Dan Pickett, international president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, gave the UTU-SMWIA merger creating SMART his unqualified and ringing endorsement in the November issue of his union's monthly magazine.

Here is what Pickett, president of the signalmen since 1992, told his members:

"Our changing global economy has weakened labor laws. American corporations are determined to silence the voices of workers. As the U.S. economy is squeezed by global changes, workers must unite and refocus strategy to protect the American dream. Workers MUST fight back.

"The UTU and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association have done just that by joining together to create the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers. This merged union preserves both unions' autonomy, increases collective bargaining power and creates an organization poised to make changes for workers and their families, improving their members' standards of living.

"The new combined SMART organization creates a stronger organization than either union was individually, and I commend UTU members for voting for a more diversified organization. I have always believed that carefully crafted union mergers benefit members by providing improved services and power.

"These unions clearly understand that by consolidating, they gain the strength needed to deal with employers. The UTU and the SMWIA have gained a stronger voice by becoming SMART, and will continue the fight for workers and retirees, today and tomorrow."