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Fifteen SMART signatory contractors employing over 250 sheet metal workers are currently working on Ford’s Blue Oval City project in Stanton, Tennessee. The massive automotive facility, sitting just a dozen miles outside Memphis, will be the foundation of a manufacturing ecosystem in Tennessee that will create more than 11,000 new American manufacturing jobs. There are 3,000 union construction workers currently on site, including members of SMART Local 4 in Memphis.

In May, former General President Joseph Sellers joined General President Michael Coleman for a tour of the massive project with workers at Ventcon, one of the array of unionized sheet metal contractors mobilized for this project. While there, they were able to meet with SMART sheet metal workers from a number of different firms who were employed at the project. In addition to the 250 SMART members employed at Blue Oval City, another 900 sheet metal workers are expected to be needed by September of this year.

The $5.6 billion battery and vehicle manufacturing campus will be the largest in the iconic auto manufacturer’s history, one which is built to last for the remainder of the century and will deliver millions of electric power cars to consumers across North America.

According to company press releases, Ford is investing more than $50 billion worldwide through 2026 to develop a new generation of electric vehicles. The company plans to manufacture them at scale at a run rate of 600,000 electric vehicles globally by late 2023 and 2 million by 2026. Ford, as of summer 2022, had already secured 100% of the annual battery cell capacity needed to support the 2023 target and 70% needed to support the 2026 target.

The completion of this facility is central to that goal, one that will not only affect the future of the company, but also the future of the North American auto market. SMART sheet metal workers are once again at the forefront of this industrial revolution.

Retired General President Sellers and General President Coleman visited SMART Local 4.

Blue Oval City consists of 13 buildings. The heart of the campus is the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, which will produce the next-generation Ford truck. The battery plant itself will be over 4.1 million square feet, with ductwork being installed by Ventcon. Because of the nature of the manufacturing work that will be performed at the site, humidity and climate control — and, consequently, the quality of the sheet metal worker performed — will be central to ensuring the success of operations at the facility. Outside wall panels are being installed by API, another signatory with Local 4 in Memphis.

“The future is now, and it will take every union sheet metal worker, present and future, to make sure we are at the forefront of bringing back our industrial capacity,” said General President Coleman. “I could not be any prouder of the work we are going to do to make that happen.”

If you or another member you know are interested in traveling to this massive, long-term project — along with the dozens of others across North America — be sure to visit the SMART Job Bank.

Signatory contractors working on Blue Oval City: Ventcon, FM Sylvan, HM White, Midsouth Industrial, Durr, McShane Mechanical, API, Universal Wall Systems, Christen Detroit, Schreiber, CS3, Damon-Marcus, Systematic Testing and Balancing, Ralph Jones Sheet Metal.

SMART members joined workers from dozens of unions in Philadelphia on June 17th to officially endorse President Joe Biden for reelection. Local 19 apprentice Elena Farina, who attended the Labor for Biden event, discusses how President Biden's pro-worker agenda has benefited SMART members, creating tens of thousands of jobs and improving working conditions across industries.
Philly sheet metal worker discusses Biden endorsement, pro-worker policies
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi41NkI0NEY2RDEwNTU3Q0M2

Philly sheet metal worker discusses Biden endorsement, pro-worker policies

Longtime sheet metal worker Mike Coleman assumed the position of SMART General President on June 1st, 2023. He immediately began emphasizing the extraordinary opportunities on the horizon for SMART members, including work at megaprojects like Ford’s Blue Oval City in Stanton, Tennessee.
SMART GP Coleman visits Ford Blue Oval City megaproject in Stanton, Tenn.
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi4xMkVGQjNCMUM1N0RFNEUx

SMART GP Coleman visits Ford Blue Oval City megaproject in Stanton, Tenn.

Following on last year’s national rail negotiations, SMART-TD members have gained paid sick leave benefits for train & engine workers at some of the Big Four U.S.-based carriers.
Union railroaders negotiate historic tentative agreements
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi4wMTcyMDhGQUE4NTIzM0Y5

Union railroaders negotiate historic tentative agreements

Workers, union leaders and elected officials came together during a May event at the Local 17 training center in Boston to highlight the union jobs created by ongoing infrastructure investments. SMART Northeast Regional Council Business Rep. Shamaiah Turner discussed how infrastructure funding is creating unprecedented opportunity for sheet metal workers in New England.
Union leaders, elected officials highlight infrastructure jobs in Boston
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi41MjE1MkI0OTQ2QzJGNzNG

Union leaders, elected officials highlight infrastructure jobs in Boston

Each year on June 19th, our union celebrates Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people following the end of the Civil War, and provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our country’s past, present and future. Local 33 (northern Ohio) member David Moore joined SMART News to discuss the history and importance of Juneteenth.
Ohio sheet metal worker discusses Juneteenth
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi4wOTA3OTZBNzVEMTUzOTMy

Ohio sheet metal worker discusses Juneteenth

SMART members in Minnesota mobilized throughout the 2023 legislative session, pushing elected officials to stand with working families. That hard work paid off when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation that will benefit sheet metal and Transportation Division members. In a major victory for railroaders, one of those bills mandates a two-person crew minimum on freight trains operating in the state.
Minnesota railroaders win two-person crew, passenger rail funding
YouTube Video UExFekJDRUFvTFJZcTdJXzRXSDJrT09sb2dPRXI3N0Yydi4yODlGNEE0NkRGMEEzMEQy

Minnesota railroaders win two-person crew, passenger rail funding

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SMART released the latest episode of SMART News on Thursday, July 6. Episode 10 features an interview with Local 19 apprentice Elena Farina on the Biden administration; coverage of SMART General President Mike Coleman’s visit to Ford Blue Oval City in Tennessee; an overview of SMART-TD’s recently negotiated railroad agreements, which include paid leave; infrastructure funding and jobs in Boston; and another two-person crew victory for railroaders in Minnesota.

Watch individual videos from this episode:

Farina, a second-year apprentice with Local 19, joined her fellow Philadelphia sheet metal workers and members from across organized labor for an event with President Biden in June. During her SMART News interview, she explained the impact of pro-worker policies implemented by the Biden administration, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She also emphasized the importance of voting for candidates who have materially acted in the interests of the working class.

“Vote with your pocket, you know what I’m saying,” Farina said. “Everyone has their own personal issues, but at the end of the day your livelihood is what’s going to sustain you.”

Longtime sheet metal worker and union leader Mike Coleman assumed the position of SMART general president on June 1st, 2023. He immediately began emphasizing the extraordinary opportunities on the horizon for SMART members, including work at megaprojects like Ford’s Blue Oval City in Stanton, Tennessee.

“There’s just so many things to be excited about, but what I think I’m most excited to do is answer the call for these megaprojects: getting our members on those jobs, and making sure we get every hour out of those projects,” Coleman said.

Following on last year’s national rail negotiations, SMART-TD members have gained paid sick leave benefits for train & engine workers at some of the Big Four U.S.-based carriers. SMART-TD Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity provided an overview of some of the historic agreements — both tentative and ratified — that have been made.

Workers, union leaders and elected officials came together during a May event at the Local 17 training center in Boston to highlight the union jobs created by ongoing infrastructure investments. SMART Northeast Regional Council Business Rep. Shamaiah Turner spoke with SMART News about how infrastructure funding is creating unprecedented opportunity for sheet metal workers in New England.

“The future for sheet metal workers in Boston is very bright,” she explained. “Right now we have a LOT of work … we’re out there every day, talking to people who work at open shops, we’re organizing new shops every day, and we’re organizing new journeypeople every day.”

Finally, SMART-TD Minnesota State Legislative Director Nick Katich called in to SMART News to discuss how Minnesota railroaders were able to finally secure two-person crew and passenger rail funding in the state (as well as a slew of pro-worker bills). Long story short, he explained, the victory had everything to do with putting pro-worker elected officials in office — something union members achieved when they helped the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party take control of the state house, senate and governor’s office.

Watch all episode 10 segments here.

Kentucky’s Blue Oval SK (BOSK) Battery Plant will be union-built and require the services of hundreds of SMART sheet metal workers.

In recent months, accompanying a rise in union organizing and the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, we have seen what could be the return of American manufacturing. In January 2022, Intel announced plans to build a $20 million chip hub in Ohio, while Ford recently insisted that its new electric vehicle factory in Stanton, Tenn., be entirely union-built. And that’s just the beginning of the good news for SMART sheet metal workers: To complement its EV factory, Ford will also build several new buildings in Glendale, Ky., entirely union, expanding its battery manufacturing capabilities and providing hundreds of jobs for SMART members during construction (as well as the possibility of future ongoing work).

“This is an opportunity to really build up our apprenticeship program and increase our membership.”

“This is by far the biggest project to come through Kentucky,” said SM Local 110 (Louisville, Ky.) Organizer Jeremy Waugh. “The new facilities will add over 7,000,000 total square feet of new battery manufacturing facilities and impact approximately 1,400 acres of the existing greenfield site. The scope is inclusive of, but not limited to, construction of the following project components: two new 43 gigawatt battery plants, along with their proposed ancillary facilities, as well as administration, canteens and testing facilities.”

He added that the two new mile-long battery plants will mirror one another. Ford will likely construct one of the buildings first, rather than both simultaneously, to start manufacturing more batteries right away — allowing workers to seamlessly transition from the first BOSK jobsite to the second one. That means more work hours for Local 110 members, new members and SMART journeypersons.

“This is an opportunity to really build up our apprenticeship program and increase our membership,” Waugh pointed out.

While the project has been delayed by three months, Ford will likely try to make up that time during site work — meaning SMART members could arrive at the jobsite as soon as January, with work expected to reach a consistent peak in spring or summer 2023. That means the time is now for Local 110 to ramp up recruiting and organizing efforts (and, given the amount of work on the horizon for sheet metal workers across the country due to federal infrastructure legislation, the same goes for SMART locals everywhere). Waugh explained that Local 110 plans to deploy a variety of marketing and recruiting tactics, both evergreen and specific to the BOSK project, to grow its membership, including a billboard near the jobsite, trade shows in the area and print brochures to pass out at jobsites or career fairs, and a new digital database that replicates job listings at the union hall.

“We’re open to ideas from anyone in SMART who might have some out-of-the-box recruiting ideas that they may not be able to try at their local,” he added. “We’re leaving no stone unturned, no idea will go unconsidered.”

Like Ford’s Tennessee project, BOSK is a union project in a so-called “right-to-work” state. That’s significant not only due to its potential impact on union organizing and density during construction, but also as an ongoing opportunity for local SMART members. For companies that engage in large, complex projects, Waugh said, it’s hard to return to the nonunion shop after experiencing the skill and expertise of organized labor.

“The initial need is huge, but we’re looking at the long game” he said. “We have to be successful in the beginning to reap the rewards after.”

Rendering of the concept design of the all-new $5.6 billion Ford electric vehicle mega campus in Stanton, Tenn. Image courtesy of Ford Media Center.

In new podcast episode, SMART Local 4 business manager details enormous amount of sheet metal work coming to Tenn.

A new $5.6 billion Ford Motor Company electric vehicle plant in Stanton, Tenn. will be built entirely union, creating approximately 3,000 union positions during construction, including a possible peak of 800-900 sheet metal worker jobs.

“This thing is going to be huge,” said Local 4 Business Manager John Williams during a guest appearance on America’s Work Force Union Podcast in early July. “There’s going to be a job for just about anybody on this site.”

“This thing is going to be huge. There’s going to be a job for just about anybody on this site.”

– SMART Local 4 Business Manager John Williams

Williams’ conversation with host Ed Ferenc touched on a range of topics, from the history of SMART to applying for federal indoor air quality (IAQ) grants. The most notable topic by far, though, was the upcoming construction of the Ford EV plant.

“It’s going to be a game-changer for us,” he told Ferenc. “There’s no doubt it’s going to grow the union.”

Williams is a fourth-generation SMART member whose great grandfather joined the union in 1914, working as a sheet metal worker on the railroad in Norfolk, Va. Following in his footsteps – as well as those of his grandfather and father before him – Williams serves as both the business manager and financial secretary-treasurer of Local 4, which currently has approximately 350 members. That, Williams underscores, is why this plant – along with an upcoming battery plant in Kentucky – is such a big deal for area sheet metal workers.

Listen to the full July 5 podcast episode on the
America’s Work Force Union Podcast.

The project was by no means guaranteed to move forward. Tennessee’s anti-worker, so-called “right-to-work” laws make it difficult for unions to secure such mega projects, and the state governor owns one of the largest mechanical contractors in Tennessee (a nonunion company).

“There was some fight at the state capitol,” Williams said. “[Ford] had a little bit of pushback, because our state isn’t too union friendly.” But Ford refused to compromise – and, as a result, Local 4 has the chance to employ its membership and embark on an enormous recruiting campaign. To meet the numbers needed for the project, the local hopes to dramatically increase its membership. Helping with that goal, Williams said, is the fact that Ford aims to have approximately 30% of the job site’s workforce be in training.

“We’ve been going into the schools, we’ve been hitting some of the jobsites and telling people, ‘Hey, you can get some free training here,’ ” he said, referring to SMART’s earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program and state-of-the-art training center. With the enormous amount of work coming in, he added, “It’s just a good time to get into the construction trade.”   

In addition to the Ford plant, which Williams expects to begin construction later in the year, Fenerc and Williams discussed Local 4’s efforts to take advantage of federal funds for state and local COVID-19 fiscal recovery – which would secure even more work for the membership. As part of the economic bounce-back from COVID-19, the Biden Administration has allocated funds for state and local governments, as well as other organizations, to apply for grants related to improving indoor air quality. That means local governments, schools, commercial buildings, residential complexes and more can apply for funding to upgrade ductwork and improve ventilation. This is especially important in places like nursing homes and schools, Williams said, estimating that approximately 75% of schools need retrofitting to ensure kids are breathing clean air.

“This is a big deal, because indoor air quality effects everybody. We want to make sure our children are safe. The same goes for wherever people congregate.”

– SMART Local 4 Business Manager John Williams

“This is a big deal, because indoor air quality effects everybody,” he added. “We want to make sure our children are safe. The same goes for wherever people congregate.”

Unfortunately, while the funding criteria makes clear that organizations should partner with highly skilled, expertly trained workers for IAQ improvements – i.e., SMART members – there are no prevailing wage requirements. Still, Williams said, Local 4 intends to partner with area organizations to help them apply for the grants and win the funding needed to make IAQ improvements. And while they can’t require those organizations to use union labor, they can make it abundantly clear that SMART members are the highest-qualified workers for the job.

“We definitely want our contractors in there doing the work, and we want [local organizations] to know we’re here to help them get that grant money,” he explained. “[Even without prevailing wages,] we’re still going to look out for the worker. We want to make sure that people are getting paid right, we want to make sure people get good benefits, that they get a living wage for their family.”

The Tradeswomen Heroes Awards program honors two apprentices and two journey-level workers in the United States and Canada that set an exemplary example both on and off the jobsite

In July 2022, yet another SMART sister earned recognition from North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) for her hard work and proven track record: Annet Del Rosario, a 20-year journeyworker out of SMART Local 206 (San Diego, California).  

“Her positive attitude and relentless work ethic are infectious to those around her, and I can’t think of anyone that deserves more accolades for everything she means to our local and those lucky enough to be around her,” said Local 206 in the NABTU press release announcing Annet’s NABTU Tradeswomen Heroes Award win. 

Annet joined Local 206 in March 2002, committing to the union’s five-year apprenticeship program in August 2003 and turning out as a journeyperson in 2008. Since then, she has worked in the field as well as the shop on the HVAC side; she’s also served several terms as a trustee and an e-board member, and in her current position, she is the shop foreman at Able H&A – the first female to fill each position in the local’s history. Annet’s tireless advocacy continues off the jobsite as well: She created and is president of Building Trades Sisters, an all-female union trades group in San Diego.  

“Annet is the shining example of what can be done when someone puts their mind to it,” the press release concluded. “She has always wanted to put in the work to receive the rewards.”  

SMART congratulates Sister Annet Del Rosario for this well-deserved recognition!