United for Safety, Unity, and Progress: Day Two of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference

Building off the momentum established on Monday, the second day of the 2025 SMART Annual Leadership Conference focused on sharpening Sheet Metal and Transportation Division leaders’ skills and knowledge to effectively serve the membership.  
 
From the latest legislative and safety developments resulting from SMART’s efforts on the Hill, to hearing directly from three Congressmen, our efforts in D.C. were the focus of Day 2 at the Leadership Conference.

“We Are One Union. We Are One Body.” 

During Tuesday morning’s General Session, National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity stressed the importance of rail safety in the wake of the East Palestine derailment over two years ago.

He pointed out that the railroad was back up and running before the evacuation order was even lifted.

“They literally were moving trains before people were allowed to go back to their homes,” said Cassity. “It’s not about safety for the railroads. It’s about profit every single time.”

That’s the status quo for carriers and the railroad industry.

“You realize the bastards they are behind the curtain,” noted Cassity.

Cassity explained that the East Palestine disaster revealed a lot of truths, including the fact that technology tends to fail and people make the difference when it comes to avoiding similar incidents.

That’s why SMART-TD is driving the charge for rail safety, and it all starts with our members.

“The only way that we make influence on the Hill is from the ground-up,” said Cassity. 
 
Ending his remarks by pushing leaders to take a stand and make a difference, Cassity encouraged the room to focus on what unites us, rather than what divides us.  
“The parties are ripping us apart,” explained Cassity. “Our issues align in this house. We’re on the same team in this house. We can’t let other people pull us apart.  
 
“We are one union. We are one body.”

Pro-Worker Allies Highlight Organized Labor 

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, and Congressman Joe Morelle were three of the SMART allies who encouraged our assembled brothers and sisters to keep fighting in spite of a difficult environment for workers. 
 
“We don’t need to be in a country of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires,” said Leader Jeffries. “We should be a country of organized labor, by organized labor, for organized labor.”
 
“When you put workers first,” he added, “when you put unions first, you put America first.”

Congresswoman Sherrill highlighted the importance or labor and why unions are the backbone of our country.  

“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.”   

Representative Morelle grew up in a union family and 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.   

TD Leaders Hone Their Public Speaking Skills

Leaders in the Transportation Division took a deep dive into the art of public speaking and effective communication, ensuring that our members are represented better than ever at the bargaining table, appeals hearings and in the public eye. Officers also trained on sharpening our message, communicating clearly with lawmakers at all levels of government.

Through interactive practice, attendees were able identify their strengths and pinpoint areas where they could improve their skills.  

Training To Win 

Day Two of the Leadership Conference made clear that SMART’s strength lies in its unity, its advocacy, and the dedication of its members. With a renewed focus on safety, legislative engagement, and effective communication, SMART-TD leaders left the day better equipped to represent their members and push for meaningful change in Washington and beyond.