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New York City, one of the most famous metropolises of the world, is built, moved and powered by union members. And in New York and New Jersey, SMART Local 137 and Local 28 are working constantly to create more opportunities for union members, expand the number of unionized contractors performing work in the region, and help workers experience the difference in pay, benefits and quality of life that comes from SMART membership.

One recent success came after a Local 137 member alerted Organizer Robert Soto that a non-signatory contractor planned to perform overnight work at the HELIX project at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey — a three-building complex that promised plenty of work for SMART sign workers. Acting quickly, Soto responded to the project, resulting in hundreds of work hours being secured for Local 137 members while also opening productive discussions with the contractor regarding future opportunities to put SMART members to work throughout Northern New Jersey.

Local 137 has also continued its long-term strategic campaign to bring CAD Signs, one of the region’s largest nonunion sign contractors, into SMART. While maintaining discussions with company leadership, the local simultaneously strengthened its signatory contractor base by assisting AMA Signs in establishing a New Jersey operation and recruiting experienced employees from CAD. To date, 6 of AMA’s 12 journey-level workers and apprentices at the New Jersey location are former CAD employees, with additional workers continuing to transition to the union contractor.

Another organizing opportunity developed when contractor Signarama contacted Local 137 regarding work at a shopping mall covered by a labor harmony agreement. Rather than risk labor issues, the contractor agreed to subcontract the project to a Local 137 signatory contractor. In the short term, that meant more work opportunities for SMART members. In the long term, the successful collaboration has already generated additional subcontracting opportunities, and discussions continue regarding the company signing a Local 137 agreement.

The organizing momentum continued across the region as SMART Local 28 successfully signed Sahara Construction Corp. as a union contractor. The agreement brought nine new members into Local 28 and further strengthened the local’s contractor network throughout New York City.

Together, these victories demonstrate that successful organizing rarely relies on a single tactic. Through strategic job actions, targeted workforce development, relationship building, contractor assistance and sustained organizing discussions with management, SMART Locals 137 and 28 continue expanding the share of work performed by members in the region and creating new opportunities for workers.

The artistry of union craftsmanship was on full display in New York in early 2024. Members of Local 83 performed stunning copper work at the New York State Capitol in Albany, with help from Local 40 (Connecticut), Local 17 (Boston) and Local 63 (Western Mass.). The approximately six tons of copper were installed by Local 83 members Mike Desourdy, Joshua Vadnais, Andrew Bell, Vernon Howe, Kenny O’Loughlin, Ed Schillinger, Jr., Superintendent Tony Brancati and Aaron Hebert, as well as Local 40’s Dennis Rodrigues, Local 17’s Keith Ruza and Local 63’s Stephen Bovenzi.

On Thursday, April 25, the Biden-Harris administration announced that the United States Department of Commerce and Micron Technology signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms to provide up to $6.14 billion in CHIPS and Science Act funding to help build Micron’s semiconductor facilities in upstate New York and Idaho. The proposed funding is expected to create approximately 20,000 construction jobs, including union sheet metal positions for SMART members.

“Today’s announcement of proposed funding for Micron’s semiconductor fabrication facilities in New York and Idaho would essentially amount to a multi-billion-dollar investment in SMART members,” SMART General President Michael Coleman said in response. “Thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act — a groundbreaking, pro-worker bill that is already creating jobs for our members from coast to coast — these project labor agreement-covered megaprojects would bring even more union sheet metal workers onto the jobsite, as well as create more opportunities for local residents to enter a middle-class career in our trade. We applaud the Biden administration and the Department of Commerce for continuing to invest in America’s workers, and we look forward to getting to work.”

Given a second chance to act, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has chosen to side with safety.

In late 2022, a bill requiring two-person crews on freight trains in the state reached her desk — and she vetoed it.

But something changed in 2023. Perhaps it was seeing legislatures and governors in both Ohio and Minnesota take the steps to pass legislation, or the catastrophic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that happened last February.

Either way, Hochul made the right decision on December 8, 2023, when she signed S.5775 into law: capping a superlative effort from SMARTTD’s New York State Legislative Board led by State Legislative Director Sam Nasca.

A mere three years ago, a bill establishing a minimum freight crew size did not even make it out of a state Senate committee. Now, New York is the third state in 2023 to pass two-person crew legislation, bringing the total number of states to have implemented legislation or regulations regarding a minimum two-person crew to 12.

“Another state has come to the conclusion that a two-person crew is appropriate and necessary for safe railroad operations,” SMART-TD National Legislative Director Greg Hynes said. “We thank all of the legislators, especially state Senator Timothy Kennedy, who introduced the bill in his chamber, and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli for their leadership.

“Congratulations to all on the TD New York State Legislative Board for pulling together and achieving another victory.”

The bill was introduced in March and establishes an escalating structure of fines for violations by Class I and II rail carriers that run freight trains without two on the crew in the state. It took effect in January 2024.

The 3rd Congressional District of New York has consistently valued proven leadership — with the glaring exception of George Santos. Luckily for the people of Long Island and SMART-TD members in particular, we have an opportunity to right the ship in February.

Our union has an ally in this race with a proven track record of serving the district and our membership with consistency. Congressman Tom Suozzi is a known commodity in Long Island. We remember him over his six years in Congress that highlighted his advocacy for nationwide two-person crew legislation and for his role championing the Long Island Rail Road in Washington.

Suozzi has been a personal friend of SMART-TD Alternate Vice President and General Chairperson Anthony Simon for nearly two decades. While in office, Suozzi has a track record of consulting with Simon and your union on a regular basis using our organization as his sounding board for every decision and vote he made affecting the transportation industry.

Your union has rarely, if ever, had a better advocate. Suozzi has brought funding to both the subway and LIRR, among other projects, that have benefited our members.

Now he needs our help. We owe it to ourselves to bring consistent and reliable leadership back to Long Island’s 3rd Congressional District. Not only does Congressman Suozzi need our support Feb. 13, but he has arranged for all organized labor to show the world who he serves and why. Suozzi and his campaign are asking Long Islanders in the labor movement to take advantage of their ability to vote early and do it on the same day (Feb. 3) so that they can use the vote totals from that day to demonstrate our collective power.

SMART-TD and Simon are asking for your support. All members of our union and other labor organizations have been informed that Congressman Suozzi’s campaign is asking our men and women to cast their ballots at their local early voting locations on Feb. 3.

The goal is to show a noticeable spike on what they are calling Labor Votes Day and put Washington on notice that Representative Suozzi is coming back to Capitol Hill with a clear, distinct mandate that he is there to represent labor and our interest.

There are rallies for the congressman planned in multiple locations on Feb. 3 aimed at rallying labor and getting our collective voice heard that day. More information will be provided on these events as we get closer.

Please do your due diligence as a SMART member and as an American, and double check that your voter registration is up to date and that you know where your early voting location is. This is our moment to return sanity to New York’s 3rd Congressional District and to return a champion for our union to Washington!

For this episode of the Talking SMART podcast, we sat down with SMART Local 28 Business Agent Marvin Tavarez to discuss his journey going from working non-union to being organized into SMART. He breaks down some of the myths about organizing into our union versus taking a more traditional full apprenticeship route.

“Some people are like ‘Oh, that’s the backdoor, that’s the backdoor,’ ” says Tavarez. “But at the end of the day, it all comes down to educating the membership. You know, if you’re not organizing members in, you’re gonna be working against them and not with them.”

“If you’re not organizing members in, you’re gonna be working against them and not with them.”

Tavarez also discussed his efforts to help build a rank-and-file building trades movement, including organizing rallies attended by thousands in New York City.

“As soon as I got into the union,” says Tavarez, “I felt like I needed to give back, someway, somehow. I was getting so much from the union… what can I do to contribute? So, I started a rank-and-file movement on Facebook. Started with like five members. Within a year, year and a half, it grew to over 10,000 members on social media.”

At the end of this episode, in his last open mic segment before he retired at the end of May 2023, former SMART General President Joseph Sellers discusses the road ahead for SMART, as we work to train a new generation of members and staff up scores of large “megaprojects” across the United States and Canada.

Return to the Talking SMART index page.

Talking SMART is a member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network — working people’s voices, broadcasting worldwide 24 hours a day.

When 64-year-old Orchard Park, N.Y. resident Chuckie Sonntag found himself in need of an entry ramp for his home, the SM Local 71 (Buffalo, N.Y.) SMART Army leapt into action — demonstrating the vital role unions play in American communities, on and off the job.

Sonntag, who helped form a local charity that gives economically challenged Buffalo-area kids the chance to attend their first NFL games, is a double amputee who lost his limbs to a bone disease — his arm at age 35, and his legs eight years ago. Until recently, he only had an entry ramp at the front of his home, giving him just one way to enter and exit his house. A former member told Local 71 leadership about Sonntag’s plight, and the membership mobilized immediately.

“Our members find the time to help somebody; our [members] are workers who get satisfaction in helping others,” Local 71 Business Manager Paul Crist told WNYLaborToday.com. “When someone needs help in our community, why not us?”

“It’s important to help people who need,” added Local 71 Membership Development Organizer Andre Mayes. “We got a donated aluminum ramp, disassembled it at one location and then transported it over to Chuckie’s house just before the holidays (and in between two massive snowstorms that hit the Buffalo area, thankfully).”

Local 71 members assemble Sontagg’s ramp
Sontagg uses his brand-new ramp

Mayes, Local 71 Vice President Cary Hinterberger and eight-year member Scott Brodnicki then spent the afternoon reconfiguring and installing the ramp, which had been broken down into eight-foot segments, at the back of the house.

“I jumped on board and volunteered. That’s the way I was brought up,” explained Brodnicki. “It always goes back to my [late] father, who was also a SMART member: When someone needs help, you lend a hand – no matter who it is.”

SMART Army projects like the one at Sonntag’s house help spread the word about how all working people benefit from the presence of organized labor; they show clearly that unions are pillars of local communities. More importantly, such projects put labor’s principles into action, demonstrating the real, concrete power of community solidarity.

“I’m so happy — [Local 71] came through for me,” Sonntag told WNYLaborToday.com. “They’re a bunch of really nice guys. [The ramp] works really well, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

Pictured left to right are SMART Local 71 members Paul Holland, Nick Hoffman, Anthony Paris, Shilo Rogers, Dan Morino, Jeff Gatti and Ryan Hurley. As part of Local 71’s SMART Army and Apprenticeship Community Service programs, these members partici­pated in a cleanup of Raymond Klimek Veteran’s Park in North Tonawanda, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo. Spear­headed by Paris, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, the beautification project took place on May 21–22, one weekend ahead of Memorial Day. Not pictured are Busi­ness Manager Paul Crist and Business Agent Timothy Benes, who also participated in the cleanup.

Today, the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, undermining the fundamental rights of working women and families across the country. SMART releases the following statement:

“Today’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade is yet another attack on the freedoms of working Americans by unelected extremist justices. The right to make our own choices about our bodies – and, consequently, our jobs – is fundamental in this country.

“These justices will not stop at reproductive rights – these extremists will attempt to dismantle all labor rights. SMART remains committed to fighting back to ensure our members and all American workers are fully guaranteed their right to privacy, economic justice and to make their own healthcare decisions.”