Category: Front Page — SM
Sheet Metal-oriented posts to appear on the front page of the main site and in news feeds.
Patience, persistence lead to union benefits for New Jersey workers and new signatory contractor
What began as simple walk-ins and persistence by SMART Local 27 organizers ultimately turned into a successful organizing effort — one that expanded the union’s reach into a specialized part of the HVAC industry and set a precedent for future organizing in the duct cleaning sector. Now, new signatory company Induct Air Duct Cleaning and its workers are set to benefit for the years to come.
SMART Local 80 shows what union solidarity means in Detroit
For SMART members, solidarity means action — from the jobsite, to the cab of a locomotive, to city council meetings, to marches and rallies, and well beyond. And for members in Detroit, it meant taking on harsh conditions to make life better for local students: On March 13, Local 80 staff and nine member volunteers volunteered to help clean up the park ahead of the annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Trump administration’s Labor Department issues dangerous guidance on registered apprenticeship — GP Coleman responds
On Monday, March 9, the Trump administration’s Department of Labor (DOL) issued new guidance regarding registered apprenticeship programs. Read SMART General President Michael Coleman's statement in response. "I’ve said since January 2025 that I’m committed to calling balls and strikes with this administration. Calling for one million new apprentices? That’s a strike. Getting to one million apprentices by lowering the standards and potentially damaging our union’s apprenticeship programs? That’s a ball, no question."
Members and contractor benefit from union advantage in Sacramento
Union membership brings real change to workers and employers alike, and Div 15 Tech, Inc. out of Sacramento, California, is proof. “I should have done this 20 years ago,” said Div 15 Tech owner Blake Harrison.
Local 19 organizes to secure opportunity for sheet metal workers in New Jersey
When companies use low-road contractors on construction projects and lower local jobsite standards, sheet metal workers, communities and businesses suffer — which is exactly why SMART local unions organize to make sure that doesn’t happen. For SMART Local 19, a campaign that started with a Chick-fil-A construction site in Glassboro, New Jersey, eventually led to a huge victory for sheet metal workers and communities across the state.
Local 27 members become owners of new signatory contractor
When two members of SMART Local 27 (Southern New Jersey) started to think about starting their own sheet metal company, the local initiated organizing conversations right off the bat. The result? Local 27’s latest signatory contractor: SteelCraft Industrial, a specialty steel fabrication company in Keyport, New Jersey.
SMART leaders train to better advocate for our union in Effective Communication class
Whether explaining HVAC systems to aspiring sheet metal technicians, talking to policymakers about project labor agreements or explaining the benefits of union membership to workers on a jobsite, communication is a key skill for SMART union leaders. That’s why the SMART Education Department held its most recent edition of the Effective Communications class in Houston, Texas, during the week of March 2, 2026.
Skilled trades jobs offer real opportunities, to be highlighted during National Careers in Trades Week
National Careers in Trades Week (NCIT), which takes place April 6-10, 2026, comes at an opportune time for people seeking skilled trades jobs: rewarding, essential careers with excellent pay and strong benefits, including healthcare and pensions. “There is a lot that has changed about our country over the years: technology, artificial intelligence, you name it. But one thing that won’t ever change is this simple fact: We need skilled trades workers to build our country,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman.