July 4, 2024: Message from General President Coleman

Brothers, sisters and friends,

On behalf of myself and the SMART General Executive Council, I would like to wish you all a very Happy 4th of July. No matter where you are or how you celebrate, I hope you can all take the time to relax with family and friends and enjoy the well-earned fruits of your labor.

Independence Day is more than just the birth of our nation: it is a celebration of the principles that define us. And within SMART and the labor movement, the founding ideas of our nation are the same as the values ​​we hold dear. Freedom, democracy, solidarity with our fellow workers, whoever they are, whatever their beliefs, whatever their background.

In our union, whether you work on the railroad, in transit, as a sheet metal worker, in manufacturing, or elsewhere, we live these values ​​every day. When sheet metal workers build the battery plants that power our union’s future, they’re serving our country’s next generation. When production workers build commercial HVAC units for hospitals, office buildings, and schools, they’re helping keep our nation’s families safe. When railroaders move freight across the country, they’re literally keeping our economy moving. And when our bus and transit workers welcome passengers aboard, they’re making sure their fellow Americans get where they need to go: work, school, home, and more.

I am very proud to be your trade union brother. You are the ones who build, advance and maintain our nation. And in the future, we all have an additional role to play in ensuring the future of our country.

It’s no secret that the last few years have been extraordinarily eventful for SMART. Legislation passed since 2021 is starting to impact our industries, resulting in huge projects in Arizona, Kentucky, Tennessee, Idaho and beyond. Our railroaders just won a massive victory with the Federal Railroad Administration’s recently announced two-person crew regulations. And pro-union federal appointees have implemented policies that benefit our union, including updating prevailing wage regulations.

On this Independence Day, as you reflect on the progress we’ve made, I hope you’ll join me in committing to the progress ahead. Let’s organize. Let’s welcome new members to our union. Let’s vote for pro-union lawmakers in November. And let’s continue to come together in strong solidarity to win the wages, benefits, and protections we all deserve.

I would like to conclude by paying tribute to the generations of Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedoms and preserve our independence. Your courage will never be forgotten.

Once again, Happy 4th of July – stay safe and enjoy the holidays.