Category: Members Journal
Deyette elected general vice president
In December 2023, 30-plus-year sheet metal worker Lance Deyette was elected a general vice president on the SMART General Executive Council. Deyette is a graduate of Bates Technical College and started his apprenticeship with SM Local 66 (Seattle, Washington) in 1988. Deyette [...]
Sheet metal leaders work to secure a unionized future at Partners in Progress 2024
The Partners in Progress 2024 conference brought sheet metal and signatory management leaders to Orlando, Florida, from February 27–28. With a conference theme of “The Future Is Now,” labor and management representatives came together to focus on seizing this moment of opport [...]
SMART Rail, Mechanical and Engineering (RME) Department updates
From local union visits to new member organizing, the SMART RME Department is actively working to strengthen and grow our union. Read updates on the department’s recent activities: SMART RME International representatives visit local unions SMART RME International Representati [...]
SMART members help pro-union candidate Tom Suozzi win special election
On February 13, 2024, Tom Suozzi won a special election to represent New York’s Third Congressional District following former Representative George Santos’ expulsion from the House of Representatives. Suozzi’s victory resulted in no small part from the mobilization and voting [...]
56-year Local 80 member stays active with DAD’s Day event
Donald Ratzel, a proud Local 80 (Detroit, Michigan) member of 56 years, continues to stay active in his local union: attending union meetings, supporting his brothers and sisters and participating in Local 80’s annual Dollars Against Diabetes (DAD’s) Day events. DAD’s Day is [...]
Vietnamese-speaking organizer, shop stewards help Local 85 achieve success in Ga.
In Georgia, so-called “right-to-work” laws make it hard for unions to organize and retain members, particularly when language barriers in the workplace already present challenges. Despite such obstacles, though, SMART Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) has made big inroads at Price Indu [...]
Newly organized Local 20 members discuss the union difference
By Local 20 Organizer Bradly Hayes With organizing efforts in Indiana still at an all-time high, Local 20 recently participated in our first-ever organizing blitz to staff the Stellantis battery plant megaproject in Kokomo, Indiana. Thanks to the participation of Local 20 sta [...]
SMART Education Department holds Organizing I class
The SMART Education Department held its Organizing I class in Dallas, Texas, during the week of February 12th. The three-day class covered topics including the history of organizing, basic labor and labour law, top-down and bottom-up organizing, pressure tactics, digital orga [...]