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.

A wave of new megaprojects – or projects valued at over $1 billion – is creating unprecedented job opportunities for SMART sheet metal workers across the United States and Canada, as well as driving new changes and growth in the benefits available to SMART members.

To meet the ongoing demand for sheet metal workers, SMART and SASMI are coordinating to expand travel incentives and benefits available to SMART sheet metal workers who are willing to travel for work, and the International is developing resources to help local unions organize to secure more work for SMART members.

Throughout the conversation, Roberts underscored how the large volume of pending work presents huge growth and organizing opportunities for SMART, as well as challenges for locals in terms of staffing these large projects.

“We’re going to have areas where we have megaprojects where the local will be impacted severely,” he explained. “We could see membership growing double to triple what their current membership needs are currently.”

Colombo, meanwhile, detailed the new and increased financial incentives for SMART sheet metal workers willing to travel for work. The SASMI travel benefit has been increased to a maximum of $1,800, up from the previous travel incentive of a maximum of $1,125. In addition, non-SASMI members will now be eligible for traveler incentives, providing they are dispatched to a job that has SASMI in the collective bargaining agreement.

Daniel emphasized how megaprojects and new work stemming from infrastructure legislation are driving SMART to innovate to meet workforce needs across our two nations – both by expanding travel benefits and by working to bring members of all backgrounds into our union.

“Our absolute need to grow, paired with the megaprojects, the infrastructure spending, that’s going to create the opportunity for us to meet the numbers that we need moving forward,” Daniel noted. “And it’s also going to drive us to evolve as an organization.”

At the end of this episode, SMART General President Joseph Sellers joined a SMART Local 24 (northern Ohio) member for a wide-ranging conversation about megaprojects, traveler opportunities and how members can get involved with the union.

Effective January 1, 2022, SASMI will offer two new COVID-related benefits: a Vaccination Benefit and an Interference with Work Benefit

Vaccination Benefit

To encourage all participants to receive a vaccination to protect against COVID-19, members ($200) and their covered eligible dependents (spouse and/or children $100) may be eligible for a vaccination benefit.

Interference with Work Benefit

If a member became ill and could not work due to significant side effects from a first, second and/or booster vaccination for COVID-19, he or she may be eligible to receive a benefit. Up to 24 hours of wages at his or her home local union wage rate per vaccination.

How to Apply for Both Benefits:

If eligible, members need to complete the application on the member portal via SASMI’s website. A separate application will be required for each benefit. A separate application is required for each of the member’s dependents. Each application must include a copy of his or her individual vaccination card (front and back), manufacturer information, vaccine lot number and a vaccination card ID (number on the back right corner of the card).

Finally, members will need to consent that SASMI can verify their status with the CDC and that SASMI can verify dependent eligibility with their local health fund (Vaccination Benefit ONLY). Receipt of the Vaccination Benefit does not limit a participant’s eligibility for other active benefits under the plan and is not considered when calculating severance or HCRA benefits. However, the Interference with Work Benefit will be included when calculating severance or HCRA benefits as well as the 200% rule.