Sheet Metal News
National Apprenticeship Week spotlight: Zenobia Clark
The SMART Women’s Committee is highlighting female apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024. That includes third-year Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) apprentice Zenobia Clark, who says she loves her current job “because I can show my daughter my daily grit and endurance.”
National Apprenticeship Week spotlight: Areesa Willie
Each year during National Apprenticeship Week, SMART highlights the life-changing power of a union apprenticeship — from stellar pay and benefits to lifelong solidarity and fulfilling career paths. As part of the SMART Women’s Committee’s National Apprenticeship Week spotlight series, Local 17 (Boston, Mass.) sister Areesa Willie, a fourth-year apprentice, talks about how much she enjoys learning new things in the sheet metal trade (and getting paid to do it).
National Apprenticeship Week spotlight: Lily May Gibson
The SMART Women’s Committee is highlighting female apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024. And in St. Louis, second-year apprentice Lily May Gibson is getting her career off to a strong start, founding the first Local 36 Women’s Committee and doing her part to bring more sisters into our trade.
SMART launches “Be Excellent” challenge; members encouraged to share stories of solidarity
As union sheet metal workers, SMART members practice excellence every day in our craft. Now, as part of the I Got Your Back campaign, we are challenging members to Be Excellent. The Be Excellent challenge asks SMART members to incorporate small but important practices into their routines to build camaraderie with each other and reinforce union solidarity.
Local 5 members build beds for Tennessee kids
The SMART Army showed out in force for kids in need in Bradley County, Tennessee, last October: Local 5 members partnered with the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, building 30 beds for children forced to sleep without them.
SMART statement on 2024 U.S. presidential election results
No matter what happens after January 2025, know this: SMART will continue to fight tirelessly on behalf of members and their families. As SMART General President Michael Coleman said in the leadup to Election Day: “We must remember that, at the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters. As long as we have each other’s back, we will continue our forward march to secure the rights and dignity of all working people.”
SMART military member profile: Chris James, Local 265
During the month of November, SMART is spotlighting our military members and veterans: celebrating their service and showcasing their journeys into the trade. Read Local 265 member and instructor Chris James' story of solidarity and service.
Local 24 hosts SMART MAP training to support member mental health
SMART Local 24 in Dayton, Ohio, recently hosted the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) for a three-day SMART MAP training led by Field Representative Ed Robison. The event focused on mental health awareness and peer training for union members and signatory contractors.