you play by the rules, you should earn a decent life.”

Rep. Jeffries, who has worked to support and pass laws that benefit sheet metal and transportation workers for years, fired up officers with a speech about our core American values and the fight ahead:

“What an honor and privilege to be with this great union during this critical time — a union that continues to fight for hardworking American taxpayers, for your members, for people who are working hard to pursue the American dream.”

Jeffries outlined the pro-worker legislation he was proud to help pass from 2021-2024: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, all of which created jobs and, as he said, “put the American worker first.”

“When you put workers first,” he added, “when you put unions first, you put America first.”

When you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to provide for yourself and your families. Costs are too high, Jeffries said, and the actions of Congress and the current presidential administration aren’t doing anything to stop that, particularly with the passage of the 2025 spending bill. That bill, Jeffries noted, is an attack on healthcare, on organized labor, on good-paying jobs. He promised that in response, he and fellow House Democrats would put their focus on making the lives of working families and union members better: “We don’t need to be in a country of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires. We should be a country of organized labor, by organized labor, for organized labor.”

The fight ahead, Jeffries said, is not going to be easy. The road will be challenging. But unions and worker allies aren’t going to back down. He vowed to work hard to elect a pro-union Congress that will fight on behalf of SMART members, the right to organize, prevailing wages and beyond.

“Together, we will succeed,” Jeffries declared.

During her time in Congress, Rep. Sherrill has done more than just talk about being a pro-worker candidate. With her votes to pass job-creating laws for sheet metal workers and her advocacy for railroad safety and union jobs in the transportation industry, she has walked the walk. Sherrill took time off the campaign trail for New Jersey governor to speak to officers about her dedication to ensuring organized labor and SMART members are prioritized, whether in Congress or, if elected, as Jersey governor.

“I know that people come before you all the time, and I know that you hear all the time about people’s labor connections,” Sherrill said. “It’s important that we acknowledge that. It’s important that we understand just how many families across this great country have been impacted by labor unions.”

She talked about her support for prevailing wages, project labor agreements, infrastructure funding and beyond, as well as her votes for the PRO Act and the National Apprenticeship Act. She vowed to carry that same dedication to the New Jersey statehouse.

“We’re facing big challenges in the Garden State,” Sherrill said.

Discussing her campaign to build housing and infrastructure in New Jersey — with strong labor standards to put SMART members to work — and lower costs for working families across the state, she described the importance of investing in public transit and transportation in the state, ensuring that railroad crews and transit operators are safe and protected. (Sherrill has worked closely with New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol in the past.) She also detailed her plans to expand apprenticeship programs and invest in childcare and mental health programs for members and families.

“While some paint this election as a Democrat versus Republican narrative, that’s not what this is about,” Sherill concluded. “This election is about making our state the best possible state for working families.”

Rep. Morelle has represented Rochester, New York, in Congress since 2018, standing up for Local 46 sheet metal workers and all SMART members nationwide. His voting record reflects his actions on behalf of SMART workers and families — voting for job-creating laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, the Rail Workers Sick Leave Act and more. During his remarks to conference attendees, he thanked International and local leaders and SMART members everywhere for the work they do every day to better our country. He also outlined the ways he and fellow pro-worker legislators are fighting alongside SMART on behalf of members — not with words, but with actions.

Informed by his father’s life as a union plumber, Morelle discussed the importance of doing the work, whether on the jobsite, in the railyard or in the halls of government. 

“That’s what American exceptionalism is — it’s not about being richer, about being more sophisticated, it’s about outworking everybody … and that’s what SMART members do,” he said.

Morelle also talked about how the recently passed spending bill takes money from the poorest people in America in order to benefit the richest. As billionaires get richer and working people suffer, he called for investment in union labor, PLAs on every project in America, the passage of the PRO Act and the National Apprenticeship Act, and more.

“If we want to fix the problems, we need to spend less time talking, more time doing. … Let’s not waste time,” he concluded.

Earlier in the morning, conferencegoers also heard from Helmets to Hardhats Executive Director Martin Helms. Helms leads Helmets to Hardhats’ efforts to help veterans transition to good, fulfilling careers in the building trades — a noble mission that benefits veterans, communities and local unions alike. SMART has partnered with Helmets to Hardhats for years to help provide those who served with good, fulfilling careers in the sheet metal industry. Helms explained how local unions can partner with H2H and help veterans use the GI Bill to join the unionized sheet metal industry, urging officers to continue outreach to those who served our country.

“The ultimate success of the program is a joint effort between H2H and the local union and JATC,” Helms said. “I cannot thank you enough for your participation in the H2H program — we’re doing great things.”

Department directors detail SMART’s work to strengthen our union

In both the joint session and individual industry sessions, SMART International directors gave departmental presentations that outlined, broadly, some of SMART’s efforts to secure the future for members across North America.

SMART Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department Director Peter Kennedy, who represents a variety of sheet metal workers in the railroad industry, reported on the many attacks that SMART RME workers face, including the threat of Amtrak privatization, pulled high-speed rail funding, cuts to transit funding and beyond.

“Our members did not go and pick these fights, but I can tell you one thing, we’re going to finish them,” Kennedy said.

“We’re doing some good work – we’re winning, and we’re creating some good opportunities for our members,” he added, detailing recent contract wins in Boston and San Diego, as well as organizing victories in Florida and Vermont.

Through efforts like the Belonging and Excellence for All initiative, the SMART-SMACNA maternity leave benefit, the childcare benefit program with TOOTRiS and beyond, the SMART Department of Special Projects aims to better the lives of SMART members, improve recruitment and retention, and grow our union’s collective strength. Department Director Louise Medina outlined those initiatives and others, including the SMART Women’s Committee, RISE Committee and Disaster Relief Fund, in her presentation to officers, encouraging locals to take advantage of programs designed to benefit members.

“SMART is committed to building a stronger future for every member, in every union hall and on every jobsite,” she said. “We are not just delivering programs, we are building power, connection, and belonging across our union. This is how SMART continues to lead the industry, and this is how SMART keeps fighting for what matters, our members.”

Legislative and governmental challenges at the federal level present troubling challenges to local officers and SMART members in the United States, while in Canada, pro-worker policymaking looks set to place large workforce demands on locals from coast to coast to coast. In both situations, SMART locals have one tried-and-true practice to pursue: organize. SMART Director of Organizing Jason Benson broke down the organizing our union has conducted both over the last five years and in the first quarter of 2025, detailing how International staff members work to support locals.

“To wrap up, my message is simple but powerful,” he said. “We’ve got to organize, organize, organize. Whether it’s through boots on the ground, informed data or blitzes, we are building a smarter, stronger, more resilient union, so let’s keep that progress going together.”

The SMART Production Department works to support production and mixed-classification local unions across North America: advocating for production workers, helping organize more shops, assisting during bargaining and beyond. Director of Production Workers Dave Goodspeed reported on the department’s efforts in all those areas, including the recent formation of the Central States Production Council and the ongoing success of the Production Institute, plus detailed the wins various subsidized production organizers have achieved.

“In 2025, we will see the first graduating class of the Production Institute,” he noted. “Through this program, our greatest hope is that we are developing leaders to grow our production units across the industry and into the next generation.”

The promise of a union pension is one of the most important aspects of SMART membership. Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund Executive Director Lori Wood provided an in-depth report on the NPF’s finances, projections and the work performed by NPF staff to ensure its past, present and future livelihood. Our union’s pension plans are well-funded and financially stable, reflecting our commitment to ensuring long-term security for our members’ retirement.

Read a recap that includes SMART-TD’s transportation-specific session here.

Whether in the breakout sessions that put officers to work or in the remarks of congressional allies that actually act on behalf of SMART workers, day two of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conferenced demonstrated what fighting for members actually looks like. Union representation extends from the workplace, to the union hall, to Washington, DC, and Ottawa — in any arena where members’ interests can be fought for, SMART will fight for what matters.

On both Monday and Tuesday of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference, SMART officers learned, developed skills and built solidarity with fellow officers in a variety of targeted breakout sessions. In sessions like “Union Leadership Administration: Best Practices for SMART Local Union Leaders” and “From Antagonism to Optimism: Navigating and Resolving Member Conflicts,” officers explored best practices of local representation and union administration from both a high level and in greater specifics.

In “Campaign Planning Fundamentals” and “Right to Work: Understanding the Virus and Inoculating Against It,” SMART staff focused on both external and internal organizing — the key to strengthening our union.

SMART staff educated attendees on how to take advantage of one of our union’s latest mental health benefits in “Unlocking Comprehensive Mental Health Support: How Union EAP is Revolutionizing Our Workplaces,” while the IA Communications Department presented on resources available to help locals grow their reach in “Leveraging SMART’s Digital and Video Resources for Effective Communication.” Similarly, a panel of local officers and National Energy Management Institute staff presented on how locals can secure more work via coalition and partnership building in “Building Bridges: Partnering with Inspectors and Code Officials for Local Success.”

Finally, sheet metal officers had the chance to overview “Changes to the 55/30 Pension within the National Pension Fund” with Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund staff and “Union Trials and Grievances” with SMART House Counsel Luke Rebecchi.

Like their sheet metal counterparts, SMART-TD attendees used the breakout sessions on offer to strengthen their ability to advocate on behalf of their members, whether on the rails, on buses, in the yardmasters’ tower or beyond.

The Rules and Dispute Arbitration session provided an overview of said topics under the Railway Labor Act, helping attendees determine when arbitration is appropriate, understand the processes for arbitration under the National Railroad Adjustment Board, and more. The course helped officers evaluate claims, follow proper procedures and navigate arbitration options effectively.

In Bargaining with Power, a bus-targeted session, attendees participated in a strategic workshop designed to help locals shift from a defensive stance to a position of strength. The course focused on building leverage, setting the tone and taking control of the narrative at the bargaining table.

Officers that attended sessions like Safety Reporting and Documentation and a two-part Grievance Skills Workshop for bus attendees dove deep on developing specific practices to help them protect and advocate on behalf of members, covering key topics like identifying unfair labor practice issues and how to use enforcement mechanisms to protect members and hold employers accountable.

Other TD sessions included Safety-CISP-CRISI, a public speaking course and more.

Canadian breakouts strengthen SMART across the provinces

Canadian officers prepared to secure our union’s future north of the border in the “SMART Capital Canada: Putting Our Resources to Work” and “SMART Canadian Growth, Incentives, and Union Trials” sessions. The first session introduced the Canadian Capital Program, which is designed to provide financial support to unionized contractors when needed, helping them secure bids and ensure union work is awarded to SMART members. This session emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the program’s availability in Canada, encouraging union leaders to communicate with contractors to spread the word. Although the program is still new in Canada, it has already seen success, showcasing its potential to support union jobs and build on our relationship with signatory contractors. This program is a useful tool in the fight for what matters most — our members — by directly supporting SMART’s mission to secure and maintain employment.

The incentive program discussed aims to address the growing need for skilled tradespeople across Canada. It offers both an organizing incentive, travel incentive and signing bonus, aimed at strengthening local unions by bringing in experienced recruits. Members who successfully refer new members with prior experience may be eligible for bonuses, helping to expand our union’s ranks with qualified workers. This program is a strategic move to staff up our locals while maintaining the highest standards to build a strong, skilled and unionized workforce across Canada.

Canada’s final two sessions emphasized the continued importance of organizing, especially when it comes to megaprojects. These projects can employ hundreds of SMART members, and it’s essential that they are built by union workers. Organizing ensures that we not only secure work for our members but also raise the standards across the sheet metal and roofing industries: protecting wages, safety and dignity at work.

And finally, SMART Canada focused on equipping members with the essential rules and regulations needed to handle union grievances and trials within a local. This session emphasized the importance of understanding SMART’s constitutional guidelines, local bylaws and due process to ensure all grievance and trial proceedings are conducted fairly, in a timely manner and according to all protocols. 

“Our solidarity does not have borders. We are all in this fight together. It’s one fight, all fight. So let’s fight for what matters … our members.” 

That quote, delivered by SMART General President Michael Coleman, summed up day one of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference. Kicking off Monday, August 4, the conference brought local union officers from every craft, trade and industry — across sheet metal, transportation, the United States and Canada — to New York City, New York, with one common purpose. That purpose? The 2025 conference theme: “Fighting for What Matters…Our Members.”  

SMART leaders rally attendees in keynote speeches  

SMART’s elected leadership addressed conference attendees for the bulk of Monday’s general session, outlining the challenges our union has faced and the importance of sticking together for the fights ahead.  

General President Coleman opened his keynote remarks by addressing the circumstances SMART members find ourselves in. To put it simply, SMART and organized labor are facing constant attacks aimed at dividing us.  

Our union, Coleman said, has always fought for the same basic principles: the right to live with dignity, to raise a family, to know your work means something, and your future is secure.  

But lately, he said, “it feels like those basics are getting lost in all of the noise. It feels like those core principals have slipped to page two of people’s priority list.” 

“Brothers and sisters, people are scared,” he added. 

Scare tactics are the oldest trick in the book, particularly when anti-worker entities are trying to undermine the cause of unions and organized labor. Whether it’s railroaders fighting against brutal hours and employers treating safety like it’s optional, sheet metal workers and roofers facing rising costs and attacks on our jobs, or shifting tariff policies meant to turn Americans against Canadians, SMART members are up against a lot right now.  

That’s why it’s more important than ever that we adhere to the conference theme: fighting for what matters, our members.  

“Our solidarity doesn’t have divisions, and it doesn’t have borders,” Coleman declared. “But the fights are going to continue.”  

General President Coleman then addressed what he referred to as the issue that, “might just be the elephant in the room.” This issue was SMART’s fight for due process that surrounds the case of Brother Kilmar Abrego Garcia.  

He leaned into the fact that this union fights for due process for each and every SMART member in the United States and Canada. We fight for due process on the shop floor, we fight for due process in rail yards, and we fight for due process in bus garages. Your union membership does not quit when you clock out.  

This is why we fight. That’s what defines SMART membership. And those values are vital as we face the powerful forces across North America that hate us. Coleman referenced a recent op-ed written by Steve Forbes that accused SMART-TD of buying our hard-won two-person crew rule.  

“See, people like Steve Forbes can’t imagine a world where working people have any power. They just can’t fathom that,” Coleman said. 

General President Coleman wrapped up his opening remarks by addressing the uncertainty we face in the world today. He talked about the job-threatening mergers being proposed on the rail system. He talked about the near daily headlines about megaprojects being cancelled that looked set to promise years of good-paying jobs for sheet metal brothers and sisters.  

But then he pointed out that this is why we are here at this leadership conference. We are training and preparing to put up the best damn fight we can because that is what our membership expects and deserves.  

“…let me tell you what gives me hope,” Coleman said. “This right here. This gathering of labor leaders. The solidarity we developed over the years. The solidarity that we saw last year at the convention.” 

“And that,” he concluded, “is what this moment demands.” 

General Secretary-Treasurer John Daniel used his remarks to speak directly to the officers in the room:  

“We are in a fight that matters,” he told attendees.  

He pointed out that officers’ leadership must revolve around listening and responding to members’ needs. 

And in 2025, “All that matters is this: Can I take care of my family?” he said. “That is where the politics get real.”  

That’s why, at the International level, SMART is working tirelessly to take advantage of new tools and data to strengthen our union’s resilience and bolster efforts to recruit, retain and grow. And it’s why, Daniel reemphasized, every leader – from the newest elected officer to the seasoned rep — needs to refuse comfort and instead continuously listen and lead.  

“Let’s fight for what matters,” he said. ”Not just for our jobs. Let’s fight for our families. Let’s fight for our futures; our ability to look the next apprentice in the eye and say, we’ve got your back.  

“I am here to fight with you,” he concluded. “We are here to fight together”  

Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson used his remarks to urge SMART-TD leaders to match the courage and commitment our members display every day. He pointed out that in moments of danger, on the job and in their communities, SMART members are known for their decisive and selfless leadership, and that we owe it to them to lead from the front, reflecting that same warrior spirit back to them.  

He pointed out the importance of this mentality, especially in the face of threats like the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, which could jeopardize jobs, safety and our union’s strength.

“Our leadership must mirror the fight our members display — and stand just as strong.”

He urged every officer in attendance to take the information they will receive this week to heart and to use it to better defend our brothers and sisters. 

Attendees also heard from leaders from the conference’s host local unions: General Chairperson, SMART-TD General Committee of Adjustment 505 Anthony Simon, Local 28 (New York City and Long Island) Business Manager Eric Meslin and Local 137 (New York City) Business Manager Anthony Fotiadis.  

Simon, a longtime fixture in the New York labor movement, discussed the fitting location for the 2025 Leadership Conference, connecting New York’s legendary resilience to the work SMART members and officers do every day.  

“Here in New York, we know what it means to fight,” Simon said. “And I’m proud to say our members on the Long Island Rail Road stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our sheet metal brothers and sisters and all of labor in that fight, just as SMART leaders have done across North America. I am proud to be speaking alongside my brothers Eric of Local 28 and Anthony of Local 137.” 

Fotiadis represents the sign workers who light up iconic New York landmarks like Times Square, Broadway and beyond. Sign workers, like SMART members across North America, are the unsung heroes of our two nations, he explained. Local 137 members do the tireless work it takes to keep the lights on, whether in Times Square or beyond, 24/7/365. That’s why, he noted, it’s more important than ever to continue the fight. 

“This conference isn’t just another event, it’s a launchpad. We’ll leave here ready to build more, organize harder and make a stronger union for our members — and for working people across our continent,” Fotiadis said. “New York needs us. SMART needs us. Our members deserve us. Let’s answer that call.” 

As business manager of Local 28, Meslin fights on behalf of sheet metal workers across New York City and Long Island. And in every borough, across Long Island, he noted, SMART members are essential: building everything from schools and hospitals to the dignity and respect that all working people deserve. Now more than ever, he stressed, we need one another. 

“Corporate interests are louder than ever. Politicians play games with working families’ futures. Nonunion forces chip away at standards we have fought for generations to build,” he declared. “But we are still standing. Stronger than ever. Smarter than ever. More united than ever. Because that’s who we are, and that’s what we do.”  

SM, TD officers hear from industry leaders, SMART staff 

Following Monday’s general session, SMART sheet metal and TD officers broke off into separate industry sessions, hearing from guest speakers and reports from SMART IA staff.  

North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey took the podium to rally officers for the collective fights we face. SMART, an affiliate of NABTU, has worked closely with the building trades federation to protect and advance the rights of SMART members, including recent court cases regarding the Department of Defense’s use of project labor agreements.  

In his remarks, McGarvey praised the fights SMART has pursued on behalf of members: Whether fighting for the due process rights of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, or working to provide members with access to maternity leave benefits, wraparound childcare benefits and beyond, he said, “That’s not just progress. That’s power in motion.” 

“But as proud as we are of these wins,” he added, “we have to face the moment we’re in.” 

Projects are being cancelled — over $17 billion in infrastructure and energy projects in the first half of this year alone. Jobs are being lost. Labor rights and standards aren’t being enforced. And union workers are the ones losing out.  

“To the president, to Congress, and to every decision-maker with a pen or a purse string: you say you support workers, then prove it,” McGarvey declared. 

He urged SMART officers to keep fighting for members by ensuring workers are informed about the policies and actions that are affecting them — and how organized labor can fight back. It doesn’t matter who anyone voted for; what matters is that we stick together, in solidarity, to fight for what matters.  

“Let’s link arms and make some noise, not just to defend and promote what we’ve built, but to expand it for the next generation. Because the work ahead isn’t easy, but neither are we,” he concluded. “Let’s get out there. Let’s tell the truth. Let’s win the future, together.” 

Attendees also heard from SMACNA President Tom Martin. Martin, the president of Local 33 signatory contractor T.H. Martin, Inc., has known SMART General President Michael Coleman for decades and is a longtime advocate for the unionized sheet metal industry. Martin offered officers updates from the contractors’ side of the trade, as signatory employers look to take on many of the same challenges that local unions face.  

SMACNA continues to work alongside SMART, as well as funds like SMOHIT, the International Training Institute and the National Energy Management Institute, to take on workforce demands, encroachment and beyond, always with the goal of growing and strengthening the unionized sheet metal industry. Through initiatives like Belonging and Excellence for All, recruitment and retention joint task forces and more, SMART and SMACNA continue to be partners in progress.  

“I know every area is different, but it is ultra important that we build these partnerships,” General President Coleman said. “We can’t let the things we disagree on get in the way of our progress.” 

Leadership conferences represent an important opportunity for local officers to hear directly from International departments and funds. On Monday, attendees received reports from Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust Administrator Aldo Zambetti, SMART Chief International Representative David Bernett and Education Director Eli Baccus.  

Zambetti provided an overview of the variety of programs that SMOHIT offers members —health screening research programs, bilingual toolbox talks, the 24/7 SMOHIT Helpline, SMART Members’ Assistance Program (MAP) sessions and peer-to-peer trainings, a Naloxone cabinet program to help reduce fatal overdoses, and beyond. He emphasized that SMOHIT needs local union outreach to offer resources to members and urged local officers to partner with SMOHIT to ensure members’ get the care and resources they deserve.  

Bernett outlined SMART’s efforts to streamline operations across North America when it comes to jurisdictional disputes, workforce support, local union engagement and governance, and — above all — SMART’s commitment to members’ rights and work. He reported on the work the department performed over the first half of the year, including jurisdictional disputes investigated, resolved and pending; job bank workforce requests and needed positions filled; strategic planning around megaprojects; and beyond.  

“The fight is usually won with you, in your seats at home,” Bernett told officers.    

Breakout sessions offered attendees the opportunity to learn, engage with one another and build solidarity.

The cornerstone of strong local unions is strong local representation. For that reason, the SMART Department of Education offers programming to local union officers year-round and often over the course of several years, helping SMART leaders bolster their representation. Education Director Eli Baccus presented on the department’s revamped core classes that will offer more hands-on and practical training, collaboration with other International departments on relevant coursework, new classes for 2026 that will focus on relationship-building among participants, and more.  

(Read a summary that includes TD breakout information here.

Day one of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference set a powerful tone for the week ahead, uniting leaders from across North America under a single purpose: fighting for what matters — our members.  This union will not back down. And officers will use trainings like this Leadership Conference to continue to win those fights. 

As officers head into the coming days of training, collaboration, and strategy, the spirit of unity and determination that filled the room on Monday will serve as both a guide and a rallying cry for the work ahead. 

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge

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 with evidence that the union has strengthened both financially and in membership, and with a vast number of opportunities ahead to ensure the prosperity of our membership and our two nations.

New VP sworn in to the GEC

General President Michael Coleman began the joint session by recognizing the career of SMART Sixth General Vice President and Northwest Regional Council President Tim Carter, who retired after the conclusion of the conference’s first day.

Carter oversaw extraordinary growth and progress in the Northwest, from welcoming the formation of women’s committees to new organizing across the region.

Brother Carter is replaced on the General Executive Council by Ray Reasons, president and business manager of SM Local 36 (St. Louis, Mo.), who becomes SMART’s 11th General Vice President.

Local 36 has long been on the forefront of growth and innovation, and members there played an important role beating back a recent attempt by state politicians to institute so-called “right to work.”

“Under his leadership, Local 36 has continued its tradition of success, and today he joins us on the dais,” Coleman said. “Congratulations, Ray – I look forward to working with you in the coming years.”

Union Sportsmen’s Alliance details its good work

One benefit free to all members of our union — sheet metal and TD alike — is membership in the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA).

Alliance Executive Director and CEO Walt Ingram joined the conference to discuss USA’s ongoing relationship with SMART — the fourth-largest union affiliate of his group.

Ingram described the USA’s events, which include dinners, 25 clay shoots around the nation and environmental restoration projects designed not only to provide an opportunity for union camaraderie, but also as a way to bring families and communities alike together.

USA’s Walt Ingram

“We’re a great tool to connect the local to the membership and then the membership to the community,” Ingram said, noting that SMART sponsors a pair of shoots in Port Republic, N.J., and Brighton, Colo. “Our mission is to unite the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. We do that every day in a variety of different ways. We want to help you recruit apprentices for your program and also join the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.”

AFL-CIO president speaks

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who has worked closely with SMART on issues ranging from green energy jobs to pension security, was unable to join the conference in person. She sent remarks via video, in which she discussed the importance of the conference theme: This is our time.

“What a perfect way to capture the moment we are in and the urgency that we should feel in taking advantage of it,” she said. “This is our time. This labor momentum that you hear people talking about — you’re living it every day.”

Shuler reminded attendees that 71 percent of Americans approve of unions — the highest level since 1965.

“We are finally seeing huge gains in the battles we have been fighting for years. Now the question is, how do we build on these wins and create even more power for workers?” she asked.

The organizing and solidarity displayed by SMART as TD members’ efforts secured paid sick leave and two-person crew victories in Ohio, Minnesota and Kansas will serve as examples to follow in the future, as workers fight to have a say and profiteers try to use tech, automation and AI to eliminate people’s jobs.

“Unions are going to rebuild this country – SMART members are going to rebuild this country!” she concluded. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather fight alongside than the activists and leaders in this room.”

Supporting Maryland Special Olympics

Representatives of the Special Olympics of Maryland (SOMD), the designated charity of the Leadership Conference, talked about the importance of its work. Providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, SOMD gives participants the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share their gifts, skills, and friendship with others. 

“It is because of the dedication, compassion and love of the people from the Special Olympics community, and organizations like yours, that awareness and understanding is helping people to see that the intellectually disabled community is no different than those who are not,” said global Special Olympics representative and coach Tim Gowen. “We are capable, hard-working and have dreams, just like anyone else.”

Gowen has been part of the Special Olympics for 50 years, growing up in Silver Springs, Md., and through the program, eventually found supportive schools and communities.

“It changed my life and gave me the tools to succeed. … Having the opportunity to play and compete in sports is wonderful, but that’s not all we experience.,” Gowen said. “It’s the friendships I have made over the years, the companies and the communities that support us.

“I would like to thank you, the members of SMART,” he concluded. “It is amazing to play sports and win medals, but that wouldn’t happen without the generosity of people like you.”

Legislative leaders report

SMART Director of Governmental Affairs Steve Dodd and TD National Legislative Director Gregory Hynes took the stage to deliver a report on legislative and government affairs.

“Never in my life would I have ever thought that we would have the opportunity to be on offense the way we are right now,” Dodd said, noting that SMART has worked with federal agencies to implement a pro-labor regulatory agenda and provide funding for projects that will employ unionized workers.

In short, the Biden administration has delivered for SMART members, he said, and local unions have a great environment to take advantage of and spread the message of the progress labor has made.

“This administration’s been great for us, as you could see from the administrator of FRA being here yesterday,” Hynes said.

His report detailed the Transportation Division’s agenda, with two-person crews, Class 1 certification programs, train length and blocked crossings, bus and transit operator assaults, yardmaster hours of service, sick leave and more on the list.

Progress has been made on many of these areas at the state level, including rail safety, train length and blocked crossing legislation, he said.

SMART-TD has leveraged the extensive media attention given to railroads from the national contract negotiations and the East Palestine, Ohio, disaster to make real gains across the country, meeting with lawmakers and introducing legislation that protects members.

Dodd (left) and Hynes

“We’ve fielded more media than I have ever seen in my entire career,” Hynes said. “Jared [Cassity, SMART-TD Alternate Legislative Director], Jeremy [Ferguson, SMART TD President] for a period there, we were doing several interviews every day with affiliates all over the country — major networks, newspapers, the major news publications. What it did is put us in the mind of the general public, and members of Congress were very interested to talk with us.”

Dodd and Hynes both detailed SMART’s 2023-24 get-out-the-vote strategy. In 2023, three governor’s races in particular are of interest to our union. Turning their eyes to 2024, control of the U.S. House, Senate and presidency will be determined.

They both said that improving voter turnout and making sure members know which elected officials and policies truly support us – and getting members out to vote – are going to be key goals moving ahead.

Finances, DOE secretary and SASMI presentation

Controller Warren May said that the rough financial period the union weathered due to the pandemic has passed, saying that finances all around the union are moving in a positive direction.

“If any accountant saw this, they would say, ‘Oh my gosh, those are fabulous financials,’” May said.

Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, former governor of Michigan, also delivered her speech via video. Granholm, who has used her position in the Department of Energy to advocate for good, union, clean energy jobs, met recently with both General President Coleman and NEMI Administrator Lisa Davis – affirming the Biden administration’s commitment to working with SMART and organized labor.

“Unions built the middle class, you know this. Unions run best-in-class training programs, for construction workers,” Granholm said. “Unionized employers have an easier time hiring because workers want union jobs, and that’s why our incentives require companies to pay prevailing wage, require them to hire registered apprentices. That’s why we attach strong labor standards to every single federal law.”

Ken Columbo followed with the rundown of SASMI’s programs, noting an explosive growth in the use of an improved travel benefit in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same period the year prior – all due to Biden-Harris administration and infrastructure projects coming to fruition in the form of megaprojects.

A maternity benefit also has received a good reception, Columbo said, and also growing is the newly introduced HRC benefit card that participants can use to pay for prescription and over-the-counter medications.

SASMI also has extended COBRA benefits to the spouses of deceased members to 18 months and remains in solid financial health after a decline due to the pandemic.

Secretary Fudge

HUD secretary: SMART needs to lead the way

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge closed out the session with a message encouraging SMART to continue to educate newer generations about the value of the labor movement and to maintain its position as a leader as the nation’s economy continues to transform. 

Secretary Fudge has a long history with GP Coleman from their time in Cleveland — when Coleman was president of Local 33 and Fudge was a civic leader, first as mayor of Cleveland suburb Warrensville Heights, then as a U.S. representative for Ohio’s 11th congressional district.  

She described the progress the Biden-Harris administration has made in constructing an economy from the bottom up and from the middle out. 

“As the president often says, ‘The middle class built America, but the unions built the middle class.’ I never thought I would ever get to a point in my life where we would have to explain to people why unions are important,” she said after recounting the benefits that unions have brought to the working class — the 40-hour work week, overtime pay, pension plans and the weekend being among them. 

The Biden-Harris administration’s actions have launched a period of economic growth through its signature infrastructure law, creating 13 million jobs thus far in the United States, with an expected growth rate of 1 million additional jobs per year, she said. 

SMART members will be a huge part of these projects: operating energy-efficient buses and trains and performing energy-efficient retrofits to older houses, HVAC systems and other programs that her department oversees, Fudge added. 

“These projects do not happen without skilled technicians or skilled tradesmen like you,” she said. “Because I know that with you, there is not much that we cannot do. We cannot build this country without you, so work with us.

“Let me tell you what. You have a hammer. You need to use your hammer to hammer a warning about where we’re going in this nation. You need to use your hammer to take the lead in support of American workers. You can hammer out injustice if you just raise your voice,” Fudge said. “We all have the right to the American Dream. I’m saying to you, SMART, hammer it out!” 

Read more about the sheet metal session here.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro holds a metal replica of the U.S. Capitol building made by Local 100 sheet metal apprentices.

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 Zambetti on stage to present his report.

“I’m excited to share the resources we are working with and the resources we have for our members,” Zambetti said. “Our mantra is: How can we help?”

Zambetti detailed the ongoing work of the SMART Member Assistance Program (MAP). The SMART MAP team spends the year travelling across the country, helping provide local unions with the skills and resources needed to give SMART members mental health support. He also described the ongoing preparation SMOHIT is conducting to provide similar support for sisters and brothers in Canada. More than anything, he stressed, SMOHIT is constantly working to make sure all local unions are aware of the resources at hand. No local ever refuses the resources SMOHIT provides, Zambetti said – but they aren’t always aware those tools exist. He encouraged all local leaders to reach out to SMOHIT and make resources available to members, including the SMOHIT helpline, toolbox talks and other information.

“This is for you, this is for your family, this is for your members, this is for anyone you care to share it with,” Zambetti concluded.

SMOHIT Administrator Aldo Zambetti

GST Powell then called Mike Harris to report on the International Training Institute (ITI). Earlier in the year, Harris said, the ITI underwent a strategic planning process to further the ITI’s mission: supporting career development and apprenticeship, ensuring the unionized sheet metal industry is on the forefront of technology and more. He noted three core goals for the ITI moving forward: completing development, gaining Department of Labor approval, and supporting the successful rollout of a Competency-Based Apprenticeship Model; providing support, resources and engagement to help Joint Apprenticeship Training Centers (JATCs) continue delivering world-class training; and focusing on megaprojects (and the regions and local areas impacted by them). Harris also overviewed a variety of grants and curricula that are available for local unions – those interested should contact the ITI.

Harris then shifted focus to recruitment and retention: an all-important priority as SMART seeks to grow our union to meet this moment. That includes reviewing standards of entry for apprentices, working with local apprenticeship readiness and pre-apprenticeship programs and more.

“We need to remove barriers to entry,” Harris said. “It’s 2023 – this is our time. Make sure people are welcome, don’t keep people away.”

Part of the work of growing, he added, is ensuring that those we recruit stay in our union and our trade. The ITI has implemented Bias and Belonging and Train-the-Trainer programs, both of which are designed to ensure that JATCs are prioritizing welcoming and belonging for all apprentices.

“We are a resource – use us as such,” Harris said. “We all need to work together.”

ITI Administrator Mike Harris

An important facet of recruitment and retention is making sure that material barriers – like access to childcare – don’t hinder people from joining our trade. To that end, General President Coleman introduced Eric Cutler, chief marketing officer of TOOTris – an innovative childcare service that helps connect parents and providers in real time. Cutler described the importance of childcare for workforce development, retention and productivity: “When people have childcare access, you see an improvement in workers’ ability to stay on the job,” he explained, also pointing to the positive affects that childcare access has on workforce diversity.

TOOTris, Cutler said, can help provide SMART members – who often work outside of the office 9-5 workday – with options for childcare, as well as with various affordability and flexible payment options. Such childcare alternatives, he added, can help SMART recruit and retain members in every community.

Attendees were then joined by SMACNA President Anthony Kocurek, a longtime advocate for the unionized sheet metal industry who worked closely with SM Local 49 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to boost the industry and secure fire life safety legislation. Kocurek began by paying tribute to General President Emeritus Joseph Sellers, who Kocurek said “paved the way for a brighter, better future for our industry.”

Kocurek went on to note the progress that has been made in the relationship between SMART and SMACNA, as both organizations commit to the future of unionized sheet metal.

“As partners, we may not see eye-to-eye on everything,” he said. “But we see eye-to-eye on 90% of things, and that is more than enough to move our industry forward.”

The future is one of extraordinary opportunity and demand, Kocurek pointed out. Ever-changing environments, schedules and the growing presence of megaprojects across America present remarkable challenges. That makes it vital for SMART and SMACNA to work together, he said, to secure our future. That work has been done in the past, from introducing ventilation verification during the pandemic, to putting members to work on EV and chip plant megaprojects.

“We stand at a marked place in history,” Kocurek declared. “We need to open up our ranks, we need to be able to pull people into our industry and welcome them with open arms. … This is critical for us to grow our needed workforce.”

Gov. Shapiro speaks to SMART sheet metal union leaders.

Kocurek was followed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro – a leader who SMART members across Pennsylvania know as a friend and ally.

“I have been proud to stand with you every step of the way throughout my career in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” he declared. “You are the ones who power the economy. … That is why, in Pennsylvania, we stand up for the union way of life.”

Shapiro described his record standing up for workers as attorney general, which included winning back pay for exploited workers and filing criminal charges against bad-faith employers – prosecuting the largest Davis-Bacon prevailing wage case in the history of the United States. He vowed to continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with workers, in Pennsylvania and across the country, especially in the face of anti-labor attacks in other states. Where some other governors might sneer at labor, Shapiro heaped praise on the union building trades workers who rebuilt a crucial stretch of collapsed highway in Philadelphia: “All the experts told us it would take months and months. We reopened I-95 because of the hands of organized labor in just 12 days.”

Infrastructure development, the governor said, will be crucial for working families and communities in Pennsylvania and nationwide.

“The men and women that you represent are vital not only today, but to the future of our commonwealth and our country,” he noted. “Right now, we have a real opportunity to move our country forward by investing and building up our infrastructure. ‘This is our time’ really epitomizes the unique and special moment we find ourselves in.”

Shapiro pointed out that the flow of federal funding from legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making it possible for America to build again. But that can’t happen, he warned, if states and local areas are unable to meet workforce demands.

“If we fail to address our workforce needs right now, we’re going to fail to seize this unique moment right now,” he said. “That’s why yesterday, flanked by union leaders in Pittsburgh, I signed an executive order – the first of its kind in this country – to invest up to $400 million in infrastructure funding just for workforce training, to be able to create 10,000 new infrastructure jobs in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

The executive order, he said, will help fund training while prioritizing the use of union labor and jobs that are subject to project labor agreements and/or community benefit agreements. It will also assist workers with barriers to entry like childcare access, helping unions like SMART recruit and retain from every community.

“This is our time to take advantage of the opportunity to not only rebuild our infrastructure, but create real opportunity,” he declared. “When we put union workers on the job, we will not only get the job done – when those workers go onto the next project, they’ll be union members, and they’ll be ready to do the job the right way.”

Shapiro has taken various steps to prioritize workers since taking office, including an executive order to remove the four-year college degree variety from more than 60,000 state government jobs. All of this, he said, is part of his administration’s focus for the commonwealth: a focus on workers, on union labor, on training and skilled work, regardless of origin, education.

“We value you, we respect you, we appreciate you, and I want you to know we will always have your back,” Shapiro concluded.

SMACNA Executive Director of Labor Relations Jason Watson followed Shapiro by recognizing the work of General President Emeritus Joseph Sellers, who he called a “tremendous partner who truly cares about the future of our industry.”

Watson described the conference theme – “This Is Our Time” – as applicable not just to workforce opportunities and challenges, but to the labor-management relationship between SMART and SMACNA. The two organizations have been partnering on issues like lobbying for project labor agreements, megaproject staffing, ventilation verification issues, diversity and inclusion efforts, and more. Such initiatives are part of a holistic, industry-wide focus to ensure that the future of sheet metal is unionized.

“This is our time – it’s our time to prove that we can staff these jobs, that we have the skilled trades workers to complete these jobs without losing any market share on the back end,” Watson said.

Next came a presentation from Dushaw Hockett, a partner with SMART on the Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) initiative. His interactive session encouraged attendees to engage with one another and learn more about fellow union leaders. That, he noted, is a core part of the BE4ALL effort: Recognizing and reifying the ties that bind all of us together, both as union family and as human beings.

The BE4ALL committee has put those values into practice in various ways, Hockett continued: producing Toolbox Talks, developing a proactive rapid response protocol for incidents related to bias and belonging (to be released by the end of 2023), hosting Learning Journey sessions and more.

“This is not a DEI project, this is not a race project, this is not a gender project. Fundamentally, this is about creating workspaces that are welcome to every single worker and every single contractor that is a part of this industry,” Hockett declared. “At its very core, this work is about helping us to be better human beings to each other at a time when we need this the most. It’s about preparing our organization and our industry to take advantage of one of the most significant shifts in technology that we’ve seen in the past 100 years.” 

Finally, NEMI Administrator Lisa Davis presented her report, detailing the strategic plan for the fund and the resources available to local unions and training centers. As NEMI continues its mission to put members to work making buildings healthy, safe and energy efficient, Davis said, local union participation will be vital – particularly regarding legislative efforts across the country, as well as work with agencies on indoor air quality in schools.

“Please get ahold of us,” she urged attendees.

With that, General Secretary-Treasurer Powell concluded the sheet metal session, with leaders moving on to attend breakout sessions during the afternoon.

General President Michael Coleman opens the 2023 SMART Leadership Conference.

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 seizes this moment of unprecedented opportunity across every craft and industry our union represents.

SMART General President Michael Coleman convened the conference by bringing SMART-TD Washington, D.C., Legislative Director Jarad Jackson and SM Local 100 President/Business Manager Richie Labille, who welcomed attendees to their home region. He also introduced the SMART General Executive Council (GEC).

A somber remembrance

To begin, SMART General President Michael Coleman called for a moment of silence to be observed for GEC member/International Representative and Transportation Division Vice President John D. “J.D.” Whitaker III, who sadly passed away from cancer July 27 — but whose legacy continues to be felt in our union, especially as SMART-TD affiliates negotiate and ratify groundbreaking tentative agreements.

Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson remembered time he spent with VP Whitaker fondly, including attending a winter hunting trip in the South with their children. But what defined Whitaker was his unflinching commitment to serving members, he said.

Ferguson recalled that even up to a week before his death Vice President Whitaker was working on union business. When President Ferguson urged him to rest, VP Whitaker told him that’s what kept him going.

“You fought the good fight, J.D.,” President Ferguson concluded his tribute. “Rest easy.”

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson

GP Coleman illustrates opportunity ahead

Coleman then kicked off the conference in earnest with his opening remarks, which made unmistakably clear that the conference theme – “This is Our Time” – is much more than just a catchphrase.

“This is our time,” he declared. “We still have plenty of work to do and battles to fight. But if we fight together, we will win.”  

SMART General President Coleman

Coleman paid tribute to the tireless efforts of recently retired General President Joseph Sellers, whose leadership helped position SMART to seize upon unprecedented opportunity. He also recognized the hard-fought battles union members fought in recent years, from working through the COVID pandemic to defeating the previous presidential administration’s anti-labor IRAPs scheme. For the most part, though, Coleman’s remarks were – appropriately – focused on the future.

“We are in a defining moment in the history of this union,” he said. “There are incredible opportunities on the horizon.”

From megaprojects to the bipartisan Railway Safety Act, from media focus on bus and transit operator assaults to bottom-up organizing campaigns in Alaska, from pro-labor elected officials in office to SMART’s efforts to recruit and retain members from across races, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientation, Coleman repeated again and again: This is our time.

The combination of megaprojects and continued focus on core sheet metal work – helped by the Biden administration’s pro-labor policy outlook and partnership with SMART on indoor air quality – is creating unheard-of workforce demands and spectacular growth in our membership. That problem is a good one to have, Coleman explained, but only if SMART steps up to organize nonunion workers and recruit from every community.

“We have proven we can change lives,” he reminded attendees. “I’ve seen it firsthand. So let’s get out there. Let’s bring workers in, all of them, regardless of race, gender, or creed.”

For Transportation Division workers, in a period of resurgence after massive industry cuts made because of Precision Scheduled Railroading, new public and media attention on safety issues has presented a rare chance to secure real safety across industries and crafts. Following the disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, Coleman noted, Kansas, Ohio and Minnesota have all passed two-person crew laws, with other states considering rail safety legislation and the Railway Safety Act continuing to progress in the Senate. Additionally, the dangers facing bus and transit operators are affecting workers and riders alike, leading to increased attention across the board.

“For the sake of our communities and for the sake of our brothers and sisters,” Coleman declared, “we need to get [transportation safety] over the line.”

General Secretary-Treasurer’s update

Like General President Coleman, General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell opened his remarks by reflecting on the accomplishments of retired General President Sellers, calling him “the measure that all future SMART General Presidents will be compared to.” He then expounded upon several of the topics Coleman addressed, describing the state of our union construction industry and SMART’s need to grow at a rate that outpaces the industry; describing the progress of the SMART strategic plan; and elaborating on the achievements of SMART Canada.

SMART General Secretary-Treasurer Powell

“To continue to increase both our membership and our collective bargaining power, we need to not only meet but exceed the growth rate of the entire industry,” he said.

The Transportation Division, Powell said, grew by 4,581 members – even after having endured contentious contract negotiations, rail safety disasters, assaults on transit operators and more. “That represents a significant 9.38 percent increase over the previous year,” he added; a tremendous organizing win for the union.

Powell also described ongoing growth north of the U.S. border, where megaprojects and collaborations with pro-labor federal and provincial governments have spurred huge opportunities. The definition of prevailing wage in the 2023 federal budget is one of the strongest in Canadian history, and megaprojects are breaking ground from Alberta to Ontario.

“Growth is on the menu and recruitment stands as the utmost priority when it comes to securing our place in the future of Canada’s infrastructure.

“It is clear that we are on the cusp of great opportunities,” Powell said.

Powell ended his speech by echoing General President Coleman’s call to action: “Our solidarity, our unity, and the hard work we have put in to get to this point are the bedrock that ensures we grow stronger than ever before. Together we will make the most of this moment.”

Transportation Division progress

TD President Ferguson returned to the podium to review how the SMART Transportation Division has advanced the interests of workers both recently and in the year since the first SMART Leadership Conference in San Francisco.

He reflected upon a recent contract victory that the late VP Whitaker and General Chairperson Gerald Wallace of GCA-261, who passed away July 16, achieved.

“Gerry Wallace was a good friend of mine. When his committee was in dire straits, he turned it around,” President Ferguson said. “It was only fitting that Vice President Whitaker would be assigned to GC Wallace. Sure enough, they had a solid bond.

“The best tribute to both of these officers that we got the new contract ratified with 95% in favor of.”

SMART-TD President Ferguson and FRA Administrator Amit Bose

Another recent victory was achieved in Alaska with the White Pass & Yukon Route, a tourist railroad, where General Chairperson Jason Guiler and Vice President Brent Leonard brought what had been an almost six-year negotiation to a satisfactory conclusion for members.

“They backed off on everything they wanted and we got the job done,” Ferguson stated.

However, the troubling trend of assaults upon bus and transit workers has continued in major urban areas.

“That’s one fight we can’t back down on,” President Ferguson said. “We cannot stop on those issues.” We should not have to put up with that in our country. In most states it’s a misdemeanor. That needs to change.”

The national contract fight freight members went through brought unprecedented national attention to what rail workers experience regarding attendance and working conditions.

“The media picked up on our issues — it was not about the pay, it was about the quality of life. Carriers said they were never going to negotiate on attendance policies,” Ferguson said. “Guess what? They did.”

In addition to an all-time high pay raise, workers did make advancements on those quality-of-life issues, such as paid sick leave, in negotiations that are completed at some properties but ongoing at others.

“We are about 65% complete negotiating attendance and paid sick time,” Ferguson reported. The chief holdouts are properties on BNSF, some of the smaller Canadian-run branches and smaller carriers.

The opening session closed with appearances by Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose, who also presented at the first leadership conference in 2022 in San Francisco, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy.

“Thank you for what you do every day,” Bose said. “The sheer breadth of workers represented in this room … is evidence that it takes many workers with many skillsets that make our nation run.

“This is a watershed moment with the nation’s attention turned on rail safety.”

Jennifer Homendy, the National Transportation Safety Board chair whose agency is tasked with determining the causes of transportation accidents, praised the diversity and our union’s commitment to safety.

“You have my commitment to fight beside you because it is our time to fight for safety,” she said.

With that, General President Coleman concluded the joint session, with sheet metal and Transportation Division attendees heading to their respective industry-specific session. Read more about the sheet metal session here.

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 material he touched on in his joint session speech, emphasizing how the International has streamlined its focus on supporting local unions; the importance of organizing and recruiting across all the diverse groups that make up our two nations; mobilizing members for the 2024 election; and more.

“We have spent decades working for this moment we face today,” he said. “This moment, right now, is our time – our time to take advantage of the opportunities that sit before us.”

Coleman described some of the programs implemented by the International to benefit local unions and mobilize members – including centralized communications, the SMART Army, peer-to-peer programs, the new member orientation kit and more. Coleman also listed the different initiatives put forth to help local unions staff megaprojects and maintain their core work. More than anything else, he stressed the need for growth, both by organizing new members into SMART and by recruiting in every community in which we work and live, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or creed.

“The future of both our nations is one of a diverse workforce and people – we can either choose to be a part of that future, or a relic of the past,” Coleman concluded. “This is our time to get back to our roots as a union and provide opportunity to all qualified individuals who choose to join us.”

SMART General President Michael Coleman and NABTU President Sean McGarvey

Coleman then introduced Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, who has been a fierce ally for SMART and all union building trades workers throughout his career. McGarvey started his speech by paying tribute to General President Emeritus Joseph Sellers, who he said has “been there for me as a friend, as a mentor, as a member of the board of presidents.” Sellers’ invaluable work for SMART and across the labor movement, particularly regarding pension security, will benefit workers for generations to come, McGarvey added.  

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with you, my friend,” he told Sellers.

McGarvey then noted that the conference theme, “This Is Our Time,” is spot on. “Not since the end of World War II have working people had an opportunity like this,” he explained.

McGarvey described the Biden administration’s unprecedented engagement with the labor movement, building trades unions and working people in general. On the one hand, he said, that refers to the administration’s solicitation of policy direction from organized labor. On the other, federal funding from legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act is creating extraordinary workforce opportunities – and demands. Now it’s on the building trades to meet this moment, McGarvey emphasized, including new work building North America’s climate resiliency and a green energy future.

NABTU President McGarvey

“Nobody’s more important in the fight against climate change than SMART and sheet metal workers,” he noted, pointing to SMART members’ work on energy efficiency, HVAC and beyond.

McGarvey reiterated Coleman’s emphasis on bringing underserved communities into the labor movement and lifting workers into the middle class. Investments in infrastructure, workforce development and domestic manufacturing make it imperative for unions like SMART to open wide the doors of our training centers and union halls. NABTU, McGarvey said, is working to help unions do just that by piloting childcare programs for building trades workers, fully developing a culture of inclusion on the jobsite, partnering with organizations like Helmets to Hardhats to bring in veterans, and more.

“That doesn’t happen without the support of SMART and other union affiliates,” he declared.

Maryland Congressman David Trone followed President McGarvey. Trone opened his remarks by noting several of his priorities as an elected representative: combatting the opioid epidemic, helping Americans with their mental health and working for criminal justice reform – all issues that are near and dear to SMART members’ hearts.

“We need more leadership to say: people come first, and when they do, businesses do fine,” he said. “America’s values are inextricably linked to the values of the labor movement.”

Congressman David Trone

Trone noted that federal legislation that he supported – including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act – will help spur a new American industrial revolution. Importantly, he said, the implementation of that legislation and the rolling out of funding has only just begun. Over the next four, six, eight years, the projects and jobs created by federal investment will put SMART members to work and change the lives of countless people. That makes it even more crucial to fund registered apprenticeships, implement project labor agreements far and wide, and support unions like SMART.

“In order to lock in these wins, we have to ensure that workers’ voices are heard and their rights are protected,” Trone said. “I’m incredibly proud to be your partner in this continued fight. I’m going to always stand with labor.”

Later in the sheet metal session, Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund (NPF) Executive Director Lori Wood provided an overview of the NPF – certified healthy in the Green Zone since 2022. Finally, General President Coleman welcomed Clark Ellis of Continuum to the stage, where he elaborated on specific details and outlined the continued progress of the strategic plan, underscoring the opportunity SMART has to recapture and expand market share.

“The strategic plan is the backbone that can help ensure SMART does the right things to grow and maximize our potential,” he said.

Following a busy morning, both sheet metal and TD leaders fanned out to continue their work in various breakout sessions, including meetings on forming a committee; lessons learned from a bottom-up organizing campaign at Ketchikan Vigor Shipyard; future developments in Canada; updates from the Biden administration; and much more.

SMART General President Joseph Sellers opened the first-ever SMART Leadership Conference on Monday, August 8th, with local leaders from sheet metal and transportation gathering in San Francisco for three full days of hard work on behalf of SMART members across North America. The theme, “Growth Through Unity,” encompassed the focus of the gathering: In joint sessions, sheet metal and Transportation Division sessions, and breakouts, SMART leadership focused on how to secure the future of our union — together.

Leaders emphasize solidarity on day 1

California Fire Foundation President Rick Martinez used his remarks to speak on the mission of the foundation — SMART’s chosen charity for the leadership conference — which provides emotional and financial support for the brave men and women (and their families) who put their lives on the line to fight disastrous fires. During the conference, SMART raised nearly $350,000 for the foundation.

In his opening remarks, General President Sellers summarized the last several years, noting that political developments across North America have created unprecedented opportunities for our union: huge investments in the transportation and sheet metal industries under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, pension protection in the American Rescue Plan and project labor agreements on federal projects above $35 million in the United States, plus the achievement of the Labour Mobility Tax Credit and added apprenticeship funding in Canada. He also noted the proposed rule for two-person freight rail crews and the importance of working across sheet metal and transportation to secure that victory for rail workers.

“We must be proactive and seize our opportunities to strengthen and grow our union,” Sellers said. “We must build our capacity and capitalize on union-friendly administrations in both the United States and Canada.”

That being said, Sellers pointed out, all those gains will be in danger if anti-labor politicians take back Congress. Elections in battleground states don’t only matter for members in those states — they will impact the future of SMART.

“Either we determine the future of our union, or our adversaries will do it for us,” he declared. “So let’s organize, mobilize, recruit and fight like hell to increase our density and our market share across industries.”

Jeremy Ferguson, president of the SMART Transportation Division, spoke on the furious fight to safeguard and expand working conditions for TD members against a corporate onslaught, particularly from Class 1 freight railroads.

“When things get tough, I know that the one thing we’re not afraid to do in the face of adversity is to show up and step up,” said Ferguson. “We’re not fearful of the challenges that we see ahead, after what we’ve been through.”

Through all the difficulties of the last several years, he continued, a bright spot has emerged: friendly figures in government and federal agencies. Thanks to relationships with Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Amit Bose, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and others, SMART members have a voice in the halls of power. And most importantly, Ferguson declared, the solidarity of SMART provides a road map to a better future for all members.

“The changes we made in 2020 that we were all a part of,” he said, “have opened the doors to lasting progress for our organization and hope, even as we fight through all that the carriers and their Wall Street oligarchs throw at us to grind us down, such as draconian attendance policies.”

To cap off Monday’s joint session, SMART welcomed San Francisco Mayor London Breed and United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair Marty Oberman — both allies of workers and SMART. In his speech, Oberman discussed the STB’s efforts to investigate the decline of freight rail service in the U.S., specifically pointing to the reckless workforce slashing that has helped spur current freight rail disruptions: “It’s quite clear that the main force driving how the railroads are being managed these days are the pressures of stockholders.”

The work continues on day 2

After General President Sellers called the second day to order, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler took the stand, calling on SMART locals to bring more workers into the fold and mobilize members to achieve more victories: “Growth Through Unity is exactly what we need in this moment.”

Organizing is more important than ever, she elaborated, as we emerge into a future with ever-advancing technology, a needed focus on clean energy and other changes to our traditional sectors. As industries change and governments around the world implement new policies to mitigate the effects of climate change, unions like SMART need to ensure workers have a seat at the table. That can only happen, Shuler explained, if we have allies in elected office. The American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, proposed two-person crew rules and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are all vital actions that will put SMART members to work on an enormous number of projects in the future. Those opportunities likely evaporate if we return to an anti-worker Congress.

“To make our vision of the future a reality, we need to elect people who will have our back, who share our values,” Shuler said. She then gathered with members of the BE4ALL Committee, putting words into action to help SMART better represent all workers.

Shuler was followed by AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Greg Regan, who has worked closely with SMART TD leadership to help transportation workers. Like Shuler, Regan praised the unprecedented solidarity uniting railroad unions across TTD and vowed to fight tirelessly for the rights and protections workers deserve.

“There is a level of strength and solidarity in the freight rail labor movement right now that is unmatched,” said Regan. “We are going to win this fight; we are going to deliver on the contract rail workers have earned.”

Throughout the morning, the joint session highlighted SMART’s relationship with elected and federal officials. That peaked with a rousing speech from FRA Administrator Amit Bose, whose tenure has led to unprecedented access and a seat at the table for SMART. In his remarks, Bose touched on a variety of topics: the proposed federal rule requiring two-person crews on freight trains, funding to expand and modernize freight and passenger rail systems, and much more.

“As we forge ahead with new passenger and freight rail projects, the FRA understands the important role SMART members will play,” Bose said. “My staff and I will strive to continue to be available to you and listen to your concerns.”

Building our strength on day 3

The conference’s final day’s focused on developing community solidarity and legislative power. After General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Powell called the conference to order, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi joined the conference by video, outlining recent legislative accomplishments of House Democrats and the Biden administration before ending with a promise: “We will not relent until the Richard Trumka PRO Act is signed into law.”

Following Pelosi’s speech, SMART Director of Government Affairs Steve Dodd and Transportation Division National Legislative Director Greg Hynes provided an update on SMART’s political advocacy. After referencing SMART victories on legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — which made specific investments in HVAC work, indoor air quality, transportation and more — Dodd and Hynes explained that such achievements are largely due to the level of access SMART has with the president, Congress and federal officials. As an example, Dodd pointed to historic pension relief included in the American Rescue Plan, which provided millions to SM Local 33 in Ohio (and to other unions as well). Hynes, meanwhile, focused on the difference the new president, Congress and federal appointees have made for TD members.

“We’re going for the [two-person crew] regulation and we’re going for the law, and we’re not backing down,” Hynes said to thunderous applause.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also delivered remarks by video. After summarizing how the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are improving and modernizing U.S. transportation systems, Buttigieg acknowledged that “the most important part of a transportation system isn’t the physical infrastructure, it’s the people operating it every day.” He added: “We really are living through a new dawn in American transportation, and you all are at the center of it.”

Many speakers throughout the conference, including California Building and Construction Trades Council President Andrew Meredith, remarked on the importance of diversity and inclusion as we seek to grow our union, organize new sectors and lift workers into the middle class. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh emphasized many of those points in a video address, stating: “We need strong, diverse unions now more than ever. I know SMART is devoted to that.”

Like others, Walsh noted proworker Department of Labor initiatives, like strengthening Davis-Bacon protections and fighting against worker misclassification. He also observed that while three quarters of young workers are interested in forming a union, only 10% know how — a gap that must be closed for the betterment of all working people.

The conference culminated with a focus on the SMART Army — our union’s cross-industry, every-member effort to make North America aware that SMART workers are part of the fabric of our communities. General President Sellers presented the 2022 Joseph J. Nigro SMART Army Service Award to two members who have selflessly devoted themselves to their union and their communities: Local 18 (Wis.) retiree Kevin Turner and TD Local 610 (Baltimore) and SM Local 100 (Washington, D.C.-area) member Johnny Walker.

“The SMART Army brings us together in the community, it makes us a part of the community,” Turner said.

“The community knows who we are. We’re there,” Walker added. “The important thing about the SMART Army is you’re a part of something that’s a lot bigger than you.”

Day three of the SMART Leadership Conference focused on developing community solidarity and legislative power. From local efforts to engage members across sheet metal and transportation, to the International’s relationship-building with allies in federal and state governments, SMART sheet metal and transportation leaders performed the important work of creating Growth Through Unity via government and community action.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

After General President Sellers called the third day of the conference to order, United States Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi joined the conference by video. Recalling the support SMART provided when she first ran for Congress, Pelosi recognized SMART locals as “stalwart defenders of members’ jobs, benefits and security.” She outlined recent legislative accomplishments of House Democrats and the Biden Administration, including the CHIPS and Science Act – complete with significant labor protections – before ending her address with a promise: “We will not relent until the Richard Trumka PRO Act is signed into law.”

Following Pelosi’s speech, SMART Director of Government Affairs Steve Dodd and National Legislative Director Greg Hynes provided an update on SMART’s political advocacy. After noting the SMART industry-specific victories in legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – which calls for investments in HVAC work, indoor air quality, transportation and more – Dodd and Hynes explained that such achievements are largely due to the new level of access SMART has with the president, Congress and federal officials. As an example of the unprecedented emphasis on labor in U.S. policymaking, Dodd pointed to the pension relief included in the American Rescue Plan, which (among other unions) provided millions of pension dollars to SM Local 33 in Ohio.

Steve Dodd (left) and Greg Hynes

Hynes, meanwhile, focused on the difference the new president, Congress and federal appointees have made for SMART TD members – and described how the Transportation Division has consequently elevated its efforts to provide greater communication to members. Noting that favorability of SMART and TD locals has risen among members, Hynes listed some of the accomplishments won for transportation workers, including proposed legislation like the PUMP Act and the notice of proposed rulemaking requiring two-person train crews.

“We’re going for the [two-person crew] regulation and we’re going for the law, and we’re not backing down,” Hynes said to thunderous applause. “It’s important that everybody provides comments [for two-person crew rulemaking] – I’m talking about sheet metal and transportation.”

Submit your comment in support of two-person crew regulations here.

Finally, Dodd and Hynes ended their joint speech with a call to action: The access that SMART has right now can be taken away as quickly as it appeared. Locals across the country, across industry and across craft need to come together and elect more pro-worker candidates to secure our union’s future.  

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also delivered remarks by video, demonstrating the exceptional status of the Transportation Division’s current relationship with federal officials. After summarizing the ways in which legislation like the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are being used to improve and modernize the United States’ transportation systems – as well as programs like PROTECT, which is making American roads, bridges and rails more weather-resilient – Buttigieg acknowledged that “the most important part of our transportation systems isn’t the physical infrastructure, it’s the people operating it every day.” He ended his speech by dedicating his work to SMART members: “We really are living through a new dawn in American transportation, and you all are at the center of it.”

After Buttigieg’s video, California Building and Construction Trades Council President Andrew Meredith delivered in-person remarks on the continued work of the building trades and SMART to organize, secure more work and continue to build labor’s ability to pull workers into the middle class. In particular, Meredith emphasized how focusing on diversity and inclusion in organizing can help unions like SMART grow their numbers and break into relatively unorganized sectors, like residential construction.

Andrew Meredith, president of the California Building & Construction Trades Council.

“As we’re addressing the housing crisis, we’re holding a firm line for diversity and inclusion language to be included in contracts,” he said. “We create pathways for everybody.”

Meredith acknowledged that the unionized building trades have not always been open to all workers, pointing specifically to past practices that excluded women, people of color and those who speak English as a second language. Now, he said, the building trades in California are working to include contract provisions like childcare and educational opportunities, offering more opportunity to workers from every background – in addition to the wages, benefits and workplace dignity that unions stake their reputations on.  

“I’m proud that your organization has a tremendous history of inclusiveness and diversity,” noted Meredith. “Make your programs the model for other organizations to follow.”

He concluded by echoing the call many others have made throughout the leadership conference, from General President Sellers to AFL-CIO President Shuler: It’s time to organize.

“It’s an unprecedented time for labor in this country,” Meredith declared. “Workers are clamoring to be organized.”

United States Labor Secretary Marty Walsh re-emphasized many of the points made by Meredith in a video address. Like others, he noted the extraordinary pro-worker achievements of the last two years, with specific Department of Labor initiatives like strengthening Davis-Bacon protections and fighting against worker misclassification. He also observed that while three quarters of young workers are interested in forming a union, only 10% know how – a gap that can and must be closed for the betterment of working people across our country.

“We need strong, diverse unions now more than ever,” Walsh concluded. “I know SMART is devoted to that.”

The joint session culminated with a focus on the SMART Army: our union’s cross-industry, every-member effort to make sure people across North America know SMART workers are the fabric of our communities. First, General President Sellers presented the 2022 Joseph J. Nigro SMART Army Service Award to two union members who have selflessly devoted themselves to both their union and their communities: Local 18 (Wisconsin) Retiree Kevin Turner and TD Local 610 (Baltimore) and SM Local 100 (Washington, DC-area) member Johnny Walker.

“The SMART Army brings us together in the community, it makes us apart of the community,” Turner said.

“The community knows who we are. We’re there,” Walker added. “The important thing about the SMART Army is you’re a part of something that’s a lot bigger than you.”  

Paul Pimentel of SMART Communications followed the awards presentation with an overview of the SMART Army and its efforts in the recent past and looking towards the future, particularly with so much on the line in the 2022 elections. Describing the ways in which SMART has dedicated resources to member communications –surveys, focus groups and more – Pimentel listed methods that locals can use to let members know which politicians are walking the walk for labor: unified messaging, face-to-face conversation, social media content that speaks to members and more. All of that is crucial, he said, as SMART seeks to recruit, retain and organize its way to greater strength for all members.

 “We are not on the defensive anymore, we are on the offense, and that’s something we need,” Pimentel announced.

And finally, Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson wrapped up the general session by reiterating the importance of two-person crews on trains, calling for members across our union to submit comments to the FRA.

“Because of greed on wall street, the railroads want to remove the conductor off the freight trains,” he said. “[But] it is important that have conductors on those trains to keep trains safe, engineers safe, America safe, and keep trains moving on time.”

Submit your comment in support of two-person crew regulations here.