The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) held its third general convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, from August 12 to 16, 2024.
Delegates from across North America gathered to elect new leadership, hear from influential speakers, and chart a course for the union amidst unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
One of the convention’s most significant moments came when delegates overwhelmingly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. SMART General President Joe Nigro praised Harris as a champion of transportation workers and the labor movement.
“Her unwavering commitment to fighting for workers’ rights, improving our infrastructure, and addressing climate change aligns with the values and priorities of SMART members,” Nigro said. Harris addressed the convention before the endorsement vote, emphasizing her dedication to transportation workers and the broader labor movement.
Leadership Reelected by Acclamation
On Wednesday, delegates reelected Michael Coleman as SMART general president and John Daniel as general secretary-treasurer, both by acclamation. Coleman and Daniel were joined by SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson, who was reelected on the convention’s first day. The newly elected officers will begin their terms on October 1, 2024.
“I nominate a person I respect, a person who puts the advancement of SMART before himself,” said SMART General President Emeritus Joseph Sellers Jr., whose nomination was seconded by delegates from across the SMART sheet metal and transportation Divisions.
Daniel thanked his home local, Local 265, and gave his sincere thanks to the many union members and leaders — retired officers, current members and beyond – who molded the man he is today. He also declared his unwavering commitment to serving every member, in every craft, in every industry that our union represents. Reiterating a recurring convention theme, he vowed to fight on members’ behalf to grow and strengthen SMART and the labor movement.
“Together, we are unstoppable,” he concluded. “Let us build a union that stands for every member.”
Like Coleman, Ferguson concluded his remarks by thanking convention delegates. “The greatest honor I have is to give a thank you to each and every one of you delegates. Thank you for your dedication and your love of this union.”
SMART General President Emeritus Sellers swore in the newly elected officers as well.
Pete Buttigieg Visits SMART Convention
The convention featured a series of impactful guest speakers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the delegates, thanking them for their work on infrastructure projects enabled by the Biden-Harris administration’s historic investments. Buttigieg emphasized the administration’s commitment to creating good-paying jobs and supporting domestic manufacturing.
“You are shaping a future that your kids will be proud of. And we are building it together,” Buttigieg said. “With unions like SMART leading the way, there is no going back. You are closing the gap between what America is now and what America can be.”
Sean McGarvey, president of North America’s Building Trades Unions, also spoke to the delegates. McGarvey highlighted the significant progress made by SMART and other unions in recent years but emphasized that the work was far from over.
“We are on the cusp of an Infrastructure Decade,” McGarvey said. “You helped us get here, and we need you more than ever between now and November to prevent a hostile administration from taking away all of the gains we made.”
Nevada Congresswoman Susie Lee, a pro-union legislator, pledged her continued partnership with SMART. Lee emphasized the personal nature of her fight for worker protections, citing her upbringing in a steel town. “When I fight for worker protections, for PLAs, for pensions, for worker safety, for two-person train crews, let me tell you — it’s personal to me,” Lee said.
Throughout the convention, delegates heard reports from various committees and SMART department directors, providing updates on the state of the union and its ongoing work. The delegates also discussed and voted on proposed resolutions aimed at securing SMART’s collective future.
The convention underscored the power of solidarity within SMART and the broader labor movement. As SMART General President Michael Coleman said, “Together, we are unstoppable. Let us build a union that stands for every member.”
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