Category: Front Page — SM

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Organizing pays off for Local 91, new signatory contractor

SMART organizers across North America work constantly to help contractors learn about the union advantage: top-notch training, a skilled workforce, the opportunity to grow through partnership and more. That learning process can sometimes take years — but ultimately, local unions, contractors and employees benefit. That’s the case for recently signed Local 91 (Rock Island, Illinois) contractor O’Dell's Heating and Air, which officially partnered with the local in December 2025.

Local 441 organizes big gains at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi

SMART Local 441 members at Ingalls Shipbuilding — a shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, currently building ships for the United States Navy — recently ratified a five-year agreement that will provide an 18% pay increase right away, 32% increases in the first four years and a variety of other benefits. The new contract demonstrates the importance of organizing rigorously in so-called “right-to-work” states — and the power of a union contract.

SMART leaders train to secure our future with organizing class

The SMART Educations Department held its Bottom-Up Organizing Class in Austin, Texas, during the week of January 5th, 2026. Using comprehensive role-play that mimicked a worker-led organizing campaign over the duration of the week, the class focused on developing practical competency in the process and skills required to successfully facilitate victorious unionization drives.

Local 359 helps secure landmark project labor agreement, jobs for members in Arizona

In December 2025, SMART Local 359 helped secure a rare and significant milestone for Arizona’s construction industry in Tucson, when the Pima County Board of Supervisors approved a binding memorandum of agreement tied to the Project Blue data center development. The approval cleared the final hurdle for construction to begin and formally secured the project under a project labor agreement (PLA), leading to a win for SMART members and a historic first for Tucson: a 100% union-built project.

Sheet metal industry leaders gather to secure the future at Partners in Progress 2026

The future of the unionized sheet metal industry depends on the things that matter equally to both local unions and signatory employers: growing market share, steady work opportunities, investments in apprenticeship programs and more. That’s why, on February 17-18, 2026, the SMART-SMACNA Partners in Progress Conference brought together leaders from across the trade. For two days, union leaders and employers focused exclusively on bettering the industry — for SMART members and SMACNA contractors alike.