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On New Year’s Day, the United Transportation Union (UTU) will be under new leadership when the organization becomes part of a newly merged union.

Yesterday, UTU members elected Malcolm “Mike” Futhey Jr. president and Arty Martin, assistant president of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers, which will begin operating Jan. 1. Current UTU International President Paul Thompson and Assistant President Rick Marceau previously announced plans to retire on Dec. 31.

The UTU is merging with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association to form SMART, which will include a transportation division that will represent UTU’s current rail, air and bus industry members. Mike Sullivan, general president of the sheet metal workers’ union, will serve as SMART’s general president.

In addition, UTU members elected Kim Thompson as general secretary and treasurer to succeed Dan Johnson, who is retiring Sept. 1. Thompson will assume the same position for SMART’s transportation division on Jan. 1.

Later this week at UTU’s national conference in Hollywood, Fla., members will elect a national legislative director, international vice presidents, alternates, executive board and board of appeals members, and a combined Canadian vice president/legislative director

During yesterday’s elections in Hollywood, delegates also sustained the executive board’s decision to deny appeals of former UTU-Canada general chairpersons and vice general chairpersons. The chairmen were suspended earlier this year shortly after UTU-Canada launched a strike against Canadian National Railway Co. because UTU International determined they violated an article in the union’s constitution that requires formal action by an international general committee prior to launching a strike.