At a time when organized labor faces mounting challenges across North America, leaders of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) gathered in New York City Monday to open their annual Leadership Conference with a message of resolve: “Fighting for What Matters…Our Members.”
“Our solidarity does not have borders. We are all in this fight together,” SMART General President Michael Coleman declared before hundreds of local union officers hailing from industries as diverse as railroads, construction, and sign installation. “It’s one fight, all fight. So let’s fight for what matters. Our members.”
The conference, which drew SMART representatives from the United States and Canada, centered on the union’s core mission amid what Coleman described as “constant attacks aimed at dividing us.” He warned that “anti-labor” forces are attempting to undermine union solidarity through “scare tactics and divisive policies,” from railroaders facing grueling schedules to sheet metal workers battling job insecurity and rising costs.
“Brothers and sisters, people are scared,” he said. “It feels like those basics – dignity, security, meaning – have slipped to page two of people’s priority list.”
Coleman also addressed the union’s ongoing legal fight for due process in the case of member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, emphasizing SMART’s commitment to defending every member’s rights, from shop floors to bus garages. He cited a recent op-ed by business magnate Steve Forbes, who accused SMART’s Transportation Division of “buying” a two-person crew rule, as evidence of the hostility unions face from the powerful.
“People like Steve Forbes can’t imagine a world where working people have any power,” Coleman said.
Despite these challenges, Coleman expressed optimism rooted in union solidarity and the leadership development on display at the conference. “This gathering of labor leaders…that’s what this moment demands,” he concluded.
Other SMART leaders echoed the theme. General Secretary-Treasurer John Daniel urged officers to lead with empathy and vigilance, noting that members want answers to a simple question: “Can I take care of my family?” Daniel stressed that union leadership must “refuse comfort and instead continuously listen and lead.”
Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson called for courage in the face of proposed rail mergers and other threats to union jobs and safety. “Our leadership must mirror the fight our members display – and stand just as strong,” Ferguson said.
Local leaders from New York underscored the city’s historical connection to labor battles. Anthony Simon, representing SMART’s General Committee of Adjustment 505, praised the resilience of New York’s railroaders. Eric Meslin of Local 28 and Anthony Fotiadis of Local 137 pointed to the essential work of sheet metal and sign workers, vowing to organize harder and strengthen the union for future generations.
Industry allies such as North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey and SMACNA President Tom Martin rallied officers to fight for labor-friendly policies and new project opportunities, even as more than $17 billion in North American infrastructure projects have been cancelled in the first half of 2025 alone.
Breakout sessions and reports from SMART’s education and health funds rounded out the day, with a focus on practical training, mental health resources, and legal support for members.
As the conference continues, SMART officers say they are preparing for the battles yet to come – and that unity will be their greatest weapon.
“This conference isn’t just another event, it’s a launchpad,” said Fotiadis. “We’ll leave here ready to build more, organize harder, and make a stronger union for our members – and for working people across our continent.”