Local 441 Archives - SMART Union

Collaboration between the SMART International Association and Local 441 led to the hiring of a retired steward at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Missouri as a subsidized organizer. That, in turn, helped spark a successful internal organizing campaign that won workers a momentous contract — demonstrating the power of organizing from coast to coast.

In March 2026, SMART Local 441 reported on a momentous victory at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In a so-called “right-to-work” state — where workers making less and having less collective power is somehow defined by state law as a good thing — a concerted organizing push helped members at the shipyard win a collective bargaining agreement with stellar pay gains, shift premiums of 10%, and an additional 5% for combination workers.

A key to that victory? Collaboration between the SMART International Association and the local union, leading to the hiring of an organizer who knew the workplace well.

Pictured: Local 441 Business Manager Thomas E. Fisher II presents Lake with an award recognizing his dedication to our union.

In May of 2025, Local 441, with the help of SMART Director of Organizing Jason Benson and then Regional Director Josh Garner, requested a subsidy from the SMART IA to hire member John Lake to help increase the percentage of the Ingalls shipyard workers paying dues to SMART. Local 441 has a bargaining unit size of 650 workers at Ingalls; in May 2025, the percentage of this group who were members of SMART had fallen below 60%.

SMART General President Michael Coleman and the General Executive Council approved the subsidy to allow Local 441 to hire Lake. Brother Lake, a long-time member and shipyard steward for Local 441, had recently retired. However, when called upon to help rebuild the percentage of organized workers at Ingalls, he answered the call!

In a 12-month timeframe, Lake, along with Local 441’s team of representatives, organizer and stewards, was able to restore the percentage of organized workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding to above 80%, the highest percentage of all of the crafts at the shipyard covered by a Metal Trades collective bargaining agreement.

Local 441 honored Lake’s hard work at a recent union meeting by presenting him with a plaque recognizing his love and dedication to our union.

Great work, brother!

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.

Ingalls Shipbuilding, founded in 1938, is one of the largest private employers in Mississippi. The workers there have been performing work for the U.S. Navy for generations, playing a critical role in maintaining our country’s fleet. Despite that fact, there had not been a fully negotiated collective bargaining agreement at the shipyard in over 20 years; past agreements were extensions that only improved wages and health insurance or barely kept up with the cost of living.

For that reason, Local 441’s leadership, headed by Business Manager Thomas Fisher II and Organizers Richard Jennings and John Lake, used the contract campaign to mobilize members, with shop stewards rallying members and encouraging workers that were previously not paying dues to join our union. Working together, the Local 441 team was able to sign 43 new members, 23 of which were signed on the day of the contract vote. These new members push Local 441’s totals in the bargaining unit to over 80% union.

Along with the stellar pay, the contract contains shift premiums of 10%, and specialty and combination workers will receive an additional 5% as well. Perhaps most importantly, SMART members at Ingalls are now in a better position for future rounds of bargaining, with new members helping grow the local’s strength at the shipyard.

This is why we organize!