Each year during National Apprenticeship Week, SMART celebrates the life-changing power of a union apprenticeship — from stellar pay and benefits to lifelong solidarity and fulfilling career paths.
The SMART Women’s Committee is highlighting female apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024. That includes third-year Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) apprentice Zenobia Clark, who says she loves her current job “because I can show my daughter my daily grit and endurance.”
What do you love to do when you are not at work?
Nature trips, writing, spiritual pursuits and family.
Best advice you got as an apprentice?
Learn all that you can.
Best advice you have for an apprentice?
Be aware and steady.
What’s the coolest job you’ve worked on?
The one I work on now is the coolest, because I can show my daughter my daily grit and endurance.
What surprised you about your trade?
The endurance and adaptability necessary.
What do you think about Tradeswomen Build Nations?
I love to see women there that go through the exact same situations as me. I feel stronger for the year after experiencing this support.
Each year during National Apprenticeship Week, SMART celebrates the life-changing power of a union apprenticeship — from stellar pay and benefits to lifelong solidarity and fulfilling career paths.
As part of the SMART Women’s Committee’s National Apprenticeship Week spotlight series, Local 17 (Boston, Mass.) sister Areesa Willie, a fourth-year apprentice, talks about how much she enjoys learning new things in the sheet metal trade (and getting paid to do it).
What unique strengths do you bring to your trade?
I try my best to bring positivity to my jobsite. I like to keep spirits up at work. I’m not perfect at it and sometimes I need a little uplifting myself, but I want everyone I work with to realize they matter and what they do inside and outside of work matters. I’m also sober, and I am very open about that. I want anyone that needs help for themselves or a friend/family member to feel comfortable asking for help. We all deserve to be happy, healthy and free.
What do you love to do when you are not at work?
Spending time with my daughter is my favorite thing to do; hiking, getting lunch or coffee with friends, cozying up under the covers and watching a good movie, spending time with my animals and reading.
What are your goals in the future?
I want to learn and understand my trade fully. My goal is to become a mechanic and help others learn and aspire to do things the right way. I also want to be a representative of recovery for my union. I want to help others get the help that they need with no judgements, no stigma.
What do you find surprising about your job/trade?
I was surprised that I was actually not terrible at it and how much I enjoy learning new things about it. I didn’t realize that I would be so passionate about it.
Each year during National Apprenticeship Week, SMART celebrates the life-changing power of a union apprenticeship — from stellar pay and benefits to lifelong solidarity and fulfilling career paths.
The SMART Women’s Committee is spotlighting female apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2024. And in St. Louis, second-year apprentice Lily May Gibson is getting her career off to a strong start, helping found the first Local 36 Women’s Committee and doing her part to bring more sisters into our trade.
What unique strengths do you bring to your trade?
I can MiG, Stick and TIG weld. I can weld aluminum, stainless steel, copper, titanium, etc. I have a very strong work ethic and always willing to learn new things! I’m strong in leadership roles as well.
What do you love to do when you are not at work?
When I’m not at work, I sit in my shop at home and weld. I also enjoy racing, hunting, fishing, taking care of my farm and being involved in volunteer work in my community!
Tool you can’t live without?
Hands down would be my welpers. It’s a pair of pliers meant for MIG welding.
What are your goals in the future?
I’m one of the founders of the first women’s committee in Local 36. Some of my goals are to help grow our women’s committee, be able to travel out of the country to weld, and help other women and younger generations understand that trades are a wonderful route to go. I’d also love to learn laser welding in the future!
As union sheet metal workers, SMART members practice excellence every day in our craft. And as union members, we have the backs of our brothers and sisters, on and off the job.
Now, it’s time to demonstrate that solidarity. As part of the I Got Your Back campaign, we are challenging members to Be Excellent.
Launched on Monday, November 18, the Be Excellent challenge asks SMART members to incorporate small but important practices into their routines to build camaraderie with each other and reinforce union solidarity.
In the first phase of this challenge, members can practice excellence by taking the time to greet each other every day. When you see a fellow member on the job, try saying “Hello,” “Good Morning,” “How Are You?” or another greeting of your choice. To kick this off, we are challenging SMART members to try giving a daily greeting to at least five people every week. For an extra challenge, try seeking out at least one person whom you do not talk to often.
Small acts can have a big impact, and we are strongest when we show that every member is valued in this union. Let’s continue to pull together, be excellent to each other, and show our fellow members – I GOT YOUR BACK!
Be Excellent leadership tip: notes of appreciation
Strong and effective leaders express their appreciation and gratitude to their officers and staff on a regular basis. That’s why SMART is encouraging leaders to write individual notes of appreciation to fellow officers, staff, and members on a regular basis to express gratitude for something specific they have done or the impact they have had on you. It doesn’t need to be formal — you can send your message by email, text, a physical note or verbally in conversation.
This practice improves morale, boosts productivity and motivation, and builds solidarity within your team and in our union.
“I absolutely love the notes of appreciation initiative, and I believe it has been well received,” said SMART Railroad, Mechanical and Engineering Department Director Peter Kennedy. “I sent several notes to employees and staff, and folks responded with appreciation, and reciprocity.”
The SMART Army showed out in force for kids in Bradley County, Tennessee, last October: Local 5 members partnered with the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, building 30 beds for children who need a safe place to sleep.
SHP’s mission is that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town” — with the help of Local 5, that dream moved one step closer towards reality.
“The nonprofit was very pleased and wants to partner with us again,” reported Local 5 Organizer Hunter Gossett.
On the morning of Wednesday, November 6, Donald Trump won his bid for reelection to the White House, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
The American people have spoken, and SMART stands ready to work with elected leaders to advance the interests of members and their families.
SMART endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket based on both candidates’ strong, pro-labor records and their plans to build on the unprecedented accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration.
President Biden’s term in office will be looked back on as one of the most pro-worker administrations in modern history. For SMART members, specifically, the Biden-Harris administration’s passage of the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act saved union members’ pensions and created thousands upon thousands of union jobs. And the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person train crew rule finally prioritized safety and SMART-TD railroaders’ jobs over Wall Street profit.
No matter what happens after January 2025, know this: SMART will continue to fight tirelessly on behalf of members and their families. As SMART General President Michael Coleman said in the leadup to Election Day: “We must remember that, at the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters. As long as we have each other’s back, we will continue our forward march to secure the rights and dignity of all working people.”
During the month of November, SMART is spotlighting our military members and veterans: celebrating their service and showcasing their journeys into the trade. Read Local 265 member and instructor Chris James’ story below:
“In 2003, I made one of the most pivotal decisions of my life: I joined the United States Marine Corps. At the time, I was seeking something greater than myself, a challenge that would push me to my limits and instill discipline, strength and a sense of purpose. The Marine Corps did all of that and more. It molded me into a person with unwavering dedication, respect for hard work and a firm understanding of the importance of teamwork. The experience shaped the foundation of who I am today, both as a person and as a professional.
“During my time in the Marines, I learned to lead by example, adapt under pressure and work within a tight-knit group. These values became second nature, and I carried them with me long after I transitioned back to civilian life in 2007. In 2011, I found a new career path as a union sheet metal worker. At first, I wasn’t sure how my military background would translate into this industry, but it didn’t take long to realize the similarities between the two worlds.
“The union, like the military, thrives on a sense of brotherhood, sisterhood and camaraderie. There’s a shared mission, and every individual plays a critical role in achieving success. Much like in the Corps, where each Marine looks out for one another, the union fosters a similar culture. We may come from different backgrounds and experiences, but in the field, we work side by side with the same goals in mind. This bond reminds me of my time in the service, and it is one of the aspects I cherish most about being a part of the union.
“In addition to working as a sheet metal worker, I now serve as a full-time instructor, a role that allows me to give back by mentoring our apprentices, much like I did with my junior Marines. Guiding and teaching the next generation of workers has been incredibly fulfilling, and it’s a way for me to continue living by the values of leadership, responsibility and teamwork that were instilled in me during my military service.
“I’m also proud to be a member of Local 265‘s Veterans Club, where I can connect with other former service members and continue to support our veteran community. The club provides a space for veterans to share their experiences, offer support to one another and stay involved in causes that matter to us. In a couple weeks, the 265 Veterans Club will be hosting an inaugural event that will donate 100% of the proceeds to a local non-for-profit organization that aims to help veterans in the mental health space. So far, we have raised over $22,000 in proceeds that will help directly impact those that have selflessly served their country. It is because of the strength and solidarity of the union that we were able to accomplish this goal.
“The transition from the military to civilian life is not always easy, but the union gave me a sense of belonging, a new mission and the opportunity to build a career with my own hands. The values instilled in me by the Marine Corps — honor, courage and commitment — continue to guide me in the construction industry. Whether it’s the physical labor, problem-solving on the job site, or the sense of pride in completing a project, these qualities have made me successful as a sheet metal worker and as a mentor.
“In both the military and the union, there’s a clear understanding that you are only as strong as the team around you. I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had in both worlds and proud to be part of a community that values hard work, loyalty and the strength of working together.”
SMART Local 24 in Dayton, Ohio, recently hosted the Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) for a three-day SMART MAP training led by Field Representative Ed Robison. The event focused on mental health awareness and peer training for union members and signatory contractors.
The SMART MAP (Member Assistance Program) is an innovative initiative designed to address mental health challenges within the industry, particularly related to drug and alcohol abuse, suicide and the importance of self-care. The program not only raises awareness but also empowers participants with peer training support and resources that extend to union members and their families.
The Local 24 training was divided into two parts. The first two days were dedicated to training union members, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to support each other and foster a healthier workplace environment. The final day focused on contractors, helping to ensure that management and leadership are equally prepared to support their teams.
“Thanks to the overwhelming success of this event, it will become an annual fixture, with the next one scheduled for the first week of October 2025,” said Business Representative Brawny Welch. “This is a significant step forward for Local 24 in addressing mental health in the workplace and ensuring long-term support for members and their families.”
Delegates to the Third SMART General Convention in August 2024 left Las Vegas with an array of union apparel, including a SMART laptop bag, SMART-branded hats and SMART polo shirts.
What convention attendees may not have realized is that those items — along with a growing range of SMART merchandise — were designed, assembled, fabricated and embroidered by their union brothers and sisters in Ontario, Canada.
“I’m super proud of that, and we’ve been continuing to have more locals as well as our International purchasing more products,” said Local 540 (Mississauga, Ontario) Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Derek Evans. “It makes me feel good to know that our members made these products, and our other locals are proud to know that these products are made by our members instead of another union or nonunion.”
Local 540 is the only SMART local in Canada that strictly represents production workers. Members work in a variety of industries (HVAC, automotive, fire life safety, etc.) and with a broad range of materials — including, as of approximately 10 years ago, two shops in the garment and apparel sector. That was when Sonny Wu, the owner of an apparel company called Season Group, approached the local (as well as other unions) to inquire about transitioning to signatory status.
“He wanted to get into making union-made apparel that he could sell to other unions throughout Canada and the United States,” Evans explained. “Ultimately, he made the decision to select SMART Local 540.”
Local 540 Business Manager Derek Evans (left) with Wilson Wu of Union Made Apparel
That decision has proven fruitful, even as things have changed in the years since. Sonny Wu retired, splitting his business into two separate shops — Season Group and Union Made Apparel — headed by Vincent Hu and Sonny’s son, Wilson, respectively. (Sonny remains very much involved.) And Local 540 members at both shops are now producing pieces for a huge number of their fellow union workers: SMART Local 30 and Local 285 in Toronto, the SMART Transportation Division, the Amalgamated Transit Union and many others, as well as workplace uniforms and gear.
For Wilson Wu, it’s important that labor movement merchandise is made by union members in North America.
“A lot of goods nowadays, they’re bought from somewhere overseas — but we make everything in-house,” he explained.
“We’re end-to-end manufacturing, from sourcing the raw materials — locally made cotton — to dying the fabric, to cutting and sewing, trimming, design consultations, as well as decorating the garments, whether it’s embroidery or screen printing.”
Plus, Wu said, the union advantage pays off in the shop’s bottom line.
“We’ve gotten a lot more work ever since we’ve unionized; our workers are a lot happier,” he explained. “No regrets. It’s probably the best decision we’ve ever made.”
Wilson and Sonny Wu
The Ontario garment industry’s workforce is extraordinarily diverse, Evans said: Many employees are of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Indian descent, along with other countries throughout Asia (and Europe). The same goes for Local 540 sheet metal production shops, particularly in the automotive industry.
As a result, Local 540 has worked to ensure that these members — no matter who they are, where they come from or what language they speak most comfortably — receive the support they deserve. Contracts and workplace communications are translated into a variety of languages, and Local 540 has worked with companies to provide assistance to members navigating the immigration process and applying for Canadian citizenship.
“It has been a learning experience, but the members tend to be welcoming,” Evans said. “The opportunities we have are going to come through diversity and inclusion of different races and cultures. The workforce is changing.”
What’s most important, he added, is that all members — regardless of their ancestry or first language — continue to reap the benefits of union representation. Local 540 member Chris Ferreira, a longtime garment industry worker, indicated that the union difference is certainly being felt.
“It’s been great working at Union Made Apparel,” he said. “There’s been quite a bit more work, it’s a lot more reliable. I’ve been in embroidery for quite a few years, and it’s not too easy to get reliable orders. So yeah, it’s been great, real great being part of Local 540.”
Every four years, election season changes the tone and tenor of life in the United States.
Attack ads flood our TV screens. Vitriolic arguments take place in the comment sections of Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Family reunions are infiltrated by the latest manufactured culture wars. And politicians visit union halls across the country, seeking your endorsement — and your vote.
VP Harris at Local 19
As a collective labor organization, we know that we depend on each other, not politicians, for our prosperity. But we also know that anti-labor politicians can severely damage our rights, our pensions, our safety and our futures.
Mainstream media outlets like to depict elections as complex, filled with minute details that might sway a voter’s decision one way or the other. As union members, though, we know that the reality is much simpler. It comes down to two questions: What actions have politicians taken to empower our union? And how will they enable us to win moving forward?
Delegates to the Third SMART General Convention in August voted to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Minn. Governor Tim Walz for vice president based on those questions. Harris’s and Walz’s actions demonstrate their commitment to helping SMART and working people win strong contracts, better workplace protections and higher pay. And their vision for our country is one that puts union labor first.
We can’t afford to go back
In his four years in the White House, Donald Trump and his administration enacted and attempted to implement some of the most anti-union actions the American worker has experienced in generations.
The Trump administration tried to gut our union apprenticeship programs with its Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs proposal, a scheme that our union had to fight against tooth-and-nail to defeat.
The Trump administration withdrew the proposed two-person crew regulation SMART-TD had been working towards under the Obama administration — and then went a step further, actually attempting to preempt existing state two-person crew laws. This was an attack on our railroaders’ safety, jobs and pensions, as well as a direct threat to states’ rights.
The Biden-Harris administration secured a federal two-person crew regulation after the Trump administration withdrew it.
The Trump administration’s National Labor Relations Board was legendarily anti-worker, with a general counsel who formerly worked as a management-side lawyer. The Trump NLRB made it more difficult for workers to picket a subcontractor; held that employers can legally monitor or search employees’ personal vehicles on company premises; and issued a decision making it easier for employers to restrict employees’ rights to talk to their coworkers about their union during work time, including asking a coworker to join the union, asking a coworker to vote to strike or asking a coworker to vote to ratify a contract.
VP Harris at Local 17
President Trump’s signature law, the flagrantly anti-worker Tax Cut and Jobs Act, encouraged offshoring of both paper profits and real production of U.S. multinational companies. It also eliminated the tax deduction members previously enjoyed for union dues.
President Trump signed an executive order that threatened funding for Social Security. He recommended vetoing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act if it reached his desk. His administration encouraged firms to misclassify employees as independent contractors, lowering workplace standards and putting union jobs in jeopardy. President Trump rolled back protections against child labor and said he “loved right-to-work,” and his Justice Department successfully argued to make it the standard policy for government employees.
Those were only a few of his actions while in office — and the plan devised by his advisers for a potential return to power, Project 2025, spells out exactly what he intends to do next.
The document should alarm all of us for its attacks on public schools, Medicaid that our seniors rely on, and veterans’ ability to receive disability benefits. But the Trump Project 2025’s 37-page chapter on labor specifically targets our rights.
Project 2025 would prohibit project labor agreements, which consistently put our sheet metal members on jobsites across the nation. It would enable employers to get rid of workers’ unions in the middle of their contracts, and it would allow individual states to ban the existence of labor unions. Project 2025, if implemented, would gut local and state funding for public transit, hurting the sheet metal workers who build new transit infrastructure and public transit operators whose jobs depend on that funding. It would get rid of overtime guarantees and repeal labor and wage protections on federal projects.
Walz with SMART-TD Minn. SLD Katich
Under a second Trump administration, Project 2025 would make it harder for families to access unemployment insurance, eliminate child labor protections and enable businesses to violate the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) without consequence. It would prevent companies from voluntarily recognizing workers’ unions. It would allow companies to retaliate against organizers, and it would actually enable employers to form company unions: supposed employee organizations with fake employee committees hand-picked by management.
Walz with Local 10
In other words, a second Trump administration would build on the actions of the first: It would jeopardize our livelihoods, put our health and safety at risk and threaten the very existence of our union.
Actions speak louder than words
The endorsement resolution presented to SMART convention delegates in August detailed the Harris-Walz ticket’s stellar pro-worker record. These candidates have acted in the interests of SMART members.
The Biden-Harris administration passed landmark laws that are funneling money towards SMART members’ jobs and livelihoods. As vice president, Harris cast the tiebreaking vote to pass the American Rescue Plan, which jumpstarted the U.S. economy, invested billions into reopening schools and indoor air quality, and allocated $100 million to OSHA for worker safety. Crucially for retirees, the ARP provided billions of dollars in union pension relief: saving the pensions of more than one million workers, including 1,600 Local 33 retirees in Massillon, Ohio. In this case, it was Harris’s vote that rewarded our retirees’ years of hard work and sacrifice.
The CHIPS and Science Act, meanwhile, invests in the U.S. semiconductor industry and American-made manufacturing. This has already put SMART sheet metal workers on huge projects everywhere from Vermont, to Ohio, to Arizona and beyond.
SMART members are also benefiting from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Along with huge investments in traditional infrastructure like our nation’s railroad and public transportation systems, the law focuses on the industries in which sheet metal members work — like indoor air quality, energy efficiency and more — providing an enormous number of new jobs.
In 2022, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act. This law cuts healthcare prices for working families, fights climate change and holds the one percent accountable to pay their fair share in taxes. The IRA invests heavily in green energy infrastructure, with strong labor standards ensuring that SMART sheet metal workers will be in demand for this work.
Accompanying all these laws are strident, pro-worker regulations: the updating and strengthening of Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rules, the first-ever inclusion of apprenticeship standards in IRA tax cuts and the requirement of project labor agreements on federal jobs that cost more than $35 million, for example.
And that’s just on the legislative side. Just this year, the Biden-Harris Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Transportation announced a long-awaited federal two-person crew regulation, taking action to protect the jobs, safety and pensions of union railroaders. Additionally, the administration has demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting public transit and bus workers, addressing worker assaults in these sectors. This White House’s proactive stance on worker safety issues, including the Federal Transit Administration’s establishment of Public Transit Safety Plans, reflects a clear understanding of the challenges faced by frontline transportation employees and a dedication to creating safer working environments.
Walz, meanwhile, has an outstanding pro-worker record in Minnesota that leaves no doubt as to where his priorities lie.
On the transportation side, Walz made a number of SMART-TD railroad priorities the law of the land: requiring two-person crews on Minnesota freight trains, funding the Northern Lights Express — Amtrak’s passenger service between Duluth and Minneapolis — and bringing on two more state rail safety inspectors, plus additional funding for passenger rail corridor studies and railroad-provided first responder training. He is also the first and only governor in the nation to have signed legislation covering yardmaster hours of service.
Walz took similar action to advance the interests of SMART sheet metal workers when he signed a law that stipulates that the Minnesota Department of Commerce must establish and administer an air ventilation program to award grants to public school boards in Minnesota, with the grants covering work such as testing and balancing, HVAC and energy efficiency upgrades and much more. Importantly for SMART members, the bill specifically includes strong prevailing wage language that requires work covered by grants to “be performed by a skilled and trained workforce that is paid the prevailing wage rate … and of which at least 80 percent of the construction workers are either registered in or graduates of a registered apprenticeship program for the applicable occupation.”
Those are only some of Minnesota’s pro-union accomplishments under Walz. The legislature passed what most in the Minnesota building trades consider the most expansive prevailing wage enhancements in state history: from increased enforcement, to attaching the law to state funds, programs, energy projects and more. Walz also signed laws enacting paid sick leave for all workers; the banning of anti-union captive audience meetings; new protections for meatpackers, construction workers and Amazon employees; a huge expansion of paid family and medical leave; the largest-ever increase to the Minnesota work compensation system’s permanent partial disability fund; a universal free school breakfast and lunch program for the kids of working families; and more.
Harris’s and Walz’s actions speak far louder than words. They stood, and they continue to stand, with SMART members and our families.
A union-made future for SMART members and families
It’s clear what SMART members’ votes for Harris and Walz enabled your union to do in the past. What will our votes empower us to do next?
SMART has a vision for the future: one where union sheet metal and transportation workers build and move the critical infrastructure of our nation. One where SMART members earn better contracts, better pay, dignity at work and time to spend with their loved ones. One where our union continues to grow, representing with grit and pride every worker in our industries and trades.
The Harris-Walz ticket aligns with our vision. With Harris and Walz in the White House, we can build upon the progress we have made, continuing to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act in a way that benefits SMART members. We can keep working with the DOT, FRA and FTA to protect transportation workers in the face of employer greed. If a pro-worker Congress takes power, we can pass the Railway Safety Enhancement Act, the PRO Act, the National Apprenticeship Act and much more. And with Harris’s proposed plans to cut price gouging and increase new housing production, we can reap the fruits of our labor while building the affordable homes our neighbors deserve.
Election day is fast approaching, and with it the accompanying noise. But when we enter the ballot box, we all need to remember those two vital questions: What actions have politicians taken to strengthen our union? And how will they help us win moving forward?
