By Hallie Jennerman, Local 18 organizing director SMART Local 18 (Wisconsin) hosts COMET — Construction Organizing Membership Education Training — classes annually in January for our second-year apprentices and newly organized members. In 2024, our Organizing Department held [...]
The SMART MAP mental health sessions have been evolving since they began more than a decade ago to combat the high suicide and substance use disorder rates among construction workers. Participants in the class become SMART MAP mentors, as they learn to be mental health first [...]
For the first time in its more-than-50-year history, the International Training Institute (ITI) has hired a full-time curriculum writer on staff, Mark Colone. The Pennsylvania native comes to the ITI after a long history of working with the union training fund on curricu [...]
Joe Pickens officially joined NEMI as a field staff representative for the Midwest region on April 1. In this role, he serves as a liaison for local unions and members of SMART, helping identify solutions and opportunities in the market. The Virginia resident entered the appr [...]
Five Local 280 (Vancouver, B.C.) apprentices at the Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre (SMWTC) have mastered the Forces of creativity, problem-solving and hard work by creating a life-size, working R2-D2 model — complete with a soundboard and spinning head — for their fourt [...]
This article was originally published on WNYLaborToday.com. When it comes to giving back to the Rochester, N.Y., community, SMART Local 46 members are ready, willing and able to do what they can, when they can. In 2023, that meant giving their time and skills at the Rochester [...]
Union railroaders across Virginia came together in a proud display of solidarity and service during the SMART Army’s month of community action in April. From rallying together to fight childhood cancer to supporting local food banks and honoring area veterans, SMART-TD member [...]
Union solidarity is everlasting, and Local 19 (Philadelphia, Pa.) apprentices proved that on April 4, 2024 — installing an accessibility ramp for a retired member who recently started using a wheelchair. “It only took several hours to install, but this ramp will help the reti [...]
The artistry of union craftsmanship was on full display in New York in early 2024. Members of Local 83 performed stunning copper work at the New York State Capitol in Albany, with help from Local 40 (Connecticut), Local 17 (Boston) and Local 63 (Western Mass.). The approximat [...]
SMART Local 18 members and signatory contractors are working to spread the word about rewarding careers in the union sheet metal industry for young people across Wisconsin. Wauwatosa East High School has partnered with local mechanical contractor firms JM Brennan and TOTAL Me [...]