Author: paul

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) and Sportsman Channel are teaming up again to honor the American workforce during the 2016 Brotherhood Outdoors Labor Day “Salute to the American Worker” – Presented by Wolverine, which airs Saturday, Sept. 3, from 5-8 p.m. EST.
Over the course of six consecutive episodes, Brotherhood Outdoors will examine guests’ family and work lives while showing viewers that regular, hardworking men and women have what it takes to get out there and hunt and fish with pros Daniel Lee Martin and Julie McQueen.
“Brotherhood Outdoors is a testament to those who make our American way of life as spectacular as it is today,” said USA Deputy Director Mike d’Oliveira. “When I watch some of these episodes, I think two things: First, I’m reminded of the hard work and dedication it takes to make our country tick, and secondly, I see all of these great stories from the men and women to make this all happen. It makes me proud that we have the opportunity to showcase their unique trades skills and their passion for the great outdoors, and we are appreciative of Wolverine Boots to help us tell this story.”
The show’s relatability to the “everyman” and its intimate glimpse into its guests’ lives are what make Brotherhood Outdoors a truly unique show in its category.
Schedule for Sept. 3 (EST):
5:00 p.m.     Sheet Metal Worker (SMART Local 19), Keith Gilmer sees 100 deer the first day of his dream hunt, but he decides to wait patiently for a big Montana muley to appear from amidst the abundant whitetails and give him the perfect shot.
5:30 p.m.     Laborer (LiUNA Local 5), Mark Kezler feels the vibration as toms come drumming, spitting and gobbling within 100 yards. Yet the wise old South Dakota Merriam’s turkeys dodge the plan again and again as hosts Daniel Lee and Julie try to lure them within Mark’s range.
6:00 p.m.     Painter (IUPAT DC 30, Local 157), Jason Gaal, armed with a flashlight to spot glistening eyes, prowls for Florida gators. Suspense runs high with the big, toothy lizards as host Daniel Lee ends up in the murky, gator-infested waters.
6:30 p.m.     Auto Worker (UAW Local 838), Aaron Heying overcomes paralysis on this New Mexico bear hunt with help from his wife as hosts Daniel Lee and Julie and their guide carry Aaron, his wheelchair and equipment through the woods to get in range of his first bear.
7:00 p.m.     Plumber (UA Local 68), Mike Cramer wards off unusually warm temps with dancing and one-armed push-ups as he waits for his shot at a Colorado bull elk once the snow finally begins to fall.
7:30 p.m.     Roofer (Roofers Local 23), Derek Carrington heads to Kansas to hunt in one of the best trophy-producing units in the state, and it all comes down to the wire on this heart-pumping whitetail adventure.
Presented by Bank of Labor, Brotherhood Outdoors is also sponsored by the following unions, contractors and corporate partners: Buck Knives, Carhartt, Burris/Steiner, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, National Electrical Contractors Association, and United Association/International Training Fund.
To find Sportsman Channel in your area click here.
 
 

On July 26 and 27, 2016, the SMART-Mechanical/BMWED coalition engaged in further national negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
During the negotiation sessions, the NCCC presented a very brief and generic presentation of the U.S. Class 1 freight railroads’ financial status.  In short, the NCCC alleged that immediate and long-term changes in coal utilization require them to transition their current business model towards intermodal transportation.  They further contended that intermodal is highly sensitive, and that in order to flourish under such a purportedly sensitive business model, the railroads would require extreme flexibility in the management of their resources (i.e., workforce) and materials.  The NCCC then presented three very general work rule changes regarding contracting out, the performance of incidental work and simple tasks, and the utilization of qualified employees in technical and/or safety-sensitive positions.  The NCCC further noted that in order for the Class 1 freight railroads to flourish under this new business model, they would need to bring health and welfare benefits to a “mainstream” level.
SMART-Mechanical BMWED coalition responded to the NCCC, first noting that their financial status presentation was rather one-dimensional and excluded the many areas where the railroads have also re-directed their business model to do rather financially well, despite losses in coal transportation.  The SMART-Mechanical/BMWED coalition next pointed out that the NCCC’s proposed work rules were very general in nature so that a detailed response would come after the NCCC presented specific proposals couched in contract language.  Lastly, the coalition reminded the NCCC that during the March 30 and 31, 2016 bargaining sessions, the railroads committed to performing an analysis of the Small Working Group’s (SWG) National Health and Welfare Plan findings, and that such analysis would take approximately two months to complete; however, it has been nearly four months since the railroads made that commitment.
The NCCC committed to having a complete financial presentation coupled with wage proposals, as well as a more detailed work rules proposal and a comprehensive response to the SWG’s analysis, for the scheduled September 14 and 15, 2016 negotiation sessions.  Additional negotiation sessions are scheduled for October and November of this year.
When asked about the status of national bargaining, BMWED President Freddie Simpson said, “National negotiations take longer than anyone desires.  But in order for us to engage in meaningful discussions with the railroads, we need to have all the facts and information made available to us and we need to thoroughly examine it.  We will not bargain blindly over anything.  All points of concern will be fully-investigated, regardless of the amount of time that is necessary to make informed decisions.  Our coalition will continue to engage with the railroads for as long as it takes to reach a fair agreement.”
 
 

Click on the image, or here, to view how local unions are “Raising the Bar” and responding to members, the community and the needs of the industry as SMART continues to grow and enhance its operations.
This video looks at four locals in Seattle, Edmonton, New Mexico and Alabama and how they are rising up to meet different challenges and seize opportunity as it presents itself.

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
 
SMART has created an Election 2016 clearinghouse, specifically designed for SMART members, that provides links to state voter registration hubs where members can verify whether they are registered to vote, file an online voter registration application and also learn about the issues facing members of the sheet metal and transportation industries.  Members can also learn about events occurring near where they live and participate in them.
Visit SMARTVote2016.org today to ensure your voice is heard in the November elections.

Congresswoman Tami Duckworth, currently running for U.S. Senate in Illinois, delivered a heartfelt and inspirational address on Tuesday at the SMART Sheet Metal Business Agents’ Conference in Chicago, IL.
Her speech detailed not only the experience she faced when her helicopter was shot down over Iraq, but also included her strong praise for her fellow service members who used their resourcefulness and skill garnered from their training as building trades members to ensure their unit was kept safe and battle ready.  This included the sheet metal workers who reinforced their vehicles with their know how garnered during their civilian life and the electricians who rewired the faulty electricity and protected their fellow service members from injury and electrical shock.
Click here for the full video.

The union labels are an essential tool for enforcing contracts and protecting jobs, wages, and benefits. Union officials work hard to negotiate the best contracts possible, and the labels are essential to protecting those contracts, union jobs, and wages. They play a central part in preventing a race to the bottom in which contractors try to use non-labeled products or pay union workers less and less.
By using the labels, we protect existing union jobs, secure more work, and protect union wages. And when more sheet metal workers participate in the union’s health care plan and pension fund, those benefits are better for everyone. In other words, all union members are better off if we work together to make the label system work. By standing up and supporting each other, we stand up and support ourselves. Solidarity works.
For individual sheet metal workers, it means more work, better pay, and healthier benefits. The job you save may be your own. And the more union members participating in the health care and pension systems, the better those benefits will be for each union member.
Visit the Label It. Scan It. Report It site for more information.
You can also text SMART to 90975 to download a copy of the SMART Union Label app.
 

For decades, when a member of the International Association of Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, or SMART, had a personal problem, they would turn to a fellow member for help. For small issues, friends and mentors dispensed good advice just fine. However, for those members with deeper problems such as thoughts of suicide or drug and alcohol abuse and substance use disorder, friends and mentors were lost as to what advice to give.
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) is working with SMART’sMember Assistance Program (MAP), formally the Union Member Assistance Coordinator (UMAC) program, to train members to guide their peers in the direction of professional assistance such as therapy, rehabilitation and eventual recovery. Volunteers in local unions undergo four-day training sessions to learn how to speak to those in distress, where to find services and how to navigate health benefits.
Training sessions began in 2013, and they have been a consistently offered every year since 2014. In 2015 and 2016, in six training sessions, 250 members were trained as MAP volunteers. Remaining training sessions for 2016 are Oct. 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Nov. 7-10 in San Diego.
“Before, there was an informal way of taking care of each other,” said Chris Carlough, education director for SMART. “The country is riddled with drug and alcohol abuse. It’s a huge problem, and our union is taking the lead in addressing this vital issue that has become a national epidemic.”
“The MAP program takes trusted members in their locals – people members already turn to – and gives them the tools they need to actually help their brothers and sisters,” added Randy Krocka, SMOHIT administrator. “It enables them to save lives, save jobs and save families.”
The recession took its toll at Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 85 in Atlanta, where there were more issues to tackle than drug and alcohol abuse. For Randy Beall, business representative for the local, the training gave him the answers to questions members have been asking him for years.
“I’ve seen a need. I’ve seen many people fail a drug test. I’ve seen many people have troubles. I’ve seen many people lose a job,” said Beall, one of two MAP volunteers at the local. “But it’s more than seeing a need. It’s more than drug problems. Most of the time, the issues we’ve dealt with in the last four years have been along the lines of depression and loss of work, which leads to marital issues as well.”
It’s not easy to get sheet metal workers to open up, Beall said. Building a trusted network inside the local has helped Beall seek out members in crisis instead of waiting for them to knock on his door. Knowing what not to say is just as important as what to say, he added. Training also provided him avenues to seek out community services and benefits to help members.
“We’re not sharers,” Beall said. “But at any given time anyone can go through a bout of depression. Many people battle their way out of it. It’s the person who can’t dig out of it. That’s who we’re looking for.”
Bill Salvatore, a part-time MAP coordinator at Local No. 28, which serves Metropolitan New York and Long Island, came out of retirement to take the position. During his career, he left the union for five years to become a peer counselor at Beth Israel Medical Center, after battling his own addictions.
“This is something that has been a long time coming. It’s been needed for awhile,” Salvatore said. “I absolutely feel like this program can save lives and enhance the quality of life for members who don’t know what to do.”
Salvatore’s office was renovated at Local No. 28 to allow for a private entrance to encourage more members to come forward with any problem on their minds.
“I never know what’s going to be on the other end of the phone when someone calls me,” Salvatore said. “It’s very rewarding work. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to be part of a program like this. And I was enjoying my retirement. I recommended it to everyone. To come back to work and do this was a privilege.”
Although the program has been active for two years, it’s a slow process – training members and advertising it to those who need help takes time. In Atlanta last year, Beall said the MAP program helped an average of 10 people. In this case, he added, the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you keep one person from turning to a bottle or one person from dying by suicide, that’s a lot,” Beall said.
It’s all a part of SMOHIT and SMART’s master plan to expand the program across all locals, Carlough said. In 2017, trainings will move to locals requesting it, giving them more volunteers to help more members.
“We’re building the awareness of the issue, and then we’re going to go deep into the unions and train as many people as we can to build that network of support,” he added. “It is one of our most popular programs right now. There’s a strong need for it. It’s a big problem going on in our members’ families’ lives right now. That’s what we really like to focus on – it’s all about the health and well-being of our union family.
The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust (SMOHIT) was founded in 1986 to address the impact of decades-long asbestos exposure on those working in the sheet metal industry. To date, more than 55,000 sheet metal workers have been screened as part of its ongoing Asbestos Screening Program.
SMOHIT has since expanded its mission to operate on four separate but related tracks: monitoring and documenting the health of sheet metal workers as it relates to workplace exposures and hazards; providing safety information and training related to best safety practices on and off the job; acting as an aggressive advocate for the health and safety of its members with government and through likeminded allied organizations; and providing diet and exercise information to address the health and wellness of its members.
SMOHIT has adjusted its methods and messages to reflect feedback from local unions and the industry, and to address new safety challenges as they arise. The organization works directly with the International Training Institute (ITI) to provide training programs for the unionized sheet metal industry.