Tom Perez, a senior White House adviser and director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, spent March 22, 2024 with Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, highlighting local initiatives funded through the American Rescue Plan Act — including a county pre-apprenticeship program to promote apprenticeships and careers in the trades. As part of the day’s itinerary, SMART Local 312 (Salt Lake City, Utah) hosted a meeting with Perez and Wilson at the local’s JATC in West Valley City, where members are training up-and-coming sheet metal workers.
Salt Lake County’s pre-apprenticeship program is funded by $2.8 million from the American Rescue Plan, with the goal of helping 240 aspiring tradespeople become Utah’s next generation of union workers and build the future of our country
That bright future was on full display at the Local 312 JATC, as Perez and Wilson toured the training center and witnessed apprentices working on layout and project fabrication. Perez met with several members of Local 312, including Apprenticeship Coordinator Gordon Hyde, as well as Matt Brumbaugh and Derek Chapman, the JATC’s two fulltime instructors. Together, Hyde, Brumbaugh and Chapman have 64 years of teaching experience at the local, elevating it to the platinum status it has today.
Perez said he was proud of Wilson and other local leaders for investing in local workers.
“The most precious resource we have in any community is our human capital,” Perez said, telling the apprentices: “You are not only entering a great profession, but … a profession that has a brotherhood and a sisterhood that will always have your back.”
The meeting was attended by Local 312 Business Manager Tony Ericksen; Utah Women in the Trades President Concetta Defa; leaders from IBEW Local 354 and Iron Workers Local 27; and other members of the state AFL-CIO and the local building trades.
As part of the United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) Youth Apprenticeship Week in May, SMART Local 67’s Amber Oliver was named an Apprentice Trailblazer — one of just two DOL Apprentice Trailblazers in Texas, and the only sheet metal Apprentice Trailblazer in the country.
Pictured from left to right, back row: Bill Kenyon, SMART SWGCRC president; Mark Garcia, SWGCRC organizer; James May, Jr., SWGCRC Local 67 regional manager; Eddie Gonzalez, SWGCRC financial secretary-treasurer; Ralph Gomez, SWGCRC Local 67 organizer. Front row: Amber’s mother, Jessica Mayorga; DOL Trailblazer Amber Oliver; Amber’s father, Manual Oliver.
Oliver was recognized during a May 2 event at the Local 67 training center in Austin, where SMART Southwest Gulf Coast Regional Council (SWGCRC) and Local 67 leaders, the Texas AFL-CIO and others honored Oliver and her family.
The DOL’s Apprenticeship Trailblazer program has a dual goal: honoring pioneering apprentices, and enlisting those apprentices to expand awareness of, support for and enrollment in registered apprenticeship programs.
As a trailblazer, Oliver — per the DOL’s criteria — was lauded for demonstrating “exemplary leadership, mentoring, teamwork, promotional activities, and/or [having] a transformative story as an apprentice.”
Moving forward, she will partner with DOL and apprenticeship ambassadors to promote registered apprenticeships, bring more people into apprenticeships — particularly women, people of color and workers from other underrepresented communities — devise strategies to expand and modernize apprenticeship programs, and much more. Not only will this help Oliver develop a wide array of relationships with fellow workers and leaders in South Texas; it also has the potential to aid the local’s efforts to boost its union workforce.
Congratulations, sister, on this remarkable achievement!
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are on the rise, making up an ever-growing portion of the HVAC market share in the United States. And in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Local 49 is taking proactive steps to ensure VRF work is performed by SMART members.
On April 16, 2024, the local welcomed representatives from Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) to its JATC to open the first-ever METUS VRF lab in the U.S.
METUS representatives joined Local 49 members and SMART leaders to officially open its new VRF lab.
“This collaboration between the Local 49 JATC, Trane and Mitsubishi showcases cutting-edge VRF technology and provides hands-on training for apprentices and industry professionals,” explained Local 49 Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Isaiah Zemke. “Our curriculum is tailored to the latest advancements in VRF technology, ensuring industry relevance.”
VRF HVAC systems offer sophisticated, energy efficient heating and cooling by using a single outdoor condensing unit to provide hot and cool air through indoor units, utilizing heat pumps or heat recovery systems. With a greater national emphasis being placed on such environmentally beneficial and cost-effective technologies for commercial and multi-family residential buildings, the demand for VRF expertise will only continue to grow – and as of today, the only METUS VRF lab in America is in the Local 49 JATC. (Importantly, Zemke noted, METUS is New Mexico’s exclusive vendor for all the state’s air moving equipment.)
Not only does that ensure Local 49’s apprentices have the skills needed to take on VRF work in New Mexico — the lab can also function as a de facto organizing tool, bringing nonunion workers in need of training to the one place where they are guaranteed to witness, without any interference, the union difference.
“It’s going to be the future of heating and air conditioning,” said Local 49 member Miguel Lopez of Butler Sheet Metal, who led apprentices in helping build the lab.
The journey to the April 16th ribbon-cutting had an unexpected origin. Local 49 President Chuck Lees is an avid fly fisherman. As it turns out, so is Trane Sales Representative Larry Anderson. Years ago, through their shared love of fly fishing, the two men forged a relationship that led to collaborations on testing and balancing work — and, some time later, the idea of a VRF lab. Thanks to the friendship between Lees, Anderson, Zemke and the rest of the local, labor and the manufacturer swiftly established a partnership, and METUS signed a memorandum of understanding with Local 49 for the JATC’s innovative new lab.
“Basically, Mitsubishi supplies all the VRF equipment and will replace it with any new, updated equipment,” Zemke explained. “Our obligation on the training side is to make sure that we install it and put in all the controls.”
For Local 49 members, the VRF lab couldn’t have come at a better time. The state of New Mexico is applying for a variety of grants to perform work related to lowering emissions and building a green economy. One example of that work: constructing and retrofitting multi-family housing. Thanks to its in-house VRF training, Local 49 anticipates being able to take on those jobs from start to finish.
“For low-income housing, they would do an assessment of the windows, the roof, the HVAC system,” Zemke explained. “So, it will be our testing and balancing contractors that can go do that assessment. And then we would have our contractors go and install these Mitsubishi split VRF systems.”
The new lab demonstrates how vital it is for labor unions to be active and forward-thinking when it comes to training, organizing and collaborating with management-side partners. Zemke views it as an example of “organizing the work” that will benefit all the entities involved.
“When all the parties come together — the training center, the labor union, the contractors — we can build great things together,” he concluded. “And that’s basically what we’ve done with this.”
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 fourth-year project.
“We encourage creativity at the training centre, and in fourth year, apprentices traditionally build a generic tin man as a group project,” said Jake Leblanc, head instructor at SMWTC. “Most groups customize their tin man and pick a theme — we have had Batman, a golfer, a German guy with lederhosen, Bender the Robot, a devil Bender the Robot, Santa Claus and many more.”
In his third year, Colin Nam made the character Bender from Futurama, so in fourth year, instructor Matt Brown approached him with a challenge: one-up the Bender project. After brainstorming a few ideas, the two decided an R2-D2 replica model would be very challenging but possible.
Nam assembled a crew. He called on classmates Troy Martins, Ethan Picano-Nyberg, Mitch Guillermo and Aaron Arnal to help fabricate and assemble the pieces of this complex puzzle.
But first, there was research to be done. Nam joined a forum dedicated to building replica R2-D2 models, where he found the correct sizes and proportions. He used these to make AutoCAD drawings of R2-D2 and started to dissect how to fabricate and assemble each piece.
“Next, I created detailed layout drawings of the pieces required for each part,” he said. “I gave these drawings to the rest of the crew to start shearing, braking and forming.”
Ethan and Mitch — chosen for their high attention to detail and fast hand layout skills — sheared and formed most of the pieces.
“They came out extremely well, which made it easy for Aaron to weld them together,” Nam said. “Aaron was fast and efficient, and I felt like our team was able to cooperate well together with this assembly line. We all spent extra time after class and some time during our lunch breaks to complete this project.”
While most of the pieces are similar to HVAC fittings, thus fairly simple to make, the head was an entirely different matter. It took a few hours in AutoCAD to figure out how the team was going to make the shallow dome.
“I decided on 12 tapered pie pieces that we would roll up to make them meet in the middle,” Nam said. “I’ll be honest — I had no idea if it was going to work.”
He sent the DXF file from AutoCAD to Mitch, who, luckily, was able to cut the pieces on a laser table at his shop. “I don’t think we would have been able to do it as accurately if we had to cut these by hand,” Nam recalled. “And it saved us a whole day’s work.”
Troy, the most experienced with rolling pipe and pieces to match precise measurements and diameters, had the daunting task of rolling up the pie pieces for the head. Each piece had to be rolled perfectly, the same way, to the right diameter. “Because they taper, we had to reduce the tension of the rolls near the tip of each piece,” Nam explained. “This means changing the rolls for each piece and replicating the process precisely. Troy did an excellent job with it.”
Originally intended for static display, R2-D2 soon became much more. Nam wanted to try adding lights, sounds and moving parts, so he added three extra components that would later lead to a bigger challenge than expected.
In the quest to make R2-D2’s head spin, Nam discovered that a “Lazy Susan” bearing would be the perfect size to fit the body’s diameter. In AutoCAD, he designed an 18” diameter ring that had a smaller gear on the inside with matching teeth.
“This was intended for a small motor to be mounted to the inside of the body,” Nam said. “The small gear would be attached to the motor and the ring would sit on the Lazy Susan and spin the head as the gear turns.”
Nam started to model parts after school on his home 3D printer. While most of R2-D2 is made from aluminum, these parts added some intricate details that would otherwise be impossible to make within the given timeframe. On the forum, he found soundboard ideas, basic wiring diagrams and a lighting kit, which he ordered.
These were the most challenging parts of the build, since the team had no experience with wiring motors, motor controllers or soundboards. R2-D2 is powered by a 12V drill battery connected to an Arduino, which is the motherboard and “brains” that transmit data from a button input to a soundboard, motor and speaker.
“I have never coded before, but I had to learn how in order to connect all these devices together,” Nam said. “By the time we got to this stage, I had four days to learn how to code and get all the motors and sounds synced up.”
After spending 8–12 hours over three days after school, Nam managed to bring R2-D2 to life. “Press a button and the signal tells the motor to spin a certain direction for a specific amount of time while playing a sound,” Nam said. “There are six available sounds and each one does something a little bit different.”
R2-D2 is basically split up into four main sections: head, body and two legs. After each section was welded and the 3D printed parts were attached, the team managed to finally put it all together on the last available day they had in the shop, which was on the weekend outside of regular school hours.
“While I was working on the design and moving parts, I fully trusted in the guys to get all the pieces fabricated properly,” Nam noted. “Everyone I chose to help with this project had a specific role, which helped us work together efficiently.”
Currently, R2-D2 is at the training centre on display. Nam plans to take R2-D2 home for an upgrade that will include motors and wheels in the feet and remote operation capabilities.
“I will eventually bring it back to the school so people can play around with it,” Nam said. “The long-term future for R2-D2 is unknown, but for now our team has decided that the intention is to inspire other students to make cool projects.”
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems are on the rise, making up an ever-growing portion of the HVAC market share in the United States. And in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Local 49 is taking proactive steps to ensure VRF work is performed by SMART members.
On April 16, 2024, the local welcomed representatives from Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS) to its JATC to open the first-ever METUS VRF lab in the U.S.
METUS representatives joined Local 49 members and SMART leaders to officially open its new VRF lab.
“This collaboration between the Local 49 JATC, Trane and Mitsubishi showcases cutting-edge VRF technology and provides hands-on training for apprentices and industry professionals,” explained Local 49 Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Isaiah Zemke. “Our curriculum is tailored to the latest advancements in VRF technology, ensuring industry relevance.”
VRF HVAC systems offer sophisticated, energy efficient heating and cooling by using a single outdoor condensing unit to provide hot and cool air through indoor units, utilizing heat pumps or heat recovery systems. With a greater national emphasis being placed on such environmentally beneficial and cost-effective technologies for commercial and multi-family residential buildings, the demand for VRF expertise will only continue to grow – and as of today, the only METUS VRF lab in America is in the Local 49 JATC. (Importantly, Zemke noted, METUS is New Mexico’s exclusive vendor for all the state’s air moving equipment.)
Not only does that ensure Local 49’s apprentices have the skills needed to take on VRF work in New Mexico — the lab can also function as a de facto organizing tool, bringing nonunion workers in need of training to the one place where they are guaranteed to witness, without any interference, the union difference.
“It’s going to be the future of heating and air conditioning,” said Local 49 member Miguel Lopez of Butler Sheet Metal, who led apprentices in helping build the lab.
The journey to the April 16th ribbon-cutting had an unexpected origin. Local 49 President Chuck Lees is an avid fly fisherman. As it turns out, so is Trane Sales Representative Larry Anderson. Years ago, through their shared love of fly fishing, the two men forged a relationship that led to collaborations on testing and balancing work — and, some time later, the idea of a VRF lab. Thanks to the friendship between Lees, Anderson, Zemke and the rest of the local, labor and the manufacturer swiftly established a partnership, and METUS signed a memorandum of understanding with Local 49 for the JATC’s innovative new lab.
“Basically, Mitsubishi supplies all the VRF equipment and will replace it with any new, updated equipment,” Zemke explained. “Our obligation on the training side is to make sure that we install it and put in all the controls.”
For Local 49 members, the VRF lab couldn’t have come at a better time. The state of New Mexico is applying for a variety of grants to perform work related to lowering emissions and building a green economy. One example of that work: constructing and retrofitting multi-family housing. Thanks to its in-house VRF training, Local 49 anticipates being able to take on those jobs from start to finish.
“For low-income housing, they would do an assessment of the windows, the roof, the HVAC system,” Zemke explained. “So, it will be our testing and balancing contractors that can go do that assessment. And then we would have our contractors go and install these Mitsubishi split VRF systems.”
The new lab demonstrates how vital it is for labor unions to be active and forward-thinking when it comes to training, organizing and collaborating with management-side partners. Zemke views it as an example of “organizing the work” that will benefit all the entities involved.
“When all the parties come together — the training center, the labor union, the contractors — we can build great things together,” he concluded. “And that’s basically what we’ve done with this.”
On February 13, SM Local 104 (Northern California) hosted the California Republican Legislative Caucus at its Sacramento training facility, where the local provided a guided tour during an active training session, presented on the contractor-union partnership, and apprentice Anthony Gutierrez told the story of how his Local 104 membership changed his life. The local hopes to collaborate with the caucus to create opportunities for union members and working-class families in California moving forward, demonstrating SMART’s commitment to working with any union-friendly politicians to benefit members — regardless of party affiliation.
Kacey Grierson, third-year apprentice, Local 206 (San Diego, Calif.)
“Joining the apprenticeship was life changing. It offered me a career with several different opportunities for growth.”
Alejandro Moreno, fifth-year apprentice, Local 206
“Thank you to sheet metal and my Local 206 members. Sheet metal has given me a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment and joy. I am forever grateful to my teachers, mentors, foremen and every single person that has helped me grow and learn in the industry.”
Monty Stovall, recent graduate, Local 5 (East Tennessee)
“Going through the apprenticeship school helps you realize: ‘The amount of effort and work that I put into the program is what I’m going to get out of the program.’ Completing the program makes you feel proud that you have accomplished your goal. My goal is to be able to better provide for my family.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship thus far, and I hope that the SMART Heroes program can continue to grow to bring more service men and women into the trade.”
Connor Tiernan, first-year apprentice, Local 17 (Boston, Mass.)
Connor started his career with a nonunion contractor and notices that with the union, people care more. Connor enjoys working with his hands but is also pursuing a degree in business management at Southern New Hampshire University. He has hopes of owning a company one day. When asked what advice he would give to other apprentices, Connor said: “This is a ridiculous opportunity! Push through!”
Jason Medeiros, first-year apprentice, Local 17
Jason previously worked for a residential nonunion contractor and says that with the union, the level of expectation is higher. Jason is a proud son to Portuguese immigrant parents and loves that he is able to provide for a family of three. He has hopes of becoming a foreman one day. When asked what advice he would give to other apprentices, Jason said: “Don’t let the bad days get you down, never say never, and Barry Ryan [his instructor] is the man.”
Stephen Halstead, first-year apprentice, Local 66 (Seattle, Wash.)
“I have never felt like I had a career until I joined the sheet metal apprenticeship. It has given me a purpose, a plan and a future.”
Stacy Ironside, second-year apprentice, Local 18 (Wisconsin)
“I am in the career and the trade that I was meant to be in.”
Roselyn Soto, second-year apprentice, Local 105 (Los Angeles, Calif.)
“I just started my career, so I am focused on putting in all the effort, dedication, and hard work to journey out and master my trade.”
From September 12–14, during the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers’ and Roofers’ Conference, apprentices from nine different local unions gathered in Peterborough, Ontario, for the 50th annual Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Competition. The challenge? Building copper replicas of the iconic Peterborough Lift Lock.
“It’s a great opportunity to get some new skills and meet some new people, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Local 537 (Hamilton, Ontario) apprentice Mackenzie Johnston.
Along with the conference and apprenticeship competition, SMART Army Canada was out in force: Dozens of members took to the streets for a cleanup of the Otonabee River and nearby Millennium Park, helping preserve Canada’s natural beauty and public spaces for the local community.
APPRENTICESHIP COMPETITION WINNERS:
First place: Kevin Berkmortel, Local 473 (London, Ontario)
Second place: Jamie Weir, Local 30 (Toronto, Ontario)
Third place: Aaron Woolley, Local 397 (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Fourth place: Jacob Wiebe, Local 235 (Windsor, Ontario)
Fifth place: Austin Ducedre, Local 235 (Windsor, Ontario)
Congeniality award: Antonio Iezzi, Local 30 (Toronto, Ontario)
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) hosted the Mikva Challenge’s annual “Democracy is a Verb!” celebratory reception on Sunday, April 23 in Washington, DC. During the reception, Mikva Challenge — whose mission is “to develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society” — honored former SMART General President Joe Sellers with the organization’s Legacy Award, recognizing his contributions to and support for the program and local communities.
Sean McGarvey, president of NABTU, introduced Sellers. “Joe is very involved in apprenticeship and training, since back at Local 19. Some of the progressive programs he put together at SMART have been fantastic.” He added that Sellers “is like a steady rock. He’s always there. He’s always there with you. He’s been there for SMART members, and he extended that to groups like Mikva.”
Sellers then took the stage, telling Mikva Challenge: “Your civic engagement is unmatched, and the issues you’re working on are vitally important to not only your neighborhood but our country. Listening to what you do enthused me to make a difference in the way you’re making a difference.”
Founded in 1998, the Mikva Challenge began as a small pilot program with an all-volunteer staff in four Chicago schools; 23 years later, Mikva has grown to serve over 17 states, 3,200 teachers and 135,000 students annually. According to the organization’s website, Mikva has spent the last two decades developing an education model based on the principles that: 1. Youth voice matters; 2. Youth are experts on the issues that affect them; 3. Our communities and schools are stronger when youth leaders are involved in all aspects of civic life.
“I am impressed with how you create goals and you follow those goals with action plans,” Sellers remarked to reception attendees. “And there is nothing that gets me more jazzed up than action plans!”
The Mikva Challenge provides schools with strategies and tools to engage young people in high quality, student-centered learning about the democratic process — an objective that aligns with the way SMART provides state-of-the-art training to apprentices while encouraging members to engage with their local union. Mikva’s programs are designed to develop social and emotional skills, critical thinking, communication and collaboration. The organization also focuses on improving school and community culture while enhancing teacher effectiveness through inquiry-driven, project-based study, creating opportunities for engaging in democracy.
Sellers concluded his remarks by addressing Mikva students.
“Make sure you understand about our apprenticeship programs,” he said. “Our goals are aligned with yours, and with an apprenticeship you can go back and harness your power as a union member to amplify your voice.”
WATCH: “I am very excited about the big jobs that are coming up. We have many opportunities that they offer for those who are willing to work, work hard and learn new skills.”
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) hosted an event titled “Meeting the Moment” on Thursday, March 30 in Columbus, Ohio. The event, part of NABTU’s Opportunity Pipeline series, featured NABTU President Sean McGarvey, SMART Local 24 (southern Ohio) member McKenzie Quinn, representatives from the Ohio governor’s office, state politicians from both sides of the aisle, local union workers and more, all talking about one thing: $200 billion worth of megaprojects breaking ground in Ohio.
“Join us in rebuilding America and join us in establishing your place in the middle class,” McGarvey said at the event, addressing the union tradespeople of the future. “… We look forward to building this together as a team, as a community for the benefit of all in our country.”
As a result of massive investment and new megaprojects from companies like Intel, Honda and more – spurred in part by federal legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act – the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council estimates that more than 115,000 union workers will work full time from 2023 to 2025. That enormous number of jobs opens a huge window of opportunity for SMART sheet metal workers, both current and future members.
McKenzie Quinn (front row, second from right) with the leadership of Local 24.
“In Columbus right now, we have a lot of exciting upcoming projects,” Local 24 journeyperson Quinn said. “We have chip factories, data centers, electric vehicle battery plants, and this is going to bring hundreds of good-paying jobs in the next few years.”
That not only means family-sustaining jobs for Ohio SMART members – it creates a golden opportunity for local unions to recruit, organize and grow their market share.
“We need to do our best to continue recruiting people from every background,” Quinn noted. “This opportunity is available to everyone.”
Megaprojects, union apprenticeship programs create opportunity for all
Multiple speakers at Thursday’s event testified to the power of a union apprenticeship when it comes to lifting workers up, no matter their background or identity. Year after year, the statistics demonstrate that unions reduce economic disparity for women, people of color and other members of historically marginalized communities. By taking advantage of megaprojects and bringing more workers into the unionized trade, SMART locals can do more than fortify their strength – they can create real opportunity for all.
“Joining a union has given me safety and security in my job and safety from discrimination, not only with wages but also gender-based discrimination,” Quinn said. “This is a great chance for everybody, including women and minorities, to get into the trades and have a great career.”
