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.
SMART News Episode 7 Watch the new episode of SMART News, featuring on the ground reporting from the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, more information on new benefits and incentives for sheet metal travelers, a dispatch from a town hall regarding school construction in Prince George’s County, and much more. SMART News is a monthly video/web show that highlights news impacting SMART industries, members and jobs across the United States and Canada.
2022 GEC Actions At the 2009 General Convention, a Resolution was passed to publish the actions of the General Executive Council following the approval of the minutes. The GEC met by teleconference on January 12th, 2022, and in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 2nd, 2022, and San Francisco, California, on August 3-5, 2022, and the minutes of those meetings were approved by the GEC. In addition, the GEC took actions by mail ballot throughout the year, which are listed at the end of the meeting motions.
Talking-SMART Podcast: New Incentives for Sheet Metal Travelers SMART released the latest episode of the Talking SMART podcast on February 23, featuring a discussion with SMART Director of Organizing Darrell Roberts, Local 265 President/Business Manager and SMART 11th General Vice President John Daniel and SASMI Executive Director Ken Colombo about new travel benefits and incentives available to sheet metal members.
New Job Bank Opportunities New positions are available for members interested in traveling in places as far reaching as Alabama, Colorado and Wisconsin. Please check each week as openings are added frequently.
SMART Renews Call For Rail Industry Changes After Ohio Derailment SMART is calling for an end to the business practice of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR).
Bipartisan Coalition Sets Sights on PSR A bipartisan coalition of United States Senators are seeking to get to the root of PSR. In the wake of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on Feb. 3, there are many questions being asked about what caused the disaster and what is being done to prevent it from happening again.
SMART Local Union Directory An updated SMART directory of local unions for February.
BE4ALL Voices: Amanda Filpo Filpo, a member of Local 28 (New York City) and the BE4ALL Committee, talks about her role as a deputy foreman and how BE4ALL strives to give every SMART member a voice. “As a woman, I’ve been able to grow in my career, and I think women in the past weren’t given those opportunities. Being in this position, to be a part of a committee like this, I hope that I can open those doors for women to come after me.”
BE4ALL Menstrual Product Bathroom Kits Many JATCs do not have menstrual products available at their training facilities. Having free menstrual products available for apprentices not only creates a more welcoming environment, but it also improves affected apprentices’ ability to focus and be productive while in training.
As part of the BE4ALL initiative, General President Sellers and SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger jointly sent a letter to the JATC Co-Chairs and JATC Coordinators asking them to install BE4ALL Bathroom Kits in their training center. The ITI will be shipping each training center a BE4ALL kit, which will include 28 tampons, 12 pads, disposal bags, a box to hold these products, specs for JATCs to fabricate their own product dispenser if desired (which are available by Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/trcivqur54uf83x/AAAkv3oXFX5yY6-vN1FPL-yQa?dl=0), and a sticker to place on any fabricated dispenser. We ask that all JATCs immediately place these kits in either the gender-neutral or women’s bathroom. If the bathroom does not have sufficient counterspace, we ask the JATC to place the kit on either a stool or small table, or to install a shelf to hold the kit.
BE4ALL Spring I Got Your Back Challenge: The BE4ALL Committee launched the spring 2023 I Got Your Back challenge on February 1, 2023. The challenge, designed to inspire new connections across the unionized sheet metal industry, offers participants the chance to win a $100 gift card and a golden hardhat. To enter, members must 1. Make a new connection with a coworker. 2. Share a photo of that new connection to social media with a brief caption describing the interaction. 3. Use the hashtag #BE4ALL23 in the caption. The deadline to enter is March 31, 2023. Winners will be announced in April.