SMART Union

YouTube video by SMARTUnion Alabama sheet metal sister finds home in Local 48

For Alabama sheet metal apprentice Lulu Godebski, SMART Local 48 offered more than just stellar pay, benefits and a fulfilling career -- it provided her with a place she feels at home.

youtu.be/50J-W968Wbc?...

YouTube video by SMARTUnion SMART-TD works to protect members from drone activity on the railroad

On Halloween and every other day, there's not much scarier than unidentified drones hovering over the railyard.

SMART-TD is taking our union's case to the Federal Aviation Administration to get these dangerous gadgets out of our members’ workplaces once and for all.

youtu.be/mhvj9IaPS58?...

General President Coleman congratulates SMART-TD leaders, members on ratified national agreement - SMART Union SMART General President Michael Coleman's statement on the national rail agreement ratified by SMART-TD members on October 30.

SMART-TD members on BNSF, NS, CN and several Class II and Class III railroads ratified a new, 5-year collective bargaining agreement that delivers substantial economic gains and benefit improvements — without any concessions.

GP Coleman's response: www.smart-union.org/general-pres...

SMART Transportation Division Members Ratify New Five-Year Agreement with 18.77% Wage Increases and Enhanced Benefits - SMART Union After nine months of negotiations, SMART-TD voting members have ratified a new, five-year National Agreement that delivers substantial wage gains and benefit improvements with ZERO concessions. This a...

Read more: www.smart-union.org/smart-transp...

After nine months of negotiations, SMART-TD voting members have ratified a new, five-year National Agreement that delivers substantial wage gains and benefit improvements with ZERO concessions. This agreement applies to members on BNSF, NS, CN, and several Class II and Class III railroads.

YouTube video by SMARTUnion Local 36 retirees restore a piece of St. Louis history

"The retirees, they retired from work. They didn't retire from craft."

Local 36 retirees are working to bring a piece of St. Louis history back to life, restoring a replica of the historic USS Admiral. Hear from some of the longtime members taking on this project: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScBr...

"By every possible measure, Congresswoman and Gubernatorial Candidate Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey stands as the very definition of being with us."

Long-time Union Ally Mikie Sherrill Runs for New Jersey Governor  - SMART Union If you work in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill has earned your consideration in the upcoming election. Her voting record and active labor outreach have helped our union countless times in the past. Read on...

"SMART-TD remains steadfast in its commitment to being a nonpartisan union. We judge leaders not by their political party, but by their votes, their ideas, their character, and their actions that impact transportation workers and the labor movement as a whole."

www.smart-union.org/long-time-un...

SMART-TD to Port Terminal Railroad Association: Your Harassment Stops Now. - SMART Union SMART-TD Alternate Vice President Chris Bartz issued a direct and unequivocal warning to management of the Port Terminal Railroad Association (PTRA): the ongoing disregard for your union agreements, s...

SMART-TD Alt. Vice President Chris Bartz has issued a direct warning to management of the Port Terminal Railroad Association (PTRA): the ongoing disregard for union agreements, safety obligations and basic respect for the workforce will not be tolerated.

www.smart-union.org/smart-td-to-...

Honoring the Professional Drivers Who Keep Our Children Safe - SMART Union School bus operators play a vital role in communities nationwide, combining professionalism, safety, and care to ensure millions of children are transported securely to school each day. Read on to see...

Each day, SMART-TD’s school bus operators take on one of the most important responsibilities in transportation: ensuring that millions of children are transported safely to and from school.

www.smart-union.org/honoring-the...

“I first went to Tradeswomen Build Nations 10 years ago,” said Local 17 Business Development Rep. and International Women’s Committee Chair Shamaiah Turner during the annual SMART caucus. “There were 38 people in the SMART caucus. Now we’re nearly 500 strong.”

www.smart-union.org/smart-brings...

#ICYMI: Nearly 500 SMART sisters and allies from across North America traveled to Chicago, Ill., for Tradeswomen Build Nations — the world’s largest gathering of tradeswomen. Alongside more than 6,000 fellow union workers, SMART members and leaders put the power of solidarity on full display.

Attendees also heard from John Nichols, executive editor of The Nation Magazine, who talked about how to amplify union member voices and tell the stories the public needs to hear.

Great work, brothers and sisters!

Unionists gathered for a comprehensive training focused on building our union’s strength from the ground up, learning from one another in panels, discussions and presentations.

SMART members from across North America gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this week for the annual SMART Army training, facilitated by the SMART Communications Department.

Education Department holds class for new SMART reps | SMART Union The SMART Education Department held its New Representatives I class in St. Louis, Mo., during the week of September 15, 2025.

The Education Department held its New Representatives I class in St. Louis in early September, 2025. The class, completely revamped for 2025, provided officers with the chance to develop their skills across a range of areas — ultimately benefiting SMART members.

www.smart-union.org/union-office...

SMART proudly celebrates National #IndigenousPeoplesDay, a day to honor the lives, legacies and achievements of Indigenous people and SMART members across the United States.

America’s unions mourn the loss of our brother Kent Wong.

As APALA's founding president & a leader throughout our movement, he relentlessly fought for worker, immigrant, civil & human rights across the country & around the world. He inspired us all.

Rest in power.

SMART-TD Sister Trena Few said: “As railroaders in various unions, we stand side-by-side every day in the fight for safety, fairness, and dignity on the job. But events like this remind us that our unity is also built in moments of fellowship and goodwill."

Amtrak Operating Unions Gather in Maryland - SMART Union SMART-TD organized and hosted a multi-union gathering last Saturday. The day was organized by Sister Trena Few and Brother Torryn James from Amtrak Local 1470 (Edmonston, MD), with support from Maryla...

Members of SMART-TD Local 1470, BLET’s Division 482, UNITE HERE Local 23 and other Amtrak operating unions gathered in Maryland to build solidarity, on and off the railroad: www.smart-union.org/amtrak-opera...

YouTube video by SMARTUnion Racing To Address Suicide in the Construction Industry

Suicide rates in the construction industry are at an all-time high, making mental health support more urgent than ever. That's why Local 85's Dee Lee and Nate Allred organized the Healing for Hardhats 5K: to raise money, awareness & provide resources for their fellow workers.

youtu.be/3LT-GgUDzqg

Local 16 says NW College of Construction flouts state law ‘Employee’ reps in non-union apprenticeships feel like an episode of ‘Undercover Boss’ as portrayed in a complaint to the State of Oregon.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 says NW College of Construction is flouting state law. As portrayed in a complaint with the state, "employee" reps on non-union apprenticeship boards sound like an episode of ‘Undercover Boss.’ | @smart-union.bsky.social nwlaborpress.org/2025/10/loca...

With Rosh Hashanah beginning at sundown, America’s unions wish our Jewish union siblings a good and sweet new year. Shana Tova!

“As long as this administration makes decisions that directly impact our members, I’m going to keep calling balls and strikes. This decision is clearly a ball,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman.

Canceled federal funding threatens SMART members’ jobs at port projects - SMART Union The DOT canceled $679 million in federal funding for 12 offshore wind projects, threatening Local 104 members’ work opportunities.

In late August, the Department of Transportation canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money for infrastructure work at Humboldt Bay Harbor District in Northern California — throwing Local 104 members’ work opportunities into question.

www.smart-union.org/canceled-fed...

Earlier this month, Local 110 sheet metal workers participated in a Starbucks Sip-In in Paducah, Kentucky. The unit filed for recognition with @sbworkersunited.org and will have their vote Oct. 2.

Solidarity forever!

SMART General President Michael Coleman’s statement on No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act - SMART Union SMART General President Michael Coleman's statement on the biipartisan No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act.

“SMART members work tirelessly to serve the American people, and they deserve the same shot at tax savings as other workers."

Read GP Coleman's statement on the No Tax On Overtime for All Workers Act: www.smart-union.org/smart-genera...

Members of SMART Local 526 out of Wilmington, Delaware, joined fellow trades workers to become the first class in more than 30 years to graduate Amtrak’s Apprenticeship Program.

Congratulations, brothers and sisters!

SMART-TD reaches tentative agreement with BNSF | SMART Union SMART-TD has reached a tentative agreement with BNSF, which will be sent to members for review and a ratification vote.

BREAKING: A Tentative National Agreement (TA) has been reached between SMART-TD and rail carriers represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee.

www.smart-union.org/smart-td-rea...

Congressman Resurrects Attempt to Nullify Federal Two-Person Crew (2-PC) Rule - SMART Union It’s a case of déjà vu as a Missouri Congressman tries once again to rescind the 2024 federal two-person crew (2-PC) rule, jeopardizing the safety of railroaders while appeasing the carriers and speci...

Congressman Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) has once again filed legislation that seeks to repeal 2024's two-person crew rule: www.smart-union.org/congressman-...