Sheet Metal News
Trailblazing production apprenticeship strengthens Local 16 in Oregon
Production workers in Oregon will soon have a pathway to better training and more job opportunities thanks to Local 16’s new state-registered production apprenticeship program.
Cancelled Cleveland-Cliffs project leads to lost jobs for Dayton-area construction workers
Cleveland-Cliffs, a steel manufacturer, reportedly cancelled a $500 million project in Middletown, Ohio, in June 2025 — leading to a loss in work hours for union sheet metal workers in the area.
2025 spending bill will cut jobs, drive up costs for SMART members nationwide
The "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Congress in early July includes massive cuts to clean energy tax credits, Medicaid and more that will negatively impact SMART members' work opportunities and health care coverage.
NIH funding cuts contribute to lost work hours for San Diego sheet metal workers
New policies around federal funding are hitting home for sheet metal workers in San Diego, where cuts to funding from the National Institutes of Health led to the pausing of two huge construction projects and dozens of sheet metal workers losing out on pending jobs.
Local 9 wins work-creating law for members in Colorado
Following a veto of similar legislation in 2024, SMART Local 9 worked to win a law that will put Colorado sheet metal members to work on HVAC in public schools.
Local 100 members build new pavilions for scouts in Whiteford, Md.
Volunteers from SMART Local 100 took just four days to build two brand-new pavilions for Broad Creek Memorial Scouting Reservation in Whiteford, Md.
General President Coleman’s statement on White House budget office encouraging the use of project labor agreements
On June 12, the White House budget office encouraged federal agencies to use project labor agreements on construction jobs. The guidance includes potential exceptions to avoid the use of PLAs and does not require PLAs on projects over $35 million. “These major energy projects were creating jobs for SMART members and American construction workers. Now, after the Department of Energy’s announcement, those jobs have been taken away,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman. “That’s bad for our members, our families and our country. We’re urging the Department of Energy to reverse this decision and put American workers back on the job.”
General President Coleman’s statement on the Department of Energy canceling $3.7 billion in funding awards for energy projects
The Department of Energy recently canceled $3.7 billion in awards for various energy projects, including a project in Mitchell, Indiana, that had employed Local 20 sheet metal workers. “These major energy projects were creating jobs for SMART members and American construction workers. Now, after the Department of Energy’s announcement, those jobs have been taken away,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman. “That’s bad for our members, our families and our country. We’re urging the Department of Energy to reverse this decision and put American workers back on the job.”