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Union brother and volunteer firefighter Chris Brick (Local 316, Clinton, Iowa) was responding to an emergency call when he was ejected from his side-by-side, resulting in severe injuries to his face and head that have left him hospitalized.

Currently intubated in the ICU at the University of Iowa Hospital, Brick is stable, awake, and using a pen and paper to communicate with those around him. His jaw needs to be wired shut, and he is expected to undergo several surgeries to address his injuries.

With Christmas just two weeks away and the exact length of his hospitalization unknown due to his injuries, Brother Brick’s family needs our help until he can return to work.

Chris Brick Recovery Fund ► 
 
Known for his sharp sense of humor and willingness to help anyone in need, Brother Brick is used to answer the call when others need help. Now it’s our turn to do the same for him and his family.

During this season of giving and generosity, please consider contributing to our union brother if you are able to do so.

At the close of business on Friday (seemingly when they hoped no one would notice) the FRA quietly approved a rule change that cuts required human track inspections in half. For the crews running 20,000-ton trains across this country, that isn’t a small tweak. It’s a direct increase in our risk.  

Reducing visual inspections from twice a week to once not only doubles the time dangerous defects can go unnoticed. As SMART News explained in July, automated inspection technology catches only a fraction of what trained human inspectors look for. 

SMART-TD opposed this waiver from day one because it doubles the risk for workers, communities, and the national rail network, while padding corporate operating ratios. Over the weekend, National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity laid out exactly why this ruling is dangerous, what’s motivating it, and what it means for every engineer, conductor, signal maintainer, track worker, and the public we protect.  

Before you climb up on your next train, take a moment to read Brother Cassity’s full statement. Your safety may well depend on understanding what has just changed.

Jared Cassity Response to FRA ATI Ruling PDFDownload

December 4, 2025—After years of tireless work led by SMART-TD, private transit workers in Massachusetts were granted the same protection from violent assaults as their public counterparts when Governor Maura Healey signed the MBTA Employee Assault Bill (H. 4645) into law.

Keolis, a private contractor within the state, employs over 500 SMART-TD members as conductors, engineers, and onboard crews. The new law imposes a penalty of up to 120 days in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine for an assault on a transit employee. The law also adds “bodily fluids” to the definition of an assault, which imposes a strong disincentive for passengers assaulting operators with their spit or urine.    

“I’m grateful to all of our brothers and sisters who never stopped showing up and sent a message to our lawmakers that it’s time to get this done,” said SMART-TD’s New England Safety & Legislative Director Dave Stevenson. “This victory belongs to the men and women who keep Boston and the Commonwealth moving!” 

Mass. Latest in SMART-TD Project to Protect Workers Nationwide 

As transit workers across the country continue to face the daily threat of violent assaults, this legislation represents an important step forward in the fight to ensure that the punishment for attacking these frontline employees literally fits the crime. 

Yesterday’s bill signing marks the fourth state where SMART-TD has passed transit safety legislation this year. Members in Maryland, Colorado, and California successfully guided transit safety bills to passage in their respective statehouses. 

If SMART-TD’s interim Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety (BTAPS) Committee Chairperson Cole Czub has anything to say about it, Massachusetts won’t be the last. 

“Safety on the job is and will always be our union’s top priority,” explained Czub. “As I’ve said before, we want to put together one bill that we can push forward to all the states as we’re going along, trying to get more states to pass, and hopefully a federal bill that will protect our members.”

Holding a BTAPS decal, Governor Healey is flanked by Cole Czub and Dave Stevenson at the bill’s signing.

A SMART-TD member known for dropping everything to help a friend or co-worker in need faces a growing pile of bills after a devastating, on-the-job injury.  

His fellow members are asking those who are financially able to contribute to a GoFundMe that’s been set up to help cover the Gomez family’s living expenses and alleviate some of their financial burden. 
 
Raul Gomez Recovery Fund ► 

In March of 2024, Brother Raul Gomez (Local 18, El Paso, TX) was working as a conductor for Union Pacific when a life-changing accident cost him not only his leg but also the ability to do the job that he loved.  
 
Over the past year and a half, Brother Gomez and his family have bravely navigated their new reality while dealing with an unending stream of challenging surgeries and painful rehabilitation.  
 
Between bills and everyday living expenses for his family, it’s been difficult for Brother Gomez to make ends meet, especially with the extended loss of income.  
 
His road to recovery is long, but any contribution or simply sharing this information ensures that he won’t have to face this daunting journey alone.  
 
Railroaders take care of railroaders—let’s show Brother Gomez the same support and solidarity that he’s known for showing both his union family and the community. 

As we enter the holiday season and gather with our loved ones, remember the new education benefit available to you as a member and your immediate family.  The benefit is available to most of the people that you’ll see at your Thanksgiving table this week, including your spouse, your kids…or even that son-in-law who lives in your basement! 
 
Announced in June, the Union College Benefit provides discounted tuition at accredited colleges and universities across the country for more than 150 programs. 

A complete list of courses and participating colleges and universities can be found on the SMART-TD EBS website ►

Many SMART-TD Members Have Enrolled

Since its official launch over the summer, many SMART-TD members and their families have taken advantage of the tuition discounts.

Over 130 of our brothers and sisters have signed up for the Union College Benefit, including nearly 90 union members, 43 family members, and 14 members who are military veterans.

Associates and Bachelor’s Degrees are the most popular choices. Master’s and doctorate programs are also available for those with an undergraduate degree.

The Union College Benefit provides a flexible option to study without a fixed schedule. Students can achieve their educational goals on their own terms, at a pace that fits within their valuable and often limited free time.   

How to Get Started

Ready to reach your higher education goals?  
 
To get started on the next step in your education journey, follow these three steps:  

  • Select a matching college or university that aligns with your experience, goals, and interests  
  • An admissions counselor will reach out with detailed, specific information, including your out-of-pocket costs, transfer credits, and instructions on completing the admissions process  

Visit the Union College Benefit website to learn more or to get started.  ►

Disclaimer: Participation in the Union College Benefit program is entirely voluntary. This communication is for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement of Employee Benefit Systems, Inc. (EBS) or of any particular college or program offered through this benefit. Members are encouraged to conduct their own research and due diligence to determine whether a particular institution or program aligns with their individual educational and professional goals. 

Many public officials like having unions around to better understand the real-world issues affecting working families, but New Jersey Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill wants us around when it’s time to form public policy. 

Sherrill has appointed SMART-TD New Jersey/Delaware Safety and Legislative Director Ron Sabol to her transition team. She knows that the strength of our union lies in the hands, minds, and experience of the men and women moving freight, passengers, and communities safely across New Jersey.  

Sabol Ready to “Deliver,” Help Address Transportation Challenges Large and Small 

Team meetings are set to begin as early as next week. These working sessions will ensure that Sherrill and her administration are on the right track for a successful four years. Their agenda covers everything from the expansion of rail and bus routes throughout the state to the seemingly mundane but vital details like ensuring that the state has sufficient road salt reserves to keep highways safe through the winter. 

“It’s going to be intense, but I take it seriously. I’m doing this because it’s a chance to serve the residents of New Jersey, but especially our SMART-TD members,” Sabol reflected. “The time commitment is significant, but it means our members have a say in the direction of the state’s transportation policy. It also means that the state benefits from our collective knowledge and experience. It is a win-win situation, and it’s absolutely worth it.” 

Sabol’s commitment underscores what Governor-Elect Sherrill’s approach represents: a vision of government that works for all people, including those in organized labor.  

SMART-TD Earned Respect and Influence 

Even as SMART-TD works to advance several bills before the New Jersey Legislature, including what stands to become the most comprehensive rail-safety legislation in the nation, Sabol’s appointment adds another dimension to our influence and advocacy. 

“The structure of the Department of Transportation over the next four years will determine the livelihood and quality of life of our members. Freight crews, commuter rail and transit operators, bus and mass-transit professionals alike,” Sabol said. “I’m honored to have a seat at the table to make sure our people are set up for success. 

“I want to thank Governor-Elect Sherrill personally for the confidence she’s placed in me and for the value she places on the professionalism and the overall contribution of our membership. SMART-TD isn’t just another stakeholder. We’re the backbone of New Jersey’s transportation system.” 

A Shared Honor for All SMART-TD Members 

This appointment is an honor shared by all of us. Sabol’s appointment is evidence that when labor is at the table, good policy follows.

SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Director Jared Cassity praised Sabol’s selection, saying:

“Brother Sabol’s appointment is a well-deserved recognition of years of hard work, dedication, and leadership. Ron has consistently gone above and beyond for our members, advocating tirelessly for their safety and livelihoods. His commitment and perseverance have earned him, and by extension, all SMART-TD members, this seat at the table. We congratulate him on this achievement and know he’ll represent our organization and the working men and women of New Jersey with integrity and passion.”

Congratulations, Brother Sabol. Your brothers and sisters are proud of your efforts, and we can’t wait to see New Jersey continue to be a national leader in transportation!

Ron Sabol has been a member of Local 1447 (Newark, N.J.) since April 2000, was elected local president in 2005 and became State Legislative Director in 2016. He also serves as a Vice-President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, Secretary-Treasurer of the Mercer County Central Labor Council, President of the New Jersey Society for Environmental and Economic Development, and as a member of the Mercer County Advisory Council on Special Transportation. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2025 —UPPER DARBY, PA

In the midst of a string of very public funding and service issues, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has offered the members of SMART-TD Local 1594 (Upper Darby, PA) an insulting contract proposal. Their offer is a disgrace to the men and women who keep the agency moving.

This is the second year running that SEPTA employees have been forced to demand an agreement that reflects the professionalism and knowledge they bring to the table.

“[This offer] is a slap in my members’ faces and an embarrassment, plain and simple,” said SMART-TD Alternate Vice President Bus-East and General Chairperson Anthony Petty.

Among the many egregious proposals being put forth, SEPTA is proposing changes to its policies surrounding FMLA medical leave and earned time off.

This allows SEPTA to avoid coming back to the bargaining table to negotiate the amount of leave SMART-TD members are guaranteed.

SEPTA is also proposing a cap of two emergency days per year, an increase in co-pays for both emergency room and office visits and doubling prescription co-pays while restricting all prescriptions to generic medications.

Health care and leave time aren’t the only issues under attack. 

SEPTA’s proposed agreement also seemingly plays “favorites” with employees that the company likes by stripping away furloughed workers’ earned seniority.

AVP Petty points out that this runs counter to what’s been included in all previous agreements and leaves SMART-TD members with a deep sense of unease.

“Seniority is crucial in our line of work, and it’s something that our union fights for every year” explained VP Petty. “If they chip away at the meaning of our seniority dates, then we’re simply at the company’s mercy. Losing the ability to predict and get the work that’s rightfully ours turns everything on its head and guarantees that the ‘teacher’s pets’ get special treatment.’”

The proposed changes would give SEPTA the authority to call back whoever they want, whenever they want, and to whichever craft they want.

This means that a new low-seniority employee who is well-liked by management could be brought back first and be assigned to whichever department SEPTA chooses, despite the availability of more experienced workers.

Noticeably absent from the proposal are any general wage increases (GWI) despite the cost of living continuing to skyrocket. SEPTA claims that raises aren’t in the budget, partially due to a federal mandate to inspect and outfit the Silverliner IV rail cars that have been catching on fire with thermal protection circuits. This is a serious safety issue that SEPTA chose to ignore until they couldn’t. Their employees are now being asked to pay the price.

“They failed to plan, or address the safety issues pointed out by their employees, and now they want SMART-TD brothers and sisters to take it on the chin to justify their business model,” said AVP Petty. “Our trolley operators are dealing with the exact same issue [deferred maintenance], and it’s only a matter of time before they start having similar issues as the Silverliner.”

SMART-TD calls on SEPTA to stop playing games, negotiate in good faith, and put forth an agreement that our members deserve; not a half-baked attempt at a contract that is insulting and blatantly one-sided.  

###

For more information, please contact:

Dan Banks
dbanks@smart-union.org 
(216) 227-5283 (Office) 
(330) 322-5949 (Cell) 

Alyssa Hansen
alyssa.hansen@smart-union.org
 
 

Philadelphia, PA – Over the weekend, the members of the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 234 voted to authorize a strike against the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). This comes as the union remains locked in negotiations over key issues such as wage increases, health care, leave time, and seniority.

A possible strike would cause massive travel disruptions across the Philadelphia area as the agency deals with very public funding and service issues that have been felt deeply across the Commonwealth.

SMART-TD Alternate Vice President Bus-East and General Chairperson Anthony Petty, who represents SMART-TD members who work for SEPTA made it clear: TWU’s fight is also our fight.

“We stand with our brothers and sisters at TWU Local 234,” said AVP Petty. “Our negotiations may be separate, but the endgame is the same. Any contract proposal must reflect the professionalism, and skill that our members bring to the job and the invaluable service that they provide to Philadelphians.”  

SMART-TD is still negotiating with SEPTA, and our agreement does not expire until November 18.  No job action can be taken by SMART-TD members until the appropriate processes are completed.  

However, if you are confronted with a picket line or similar activity, Section 92 of Article 21-B in the SMART constitution states the following:

“When a strike of any other nationally recognized labor organization is in effect and danger to the safety of our members exists in or about  the area affected by the strike, and/or if there exists any substantial present or potential threat of danger to the members en route to or from their work, and/or to the members’ families, it is the policy of  SMART to support its members in declining to enter the territory directly affected.” 

If you feel your safety is at risk due to the actions of a striking union, you should notify your supervisor immediately and document your concerns. Once you are in a secure location, ask your local union officers for further guidance.  

Impact of a strike on commuters 

As negotiations continue, commuters are advised to stay informed about the situation. If the TWU decides to strike, SEPTA could face significant operational disruptions, affecting bus, trolley, and regional rail services across the city. SMART-TD and the leadership team at Local 1594 will keep you informed.  

SMART-TD members are well-known for bringing a little extra cheer to the holiday season, and Local 427 (McComb, Mississippi) is turning that tradition into a friendly competition this year. SMART-TD conductors are competing with engineers from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to see who can donate the most bikes to Toys for Tots in Jackson, MS.

The goal is to reach 150-200 bikes between both unions, meaning that it’s a race to roughly 70 bikes each.

What awaits the winner? A giant trophy, bragging rights, and the knowledge that they’ve made a difference in their local community.

The contest kicks off today (Friday, November 14) and ends December 15th.

Anyone can donate a bike on behalf of SMART-TD, simply ship one to 427’s union hall:

SMART-TD Local 427 
553 Ross Neal Road 
Pelahatchie MS 39145

If the bike is not pre-assembled, please order it now so that the local has time to put it together once it arrives.

“200’s a big goal, but I think we can do this,” said Local 427 Secretary & Treasurer Keith Morris. “We’ve amped it up to make it something that we can be proud of and impact our local community.” Any SMART-TD member or local across the country may donate a bike.

Brother Octavius Thurman (Local 427) pitched the idea to his fellow members who loved it and were committed to making it a reality. Local 427 is a regular participant in Toys for Tots and helped over 21,000 local families last year, according to Brother Morris.

“It’s an honor to try to do something to help out,” he said. “We’re all blessed with our paychecks from the railroad, and we think we’ll have some good participation.”