The purpose of this newsletter is to keep leaders informed of news and events of importance to SMART leaders at every level of the organization. Below are items included in this month’s version of the Loop. Please respond with any news items or suggestions for future editions of the Loop.
Sheet Metal Infrastructure IAQ Resources The bipartisan infrastructure law is a historic opportunity to create jobs for SMART members. Most of the funding isn’t something SMART can apply for directly. In many cases, the federal government will grant the funding to states and localities and they will then decide how the money is allocated. It is important to start having conversations with your state and local decision makers right away to ensure SMART has a seat at the table and is helping decide how this funding is allocated so it results in jobs for SMART members. In the link above presentation slides and material.
- Infrastructure presentation slides: provides an overview of infrastructure funding and step-by-step guide to chase the work.
- Infrastructure funding summary: provides a breakdown of infrastructure funding that could result in jobs for SMART members. Includes key dates and eligible applicants.
- Infrastructure talking points: suggested points to use when talking to state and local decision makers about how to partner on infrastructure funding.
- Overview of Sheet Metal JATCS: A factsheet you can use to share with state and local decision makers that provides an overview of our registered apprenticeship programs.
- Ventilation verification training slides: Provides an overview of ventilation verification training.
Talking-SMART: TD President Ferguson on New Hi-Viz Policy In the current episode of Talking SMART, we sit down with SMART TD President Jeremy Ferguson to talk about a subject that is foremost on the minds of many members. In February 2022, BNSF arbitrarily changed its attendance policy and took advantage of a pro-management judge to force (as of now… this episode was recorded in early March), a draconian “Hi-Viz” attendance policy upon the very members who have kept the company operational through the pandemic – and who earned BNSF record profits in 2021. President Ferguson also provides an update on contract negotiations with the national rail carriers.
Talking-SMART: Profile of Members Holding Elected Office – Joe de la Cruz (Part I) Joe de la Cruz is a 25- year sheet metal worker with SMART and vice president of Hillery Company, a signatory metal fabricator located in Groton, Conn. Brother de la Cruz is also a state senator, serving the communities of Groton and New London. He was elected in 2016 to his first term in the General Assembly, after serving on Groton’s Town Council and Representative Town Meeting.
In 2020, Joe also kickstarted a national campaign to bring metal nose strips to thousands of volunteer mask makers across the United States and Canada, at a time when masks were in critically short supply. Starting at Local 40, the effort quickly spread to SMART locals across North America, eventually resulting in over 17 million nose strips being produced and shipped to more than 27,000 people who requested them. For his leadership on this effort, Joe was honored in 2022 with the Joseph J. Nigro SMART Army Service Award.
Coordinated Bargaining Unit Rejects Lump Sum Payments: Seek Proffer of Arbitration On January 24, 2022, after more than two years of bargaining with the major U.S. Class I railroads, the 10 Rail Unions bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) announced that they had applied to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for the assignment of a federal mediator to assist in the negotiations.
Sheet Metal/ITI Technology Resources This is a contact list of manufacturers, software developers and vendors that SMART/ITI have contacted and, in most cases, developed a relationship with on specific technologies impacting our industry today and in the future. You must sign into the Members Portal to access this list. Member Portal account creation instructions
Article on Labor Assisting Self Organized Workers, Such As At Amazon and Starbucks On April 1st, a virtually unknown independent union in Staten Island became the first group of workers to unionize an Amazon warehouse in the United States, handily winning an NLRB election while beating back a typically oppressive “union avoidance” campaign in which the company spent more than $4.3 million—approximately $538 per worker.
The Amazon union victory in New York is just the latest example of an astonishing amount of self-organizing that workers are engaged in throughout the country, across numerous occupational sectors. At Starbucks, Apple Stores, and Google, as well as at breweries, media outlets, health care agencies, museums, universities, and schools, workers are embarking on major collective actions on their own, without organized labor at the helm or even in the picture.
SMART-SMACNA Joint Statement On the Clean Air In Buildings Challenge The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) applaud the efforts of the Biden Administration as they continue to innovate and press forward to ensure safe and clean air. The air we breathe within our buildings and schools must be safe for the people who live, learn and work in them. This clean air endeavor is of the upmost necessity, and we believe the administration is working to place that importance front and center with their efforts.
New Issue of SMART-SMACNA Partners In Progress Magazine The newest issue of the PINP Magazine featuring coverage of the 2022 PINP Conference in Las Vegas, NV.
My Job My Gym A dedicated web page to order My Job My Gym material. This page allows you to download pdfs and purchase promotional material for recruitment needs.
Local 105 Members Help Antelope Valley Achieve Major Milestone The Antelope Valley Transit Authority recently achieved North America’s first fully zero-emission fleet thanks to the work of SMART SM Local 105 members employed at BYD (Build Your Dreams) in Lancaster, CA.
Department of Labor Strengthens Prevailing Wages The US Department of Labor announced a notice of proposed rulemaking updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) regulations.
SMART Army Coordinators Contact Form In order to keep the flow of information accurate and ensure it reaches the correct individuals at each local, we have created this simple form for SMART Army Coordinators to add their contact information for future communications. We will begin using this list in the coming weeks for all future SMART Army Coordinator communications.
SMART Local Union Directory An updated SMART directory of local unions for April 2022.
August 2022 BA Conference Please mark your calendars for the 2022 Business Agents’ Conference.
BA/TD Regional Conference Sun. Aug. 7 – Thurs, Aug. 11, 2022FST Seminar Fri. Aug. 12 & Sat. Aug 13, 2022Hilton San Francisco Union Square333 O’Farrell StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102
Join the NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive On Saturday, May 14, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will hold its traditional Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive – its 30th and the first in-person since 2019 (due to the pandemic, NALC conducted online donor drives the last two years). Participation is simple: On May 14, pitch in by leaving a bag of nonperishable food items near your mailbox before mail collection. Your NALC labor movement sibling will handle the rest, making sure your donation is delivered to local food banks in need.