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SMART Union

@smart-union.bsky.social

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers: fighting to protect and raise the living standards of more than 230,000 sheet metal and transportation workers in the U.S. and Canada.

1,494 Followers  |  100 Following  |  297 Posts  |  Joined: 13.11.2024
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Posts by SMART Union (@smart-union.bsky.social)

That's solidarity in action!

04.03.2026 16:47 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Notches Change, The Reverser DOESN'T - SMART Union Summary: Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad sought concessions from SMART-TD Local 204, but members held firm and secured a unanimous agreement that preserves base earnings while increasing effectiv...

In recent negotiations, Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad sought concessions from SMART-TD Local 204. But members held firm and secured an agreement that preserves base earnings while increasing effective hourly pay and improving overtime opportunities: www.smart-union.org/notches-chan...

04.03.2026 16:47 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Women in Construction Week 2026 profile: Local 17 sister Renee
YouTube video by SMARTUnion Women in Construction Week 2026 profile: Local 17 sister Renee

#WomeninConstructionWeek spotlight: Local 17 (Boston) sister Renee talks about her balancing career, what she values about her work, how she got into the trade and more!

"I always wanted a job with a positive impact on society, and a job that matters," she said.

youtu.be/185PD7Fa1Io?...

03.03.2026 17:44 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Stay tuned throughout the week for video profiles and this year's happy hour drink!

02.03.2026 15:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Welcome to Women in Construction Week 2026!

This week, SMART is sharing resources, honoring our union sisters blazing trails in the industry, and gathering with fellow sisters and allies for a virtual happy hour on March 6. (RSVP: smart-meeting-on.zoom.us/meeting/regi...)

02.03.2026 15:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

"We actually have a voice, we have a lot of weight behind us now. ... We're all standing together to make real change in our workplace."

26.02.2026 21:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Workers in Springfield, Missouri, reflect on successful organizing campaign
YouTube video by SMARTUnion Workers in Springfield, Missouri, reflect on successful organizing campaign

On February 23, 2026, workers at SPX Cooling Technologies in Springfield, Missouri, voted to ratify their first contract as SMART members. Watch several of the workers tell the story of how they organized to join Local 208.

youtu.be/2hrIgMT3n48?...

26.02.2026 21:36 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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General President Coleman calls for the passage of the Railway Safety Act of 2026 - SMART Union SMART General President Michael Coleman issued a statement calling for the passage of the Railway Safety Act of 2026.

β€œRail safety isn’t a Red issue or a Blue issue. It’s about keeping our country and our members safe and secure."

Senators Jon Husted and Maria Cantwell have introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2026. Read SMART General President Michael Coleman's response: www.smart-union.org/general-pres...

25.02.2026 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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PRESS RELEASE: Bipartisan Railway Safety Act Delivers Critical List of Reforms - SMART Union More than three years after the devastating East Palestine derailment, the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026 aims to enact major reforms born out of the lessons learned from this disaster. Read on...

HUGE NEWS: More than three years after the devastating East Palestine derailment, the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026 aims to enact major reforms born out of the lessons learned from this disaster.

www.smart-union.org/bipartisan-r...

25.02.2026 16:09 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
In Memory: 84-year member Renato Favero
YouTube video by SMARTUnion In Memory: 84-year member Renato Favero

In an interview conducted shortly before his passing, Local 218 member Renato Favero talked about his extraordinary 102-year life, including 84 years in our union. Brother Favero was a World War II veteran, proud SMART sheet metal worker, and a beloved family man: youtu.be/i1oCnVXB-KI?...

23.02.2026 13:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Partners in Progress conference wrapped up on Wednesday, sending sheet metal leaders home with connections, knowledge and strategies for the future. Throughout the conference, one theme remained constant: We can only secure the future of the unionized sheet metal industry TOGETHER.

20.02.2026 15:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Safety Starts With Us - SMART Union Rail Carriers and Transit Agencies have shifted injury and safety hazard reporting out of crew rooms and into less accessible digital systems. Read on to see how SMART-TD aims to restore real-time haz...

Rail carriers and transit agencies have shifted injury and safety hazard reporting out of crew rooms and into less accessible digital systems. SMART-TD is aiming to restore real-time hazard awareness and empower members and local officers to protect one another: www.smart-union.org/safety-start...

18.02.2026 12:48 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sheet metal industry leaders are gathering in Orlando, Florida, this week to secure the future of the UNION sheet metal trade.

β€œAs long as we keep working together, I’m personally confident this industry’s best days are still ahead.” - GP Coleman

#PinP26

17.02.2026 15:52 β€” πŸ‘ 49    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 1

Happy Lunar New year to all who celebrate!

17.02.2026 14:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Happy #PresidentsDay from SMART!

β€œLabor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” β€” President Abraham Lincoln

16.02.2026 19:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

β€œWhen a pullback system fails, when a shove goes wrong, when equipment ends up on the ground, it’s not the BNSF executives getting hurt or fired.

β€œIt’s us.”

13.02.2026 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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BNSF Seeks Dangerous RCO Waiver - SMART Union BNSF has asked the FRA for permission to weaken safety for our RCO operators. Read on for details on the latest example of profits over people and how SMART-TD responded.

🚨 🚨 🚨 BNSF has gone to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) asking for a waiver that should set off alarms for every yard employee working Remote Control Operations (RCO): www.smart-union.org/bnsf-seeks-d...

13.02.2026 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

This bill would benefit communities, building owners and the sheet metal workers who perform this work. Thank you, congressmen, for supporting SMART members!

11.02.2026 14:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Beyer, Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bipartisan Airborne Act

Yesterday, @beyer.house.gov and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick reintroduced the Airborne Act: a bipartisan bill that would incentivize building owners to conduct indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments and upgrade their ventilation and air filtration systems.

beyer.house.gov/news/documen...

11.02.2026 14:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Winter 2026 Members' Journal Archives | SMART Union The Winter 2025-2026 SMART Members' Journal features messages from union leadership, news and analysis relevant to SMART members, local union news and more.

NOW ONLINE: The Winter 2025-2026 SMART Members' Journal, featuring messages from International leadership, a Labor/Labour Day photo gallery, an analysis on the decades-long war on working people, local union news and much more!

View individual articles here: www.smart-union.org/category/mem...

09.02.2026 17:07 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's been 3 years since the East Palestine derailment. Where is rail safety reform?

03.02.2026 20:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The labor and civil rights movements have always been intertwined. Learn more by revisiting this 2023 Learning Journey celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. β€” featuring Dave Dennis, a Civil Rights veteran and one of the original Freedom Riders.

www.beforall.org/resources/ma...

03.02.2026 14:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Rail Safety Is Too Important For Corporate Discretion - SMART Union A veteran Louisiana railroader dismantles the myth that safety mandates hurt efficiency, arguing from lived experience that federal rail safety rules exist because companies repeatedly choose profit o...

A veteran Louisiana railroader dismantles the myth that safety mandates hurt efficiency, arguing from lived experience that federal rail safety rules exist because companies repeatedly choose profit over people when left to police themselves: www.smart-union.org/rail-safety-...

02.02.2026 14:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Veterans helping veterans: Union military veterans help build new VA Medical Center in Kentucky
YouTube video by SMARTUnion Veterans helping veterans: Union military veterans help build new VA Medical Center in Kentucky

In KY, SMART members -- many of them military veterans -- are working on a project that means something special: a new VA Medical Center. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwfD...

"I can [give back] the best way that I know how … make sure that me and my fellow veterans, we all have a nice hospital here."

30.01.2026 17:12 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

"I didn't see any light … at the end of the tunnel," Garringer said. "[But] we're not in a tunnel anymore. And we realized we're not in this alone."

28.01.2026 17:51 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
"We're not in this alone:" Buffalo union workers build wheelchair ramp for railroad brother in need
YouTube video by SMARTUnion "We're not in this alone:" Buffalo union workers build wheelchair ramp for railroad brother in need

SMART-TD Brother David Garringer lost his leg to a horrific injury on the job, ending his career and changing his family's life for good. In response, sheet metal Local 71 mobilized, building a custom wheelchair ramp for Brother Garringer's home: youtu.be/-Io2M_qCJlw?...

28.01.2026 17:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

"This cannot stand. We cannot have government agents killing people in the street. We cannot have people afraid to go to work because of what’s happening outside their doors. We cannot sit back and let government agencies dictate the everyday lives of working people without facing any consequences."

27.01.2026 18:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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General President Coleman’s statement on the shooting of Alex Pretti - SMART Union SMART General President Michael Coleman responded to the shooting of AFGE member Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026.

Read SMART General President Michael Coleman’s statement on the shooting of Alex Pretti: www.smart-union.org/general-pres...

27.01.2026 18:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

"It's not a level playing field. They cheat their employees in the shop, they don't pay community standards, they don't pay [strong] wages and benefits."

26.01.2026 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Fighting for the pay and benefits workers deserve in Massachusetts
YouTube video by SMARTUnion Fighting for the pay and benefits workers deserve in Massachusetts

SMART is fighting to make sure workers get the pay and benefits they deserve in Massachusetts, working to close the offsite fabrication loophole that frequently gets exploited by bad-faith contractors. Learn more from SMART Northeast Regional Council President Bob Butler: youtu.be/fEWeKNZM08A?...

26.01.2026 17:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0