SMART UnionSMART Local 105 (Southern California) members demonstrated the meaning of union family on September 21, 2025, taking a fishing trip to Catalina Island. As reported by Local 105 member Albert Orosco, “plenty of fish were caught.”
Courtesy of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.
SMART sisters and allies joined nearly 250 fellow union tradeswomen in southeast Chicago for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance’s (USA) Tradeswomen’s Fishing Event, held in conjunction with the 15th Annual Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) Conference.
The USA’s women’s fishing event has quickly become a TWBN tradition, with participation quadrupling since it began in 2022. The event offers union sisters the chance to step away from the conference, try something new and celebrate solidarity in the great outdoors. It also has a deeper impact for participants: In 2023, USA’s TWBN excursion inspired Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) apprentice Dee Lee to organize a cross-trades USA event in her area, a “Unions Unite” community service project.
For Gretchen Keen, a member of SMART Local 20 (Indianapolis, Ind.) who began her trade career as an ironworker, the day was about recreation and building relationships.
“I’m an avid angler, so starting off the conference fishing was a highlight,” Keen said. “I even met another ironworker, and when she works in my area, we’re going to hang out. The camaraderie and support are awesome.”
With the help of the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the event took place at William Powers State Recreation Area on Chicago’s far southeast side, a neighborhood often overlooked for outdoor recreation. The site is home to an ongoing USA Work Boots on the Ground conservation project, which includes construction of a fishing dock and kayak launch to expand public access to the outdoors.
Joseph Sellers, Jr., SMART general president emeritus, attended to show his support and check out the access project.
“The fishing event was great. It was gratifying to see so many women dropping a line in a lake right in the city,” Sellers said. “Seeing their excitement come alive and knowing the USA is bridging the gap by making fishing accessible to everyone was inspiring. The new kayak ramp and fishing pier are great examples of the USA opening the outdoors to more people.”
“We are thrilled with how the USA’s tradeswomen event continues to grow, bringing together women from more trades and locals every year,” added USA Director of Conservation Sam Phipps. “We are extremely grateful to the United Association, NABTU, United Healthcare, ICF, Illinois DNR, and the volunteers from Sheet Metal Workers Local 73 and Painters District Council 30 for making the event possible.”
That quote, delivered by SMART General President Michael Coleman, summed up 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’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 explained, 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 principles 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 and Canadians against one another, 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 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. SMART membership does not quit when members clock out.
That’s what defines our union. 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,” he said.
General President Coleman wrapped up his opening remarks by addressing the uncertainty we face in the world today. He talked about the mergers being proposed on the rail system. He talked about the near daily headlines about megaprojects being canceled; projects that looked set to create years of good-paying jobs for sheet metal workers.
But, he pointed out: That is why our union’s annual leadership conferences are so important. Officers come to these conferences to train and prepare to put up the best fight possible, because that is what SMART’s 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.”
“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 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 officers 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 attacks on our two-person crew rule and the ongoing threat of automation.
“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 received during the conference to heart and to use it to better defend members back home.
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.
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 threaten 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. During the 2025 Leadership Conference, SMART officers heard 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.
Suozzi told attendees that he will remain an ally, promising to fight for the elimination of taxes on overtime, support pro-worker legislation like two-person crews and 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.”
“When you put workers first,” he added, “when you put unions first, you put America first.”
Costs are too high right now, 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, he noted, is an attack on health care, on organized labor, on good-paying jobs. He promised that in response, he and fellow pro-union representatives 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.
“We’re facing big challenges in the Garden State,” she said.
Discussing her campaign to build housing and infrastructure in New Jersey — with strong labor standards to put SMART members to work — and to lower costs for working families across the state, Sherrill described the importance of investing in public transit and transportation, ensuring that railroad crews and transit operators are safe and protected. (Sherrill has worked closely with New Jersey Safety and Legislative Director Ron Sabol in the past.) She also detailed her plans to expand apprenticeship programs and invest in child care 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,” Sherrill 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 rail yard 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.
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, August 6.
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 told SMART-TD he wanted labor to be involved. He proved that, to an extent, later in the morning: Following his 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.
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 Snide, General President Coleman discussed several stories of her recent service to fellow members and working families.
That included the time, just this last summer, when Snide was at the TD Regional Training Seminar in Denver, Colorado, and 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, she 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, 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.
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 officers that, collectively, attendees of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference raised more than $317,000 for the organization, which helps communities all over recover from disasters.
Leaders learned in tailored breakout sessions throughout the conference.
At the end of the final joint session on Wednesday, 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.
“We ask that we’re able to take care of our families and our loved ones, and they want to destroy us,” he 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,” Coleman 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.”
As SMART workers, many of us have direct experience with the tactic known as “divide and conquer.”
Anyone who’s been part of an organizing campaign knows what I’m talking about. Bad-faith employers, rather than respecting their employees’ decision to join our union, will try to divide workers against one another. They try to split organizing workers apart so they forget their common ground — the reason they’re organizing — and, as a result, lose the chance to collectively bargain.
We sometimes see it during contract negotiations, too. I know it happened recently for our SMART-TD railroaders working for the Alabama Port Authority, but it can also take place in production shops, when bargaining first contracts with newly organized contractors, and beyond. Rather than bargain in good faith, employers will try to exploit our differences — whether it’s seniority, what language we’re most comfortable speaking, pay differences in previous contracts, you name it — to try to break our unity and win an agreement that doesn’t give members what they deserve.
SMART-TD Local 598 members in Alabama refused to be divided based on previously existing pay structures, winning a strong agreement that benefited everyone. And that’s the example every single one of us should follow: on the job, at the bargaining table and in everyday life.
Because brothers and sisters, I believe we are facing constant attempts to divide us — and to conquer our union.
The truth is, when we bargain collectively, we are a pain in the ass for the rich, the powerful, the greedy corporations of the world. Why? Because together, we are stronger. Together, we win contracts that allow our families not just to get by, but to thrive. Together, we achieve real political victories, like the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person crew rule. Together, we force the hand of transit companies, working to get real change on our buses and passenger trains, not just lip service.
The rich and powerful — the one percent — they don’t like that. Because enough is never enough for them. They need more wealth, more shares, more profit. And so they work overtime to try to destroy our movement.
The ways they try to do that take many forms, including the recently passed spending bill in the United States, which will drive up our health care costs, cancel construction projects and take from our neighbors who are struggling to get by, all while benefiting the richest people in the country. But the playbook they rely on the most is, you guessed it, divide and conquer.
These people will do everything they can, using all their money and influence, to try to make us afraid of each other. They want us to be scared of our neighbors, our fellow workers — hell, even our SMART brothers and sisters — based on all kinds of arbitrary categories. Race, gender, what we believe in, where we were born, etc. We’re all familiar with it.
And of course, we do have differences.
But it doesn’t matter who you voted for, what language you speak best, what you like to do in your free time. We all have so much more in common with each other than we ever will with the billionaires who dominate our news feeds.
Our solidarity is our power, brothers and sisters. And in the fight for our jobs, our families and our future, it’s OUR power, our unity, that matters the most.
As your union brother, I urge all of us to keep sticking together as we move forward.
In solidarity,
SMART General President Michael Coleman
Brothers and sisters, we are in a fight for what matters. And what matters is not abstract. It’s not party politics, slogans or cable news. What matters is our way of life — where every working person has dignity, respect, and the pay and benefits we need to take care of our families.
That’s why we fight: for good jobs, for fairness, for the basic right to bargain collectively. And that’s why those who profit from our labor want to weaken us. Because they know that when SMART members stand united, we have power: the power to win contracts, protect safety and build stability for our families.
I didn’t grow up in a family with union benefits. My parents did not have the security of a union pension waiting at the finish line. When I joined this union, I didn’t just find a paycheck — I found stability. A future. A way to look my wife and kids in the eye and say: We’re going to be okay.
That’s what SMART gave me. And I know many of you have stories like mine — stories of how our union lifted you and your family up. No matter where we came from, whether we work in a shop, a rail yard, a bus depot, installing wall cladding systems, roofing, or in production shops across North America, we share this truth: Alone we beg. Together we bargain. Together, we build a better life.
What’s under attack today isn’t just our contracts or wages — it’s our unity. There are groups whose only goal is to steer power away from working people. They try to take what makes us strong — our ability to stand together as one — and weaken it by turning our differences into divisions.
We see these ideas baked into efforts like Project 2025, or advanced by groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council and The Fraser Institute. Their mission is clear: weaken labor, divide workers and tilt the balance of power even further away from those who build and service our countries, to those who pillage the fruit of our labor.
And let’s be honest — sometimes, it works. For those of us who get up early every day to provide for our families, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking: look what they got, look what they took. It’s easier to blame someone’s race, gender, origin, age or faith than to face the harder truth: There is a strategy at play to get us to look at each other as the enemy, instead of as brothers and sisters.
That division doesn’t ease the pain we’re feeling — it amplifies it. And the more we believe those distractions are the cause of our struggles, the more power we give to those who benefit from our division.
We are the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation workers of North America. Diverse in background and craft, but united in family — our union family. Our diversity is not a weakness; it is our strength. The skills we bring, the perspectives we carry, and the experiences that shape us all come together to make this union stronger, smarter and more resilient. And when our union is strong — when we can provide for our families and build stability at home — we create stronger communities and stronger countries.
This isn’t about left or right. It’s about right and wrong. And the fight ahead will take all of us, pulling in the same direction.
I believe in us. I believe in our solidarity. And I know that as long as we remain focused and united, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
In solidarity,
John Daniel
SMART General Secretary Treasurer
Brothers and sisters,
It has been a busy and challenging end to the summer for our union and our members.
When Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced their intent to merge, your leadership team and I had immediate and significant concerns. We knew what such a change could mean for the men and women we represent. The first question on every member’s mind was the most important one: “Will my job survive this merger?”
We did not stay silent. We went on the offensive, making it clear to the press, to regulators and to both railroads that SMART-TD was opposed to this merger because of what it could mean for our members. Very quickly, our union became the face of the opposition.
And because of that effort, Union Pacific’s CEO and management team came to us. They sat down across the table and heard our concerns directly. Out of those hard conversations, something remarkable happened. On September 22, we announced through a joint press release that Union Pacific signed a written agreement with SMART-TD guaranteeing that no UP or NS members represented by our union will face furlough for the entirety of their careers. We secured a binding agreement protecting our UP and NS brothers and sisters, ultimately guaranteeing “Jobs For Life!”
This is historic. In an era when corporate profits are prioritized over working people, SMART-TD won a binding guarantee that brings peace of mind to thousands of families. If and when this merger is approved by the Surface Transportation Board, our UP and NS members will know with certainty that their careers are built on steady ground, for as long as they choose to work.
But our work doesn’t end with railroads. In recent months, our Bus Department has also been leading from the front. Several bus locals ratified strong agreements that not only delivered meaningful wage increases but also secured vital protections for the future. Thanks to the aggressive negotiating by our vice presidents and general chairpersons, new agreements have begun to include clauses preventing management from replacing our members with autonomous, self-driving buses. These victories don’t just raise today’s paychecks. They give our brothers and sisters in public transit peace of mind knowing their careers and talents aren’t going to be sacrificed in the name of Silicon Valley “progress.”
While we were making history at the bargaining table, we were also making our voices heard in Washington. In July, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Unfortunately, rail labor was left behind. While the bill granted a tax break on overtime pay for workers across the country, that same break did not apply to railroaders. We had worked tirelessly to amend the bill and close that gap, but the amendment never made it to the Senate floor. On the day of its passage, our National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity vowed: “This is not over.”
He meant it. Less than 50 days later, Brother Cassity and his team delivered on that promise. House Resolution 5475 — the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act — was introduced in Congress. Not only did SMART-TD succeed in getting this bill introduced, but before it even saw its first committee hearing, it had already gained bipartisan support. Democrats and Republicans alike are signing on as co-sponsors, and momentum is building fast.
I can’t stand here today and promise that this bill will become law. But I can promise you this: When our members get left behind, SMART-TD does not make excuses. We work until we find solutions.
Brothers and sisters, these are not easy times. But every day, through negotiations, legislation and leadership, our members are proving what it means to be SMART-TD. When a fight breaks out, and you see SMART-TD running, you can bet your ass that we’re chasing somebody. We aren’t leaving the scene until our members come out on top.
Together, we will continue to ensure that our members have security in their careers, protections in their contracts and a voice in the decisions that shape their lives.
That’s what it means to be in SMART-TD.
In solidarity,
Jeremy R. Ferguson
President, Transportation Division
As we settle into the fall, I’d like to take a moment to look back on what was an incredibly busy and productive summer for our Canadian locals. From participation in cross-border conferences and key gatherings here in Canada to important preparations for upcoming project implementations, this summer showcased the development and strength of our union.
We kicked off the summer with a strong presence at the Canadian Convention in Toronto and the SMART Leadership Conference in New York. In New York, we delivered Canadian-specific breakout sessions, which gave our members a platform to explore new resources, discuss innovative recruitment strategies and address unique challenges and opportunities facing our locals from coast to coast.
The momentum continued in Chicago, where over 300 Canadian Building Trades delegates participated in the Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference. The energy and solidarity were truly inspiring, and a testament to the growing strength of tradeswomen across Canada. Events like this not only celebrate how far we’ve come, but also empower SMART members to expand their involvement, grow their networks, step into leadership roles and establish women’s committees within their locals.
Back at home, the Ontario Conference met in Windsor to celebrate recent victories in organizing efforts and to prepare for the next wave of megaprojects set to shape the province’s future. It was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish through unity and the value of strong partnerships with federal and provincial governments to advance key projects and worker priorities. As part of the conference, a SMART Army event brought members out for a local community clean-up. This was another meaningful opportunity for our members to give back to our communities.
Most recently, I had the privilege of joining the Canadian Building Trades Executive Board for a significant announcement with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The prime minister officially launched the Major Projects Office, a new initiative designed to fast-track critical infrastructure and energy projects across the country. This office aims to cut approval timelines to under two years, an important step in supporting a growing and evolving Canada.
Five transformative projects have already been greenlit, representing more than $60 billion in investment and creating thousands of jobs, including opportunities for SMART members across Canada.
We are also excited to celebrate a major milestone on the East Coast — Local 409 in Halifax will mark its 80th anniversary since being chartered. We are incredibly proud of Local 409 for its accomplishments, including growing and diversifying the local’s workforce. Congratulations to all current and past members on this incredible achievement.
Moving forward, there are many promising initiatives underway, and we will continue to work closely with the federal government, provincial governments and our locals as they complete and prepare for more green infrastructure and other nation-building projects that will be vital to Canada’s future.
Thank you to everyone who made this summer such a success. As always, we remain committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and forward-thinking union across Canada.
In solidarity,
Jack Wall
Director of Canadian Affairs
Members of the SMART Women’s, BE4ALL and RISE Committees met on Sunday, August 3, ahead of the 2025 SMART Leadership Conference — bringing members together from across North America to discuss the committees’ individual and collective efforts to strengthen our union.
Spanning a variety of goals and focus areas, from recruitment and retention to internal organizing, members of the three committees spent the day building solidarity, networking, reviewing the activities of each individual committee and offering feedback to ensure each committee’s work is as effective as possible.
“We’re not scared,” said Local 85 (Atlanta) President and BE4ALL Committee member Jan Chappell. “We want everybody to be in the trade.”
The Women’s Committee and BE4ALL (Belonging and Excellence for All) Committee reported on their internal subcommittees’ work. Women’s Committee subcommittees included those focused on parental support and helping local union women’s committees, while BE4ALL members presented on the committee’s culture change work, partnerships with local nonprofit and community groups to help recruit and retain members, the Rapid Response Protocol and beyond.
The RISE (Representation, Integrity, Support, Empowerment) Committee, meanwhile, reported on its nascent RISE Spaces program, a resume-development webinar and an ongoing RISE cookbook effort.
General President Michael Coleman and General Secretary-Treasurer John Daniel also stopped by the meeting, speaking to members about the International’s commitment to strengthening our union through the three committees’ work.
“I want to thank all of you for all the work that you’re doing, and I know it’s not easy,” said General President Coleman. “I can’t say how much I appreciate what you’ve done for your groups, and for our organization.”
He continued: “I’m committed, John’s committed and this organization is committed to doing better. … I’m proud of you, and I just want you to know that you have 110% of our support in what you do.”
General Secretary-Treasurer Daniel added: “Everything General President Coleman said, he’s not just saying that because we’re in this room. My role is to implement General President Coleman’s strategies and his clear-eyed vision: North is North. Make sure we support ALL members.”
General President Coleman and General Secretary- Treasurer Daniel also fielded questions from attendees about topics including the July BE4ALL Town Hall in Cleveland, how SMART can support locals with recruitment, retention and data, dealing with political developments that negatively impact members, and beyond.
SMART General President Michael Coleman has published a number of videos in recent months — aiming to cut through the noise of corporate media and partisan influencers, and to make sure SMART members are informed about the issues affecting their jobs, their futures and their families.
In an August video, General President Coleman briefly discussed the California high-speed rail project. The Department of Transportation pulled $4 billion from the project — funds that were already committed.
“I believe they’re playing politics with our members’ jobs,” Coleman said.
“This project is covered by a project labor agreement and has already created over 15,000 jobs, many of which are building trades jobs, and it’s going to create even more jobs in the future, and these are jobs for SMART members,” he added. “The California High-Speed Rail Authority also has an agreement with SMART to cover SMART railroaders. And these jobs are covered by the Railway Labor Act, the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.”
“This project is not only an investment for our members now, but for our members in the future,” Coleman concluded. “This administration should stand with our members and recommit to this project.”
Watch the full video here.
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) provides resources to protect union sheet metal workers on the job, at union halls and at training centers across the United States and Canada. SMOHIT provided automatic external defibrillators (AED) and bleed kits to all locations five years ago, and continues to help members become certified in CPR.
Providing naloxone is no different.
Every SMART union hall and training center is eligible to receive one cabinet with four boxes, or eight doses, of naloxone, a synthetic, potent antagonist for opioid drugs, including morphine and fentanyl. Boxes contain detailed, illustrated instructions on how to administer the drug in case of suspected overdose, which is as easy as spraying the dose inside the patient’s nose. The metal cabinets, offered to sheet metal union halls and training facilities as a member benefit, are not alarmed and are meant to be hung in highly visible areas, said Jeff Bradley, SMOHIT program administrator.
“We wanted to make it accessible to as many people as possible,” he said. “If they run out, they can always order more from us at no direct cost.”
Once hung on the wall at a training center or union hall, the cabinet’s doses are available for whoever needs them, whether the suspected overdose occurs inside a union building or elsewhere. Members can take a box if they’re concerned about a family member or take one to keep at the jobsite. If an opioid drug is in the medicine cabinet at their house, they should have naloxone on hand. Senior citizens are often prescribed naloxone in addition to any opioid medication in case of accidental overdose. With children, even teens, in the home, naloxone is a good thing to have on hand in case the unthinkable happens.
Opioid overdose can happen to anyone who is taking the medication or who purchases any kind of medication from anywhere other than a licensed pharmacy, including social media and the internet. Workers who share medications or teenagers who buy anxiety medications from social media ads are all at risk — because counterfeit opioids look just like the real thing, said Chris Carlough, SMART director of wellness and mental health support.
“The cabinets and doses were purchased to help members save lives, inside and outside of union buildings,” Bradley added. “An overdose can happen to anyone, anywhere, and it’s good to be prepared no matter the circumstances.”
Construction workers build their careers in dangerous situations. Even with every safety measure in place, injuries happen, and when they do, 55% of injured construction workers receive a prescription opioid to manage the pain. Of those injured workers, 29% received two or more opioid prescriptions, according to a study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute.
The risk of overdose is a present danger, and that danger differs across populations and industries. Although the rate of overdose deaths in the United States decreased almost 27% from 2023 to 2024, union construction workers are 10 times more likely to develop an opioid use disorder if given a long-term prescription, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The primary reason we’ve experienced a significant drop in opioid overdoses has been the presence of naloxone, so it’s vital we make sure it is visible and available throughout our industry,” Carlough said.