Kelsey Hicks, 17, of Reed High School in Reno, Nevada, won the gold medal in sheet metal work at the Nevada Skills USA competition March 26-28 at Sheet Metal Workers Local 88’s training center in northeast Las Vegas. The silver medalist was Tanner Vaughn of the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology High School with the bronze medal going to Nicholas Heward of McQueen High School—all of Reno. Hicks was one of eight competitors— and the only female—in the sheet metal competition this year.
The theme for this year’s contest was “Champions at Work: Educated and Skilled to Lead America.” Winners from state competitions are scheduled to attend the 50th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 23-27 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dan Rose, apprentice coordinator at Local 88’s training center, has been involved with Skills USA for 12 years and hosts the sheet metal competition whenever it takes place in Las Vegas. Students are judged on the quality of their written exam, interview, resume and hands-on project.
“The group today is the most professional group I’ve seen so far. This program introduces these kids to a career choice they may not have known before,” Rose said. Students accepted into the four-year apprentice program attend on virtually a full scholarship, earn a living while they are in school and graduate with zero college debt. “It also opens up our facility to those schools that participate. I want them to know what’s out there. Sheet metal apprenticeship is not an alternate to college. We are a college. I’m not a training coordinator. I’m a dean.”
With construction projects picking up in the Las Vegas Valley, Rose believes the future of sheet metal work is the apprenticeship program and the students involved in the Skills USA competition.
Hicks became interested in sheet metal when she was recovering from a volleyball injury and needed something to keep her busy. A teacher at her school suggested sheet metal and, following her recovery, she dropped volleyball to hone her sheet metal skills.
“I wanted to win at something. I wanted to do something to not feel like a loser,” Hicks said of her switch to sheet metal. “(My teacher) brought me out of that. I realized I was really good at it, and I dropped volleyball.”
Going into this year’s competition, Hicks was the 2013 Nevada Skills USA champion. She went on to place 13th in the national competition last summer.
“It’s something I enjoy. All my skills are incorporated into it,” Hicks said. “I know it’s what I want to do as a career path.”
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure the United States has a skilled workforce. Skills USA helps each student excel with the mission to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
Author: paul
Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has signed legislation that will make West Virginia the first state to require anyone who installs fire and smoke dampers to be licensed. In a state with little to no building code, the new law is a major step toward insuring only properly trained individuals handle fire and smoke damper installation and repairs as well as HVAC work.
Under the law, inspections and enforcement will be conducted by either the State Fire Marshal or the West Virginia Division of Labor. Currently, only contractors who provide these services are regulated. The technicians who work for contractors are not regulated in terms of requiring formal training.
The push for the new safety legislation in West Virginia was led by SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 33, with support from members of sister locals like Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 and 100.
“SMART is committed to extensive training for all its members, insuring they are the best trained in the HVAC industry,” said Mike Coleman, Local 33 President and Business Manager. He believes the safety of the public is insured through this legislation because only properly trained individuals will handle these installations. “The inspection component of this new law makes sure that safety continues to be a top priority,” Coleman added.
Journeymen who are members of SMART will likely be grandfathered in if they have logged a certain number of relevant work hours. Meanwhile, future members are expected to obtain the needed license through the course of the apprenticeship program.
From the beginning, the main argument for establishing regulation of HVAC/fire damper technicians was safety. That was reiterated a year ago, before the bill was even introduced in the state legislature, when the proposal was first reviewed by the state’s “legislative auditor.” Any legislation that involves creation or changes to licensing or certification in West Virginia must be reviewed to determine if such a proposal will benefit the public.
“Improper installation of HVAC or fire damper systems can lead to injury, death, or destruction of property,” the application states, “and since individuals performing this work are not required to be licensed, they are therefore not subject to knowledge or skills requirements.”
During the review process, the Division of Labor, State Fire Marshal, State Fire Commission, and the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety (DMAPS) all indicated that regulating HVAC technicians and fire damper technicians would be a benefit and enhance public protection.
“The proposed regulation/statute changes are indeed necessary to protect the safety and welfare of the public,” Acting State Fire Marshal Anthony Carrico said in a prepared statement submitted during the review process. “In particular, the installation and maintenance of ‘fire dampers’ are a critical component of any building engineered to minimize the spread of smoke and or flame through the mechanical spaces and ductwork.”
The final report from the auditor agreed with most of the reasoning detailed in the application—allowing the bill to be introduced.
“State regulation would ensure that technicians have proven knowledge in relevant codes, standards, and regulations set by organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),” the legislative auditor report said.
To read or download a copy of the report, go to: www.legis.state.wv.us/Joint/PERD/perdrep/HVAC_11_2013.pdf.
The importance of public safety and the value in licensing trained technicians were repeated at each step of the legislative process, which helped garner support in both the State House and Senate.
In the coming year, the actual rules and regulations for enforcing the new law will be reviewed and negotiated. That also must go to the state legislature for approval next year. If the process goes smoothly, the new licenses will be mandatory by January 1, 2016.
Hard Work, Good Plan Helped Bill Move Quickly
Previous efforts in West Virginia by different labor trades to advance legislation that created new regulations or licensing requirements often took years to complete.
Since the state legislature is “in session” for just 60 days each year, there is limited time for debate and compromise, leaving much of that work for study committees held sporadically during the rest of the year.
That makes this year’s effort by SMART all the more impressive. The hard-working team of dedicated labor representatives was able to introduce the bill for the licensing of HVAC installers and fire damper technicians and have it pass in one legislative session— an almost unprecedented accomplishment in West Virginia.
“There were so many moving pieces, it was amazing,” said Randy Gombos, director of organizing for SMART Local 33, who served as the point man for the bill. “It’s an intense and complicated process. [Bills of this nature] can often take years and years (to get passed).”
A previous bill supported by the plumbers and pipefitters as well as different legislation endorsed by union electricians both took multiple years before a final vote was held by the state legislature.
Steve White, the director of the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation of West Virginia, said the team of sheet metal workers— led by Local 33, with support from Local 24 and Local 100—had a solid approach to getting the legislation passed.
“Like a good construction project, the number one step is good preparation,” White said. “They did a good job getting ready and getting other local unions involved. They talked to the other crafts and also got the contractors on board.”
The effort to create the new licensure requirements started in 2013, when the application was submitted to the legislative auditor. “It’s really quite an undertaking,” Gombos said of the review process that concluded when the final report was issued in November.
Armed with a supportive opinion fro
m the legislative auditor, House Bill 4392 was introduced in the West Virginia House of Representatives in January, where it was assigned to two committees for review. Over the next few weeks, Gombos said the team of sheet metal workers scheduled meetings with legislators to gauge feelings and opinions on the bill. Changes were made to garner additional support.
White agreed that these efforts helped move the bill along. “They had a great team on the ground,” he said. “They talked to as many legislators as they could. They listened and when possible, agreed to make changes.” The momentum from the numerous conversations and help from some political allies helped the bill traverse through the two house committees and then its eventual passage—sending it to the State Senate to re-start the review process.
After review by the Senate’s Government Organization Committee, the bill eventually cleared the Senate with only a few minor amendments.
The members of the team that worked to pass the bill included: Jeff Rowe, Business Representative, Local 24; Bobby Ina, Lobbyist for Local 33; Randy Gombos, Director of Organizing for Local 33; Steve Hancock, Organizer for Local 33; Scott Mazzulli, Business Representative for Local 33; Steve Singleton, Local 33 member; Dave Efaw, Secretary-Treasurer of the West Virginia Building Trades; and Steve White, Director of ACT West Virginia.
While not involved on a day-to-day basis, the following members provided assistance during the process: Scott Hammond, Business Manager for Local 24; Sam Schaffer, JATC Instructor for Local 24; Jeremy Sarver, Local 24 member; Tim Cook, Local 24 apprentice; Mike Coleman, Business Manager for Local 33; Jim King, Business Representative for Local 33; Steven Perdue, Business Representative for Local 33; Dean Tuell, Business Representative for Local 33; Scott Newell, JATC Instructor for Local 33; Josh Tullius, Local 33 Trustee; Robert Boothe, Local 33 member; Daniel Criss, Local 33 member; Ben Oldaker, Local 33 apprentice; Elijah Smith, Local 33 apprentice; and Dakota Wills, Local 33 apprentice.
A member of Local 83 was tragically killed in an accident at the Globalfoundries jobsite in Malta, N.Y. There are approximately 350 Sheet Metal Workers on this jobsite from across the country. The Construction Manager, The M+W Group, has started a memorial fund for Mike Hauf’s family. His wife Raquel is also a local 83 member. You can visit the site here: https://fundly.com/in-memory-of-mike-hauf#_
Provide video clips (High-Def preferably) of yourself saying as a GROUP the following tag lines:
1. We’re Looking Forward! (group of roughly 3-6 people)
2. We’re Moving Ahead! (group of roughly 4-8 people)
3. We Are SMART! (group of roughly 5-10+ people)
Record each separately, with different people saying each tag line if possible. LOTS of enthusiasm is important, and all people should keep eye contact with the camera. It is also important to record outdoors or in brightly lit indoors. Be sure there is no music or noises in the background.
WATCH THE SAMPLES here and recreate with your fellow members!
All clips must be submitted by 4PM (ET), Wed. July 2.
Upload your best clips to the SMART FaceBook Page so we can access and download. You can also email them to webmaster@smart-union.org
Please keep your original video files.
All Long Island Rail Road Union blasted MTA’s June 24th press conference as a major step backward toward settling the four year old contract dispute.
MTA contacted the unions late last Friday saying they wanted to formally present a new settlement proposal. Meetings were scheduled for Friday June 27. Instead, before many of the unions even read the proposal, MTA called a citywide press conference to argue for its proposal to the public and press.
“By its actions, MTA has continued its four year pattern of bad faith bargaining,” says Coalition spokesman SMART General Chairman Anthony Simon. “Instead of sitting down with the only people who can make a deal, MTA chose the route of cheap political grandstanding. It’s painfully clear MTA is not serious about negotiating a settlement.”
Union leaders are debating whether they will even meet with MTA on Friday, given the unacceptability of MTA’s latest gambit. “When will MTA stop playing games?” asks Simon. “MTA had already been told that any approach that tried to pay for the contract by introducing a permanent tow-tier system was totally unacceptable.”
All the unions charged that MTA’s latest ploy demonstrated its total lack of credibility. “A few months ago MTA claimed it couldn’t afford more than net zeroes without raising fares by 12%,” says Simon. “Then, after two Presidential Emergency Boards rejected that claim as phony, MTA proclaimed that it couldn’t afford the PEBs’ recommendations without slashing its capital budget. Now we hear that MTA wants to spend more money during the life of the contract than the unions are asking for, in return for savings that wouldn’t be realized for decades. It is no wonder that MTA’s claims were rejected for the lies that were by six nationally renowned neutral arbitrators.”
“MTA knows full well that its latest so-called proposal has a much chance at being taken seriously as its contingency plans have of getting people to work in the event of a strike,” says Simon. “The PEB recommendation were well thought out compromises. We said all along they were affordable without raising fares or disrupting the capital program. MTA finally admitted as much at their press conference. It’s time for TMA to stop playing games. It’s not too late to avert a strike.”
It’s not every day that members of the GOP and the Democratic Party agree on anything. It’s especially rare when they agree to both stand behind union members in a strong show of support. That is what happened this past week when 10 members of New York’s Congressional delegation called upon the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority to adhere to the findings of two Presidential Emergency Boards set up to stop a strike that would affect Long Island commuters. The text of the document is available here.
At a rally this past Saturday, members of congress and local leaders called on the MTA to do the right thing and adhere to to PEB recommendations.
Republican State Assemblyman Joe Saladino told the crowd that all members of the New York State Assembly from Long Island were strongly pro-labor. “Republicans and Democrats, all of us are unified, because we stand with you,” Saladino said.
Kevan Abrahams, a Democratic Nassau County assemblyman, who is also running for Congress, agreed with Saladino. “Parties do not matter. People are what matter.” Another
According to the process outlined in the Railroad Labor Act of 1926, once the PEB report is submitted, both labor and management must maintain the status quo for an additional 30-day cooling off period, but once the cooling off period is over, each side is free to act in its own economic interest (unless they agree to extend the cooling off period). This means that management can impose any proposal it wants or force a lock out, and labor can strike.
A strike would be devastating to the Long Island economy, particularly that of eastern Long Island, according to Democratic Congressman Tim Bishop.
“The pillar of the eastern economy is travel and tourism,” Rep. Tim Bishop announced while slamming the MTA for its contingency plan that does nothing but tell people to stay at home in the event of a strike. “If people stay home and don’t come to Eastern Long Island,” Bishop said, “That’s the death knell of the eastern Long Island economy.
The International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) and its allied unions on the Long Island Rail Road urge all members, friends and supporters of organized labor to a “LIRR Labor Rally” on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at the Massapequa Train Station.
Click to RSVP and view directions.
LIRR employees have worked without a contract since June 15,2010. In a ruling delivered May 20, a Presidential Emergency Board found decisively in favor of LIRR employees in their ongoing dispute with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over wages, work rules and pension reforms.
Please forward this message to all your friends, family and co-workers and urge them to attend this important rally.
The more of us who take a stand, the louder our voices will be.
At the training center for Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 124 in Oklahoma City, committee members and training director Trent London grew tired of hearing “I’m just a sheet metal worker” as an excuse for apprentices’ unprofessional behavior. To change the mentality, they sought out and hired consultant Nic Bittle.
Sheet metal workers are professionals, and apprentices needed to start seeing themselves in that light. Bittle, who owns Workforce Pro, helps those not in managerial or leadership positions create an entrepreneurial mindset for better performance on and off the job.
“That’s what we’re trying to erase,” London said. “It should be ‘I’m a professional, and I need to look and dress like one.’ We want them to think about what they do today as having an effect on their ability to get hired.”
The idea: to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the apprentices and apprentice program and fill the need for professional development, which includes written and verbal communication in the workplace, personal appearance and personal finance and management. The program started with a pilot program in January 2013 and has evolved and continued since then. The goal is to have all apprentices participate through the years of their education.
To start, Bittle spent two weeks researching the industry and visiting contractors and apprentices on job sites and in fabrication shops in the area. He identified four core competencies he felt lacked in the apprenticeship: communication, leadership, entrepreneurship and professionalism. To address these ideals, Bittle hosted a seminar at the beginning of the semester and followed up with a 24-part series of email lessons. Apprentices are required to engage in conversation about the topics addressed during the lessons, which are readdressed during a second seminar in the second half of the school year.
“Because I was the outside guy, the apprentices were willing to talk to me,” Bittle said. “My hope is they implement it into their lives and use it. We’re not building better buildings. We’re building better people. They’re going to be better when they turn out. But they’ll also be better husbands and fathers. That’s what gets me excited.”
The program is about to finish its first full school year, but it’s still too early to tell exactly how much headway is being made with apprentices, London said.
“Our committee thinks it could be a few years until they see a definite change,” London said. “I’ve heard people say they’ve gotten something out of it. It’s something our committee, the contractors that employ these people, thinks [the apprentices] need.”
The idea for the program came directly from the members of the training committee who are also contractors. They found that although the work was good, apprentices lacked professional skills. During his research, Bittle found many apprentices felt the quality of their work should be the benchmark of their professional careers – not their attitude, communication skills or leadership qualities.
Bittle introduced to apprentices the idea of a reputation score – how they are viewed from job site to job site, contractor to contractor.
“If you’re difficult on the job site, the next boss will likely hear about it. Everybody has a reputation score,” Bittle said. “You have a reputation the minute you enter the union. And it’s how you manage your reputation score. Their job is part of it, but so is their professionalism. You can’t look up your score, but you’ve got one.”
Bringing in Bittle was a way to allow the apprentices to speak and think freely, saying what they needed to say without worrying about what their instructors, coordinator or committee would think. Changes in the way the training center staff communicates with the apprentices have already been made based on Bittle’s conversations with the students, London said.
“I think it’s really opened us up to a lot more communication between the apprentices and the committee,” London said. “It’s given the apprentices more of a voice.”
Because of the success in Oklahoma City, the training center in Tulsa, Oklahoma also hired Bittle, who started the program there in January. In Tulsa, 90 percent of the apprentices are younger than 25.
“The younger generation’s time is more valuable to them than their job or money. It wasn’t like that for my generation. For us, it was all about the job,” said Arthur Winters, part-time training director for Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 270’s training center in Tulsa. “I’m hoping this will help them prepare for their futures and approach their lives a different way. If we can make a difference in even a few lives, it’ll be well worth the effort.”
Not every apprentice is a fan of the program, but for now, London and Bittle are fine with that.
“There’s a handful that thinks this is junk. I’m not saying I’m the last person on the planet who understands integrity and personal finance. We have really good kids. Not everyone is a fan of it, but I’m OK with that,” Bittle said. “It’s a four-year thing. It’s a long process.”
“Right now, the plan is to keep this going, build the relationship and put this food-for-thought into their heads to put more value in their careers,” London said.
Celebrate your father in solidarity this Father’s Day by getting him a gift that sports the union label.
You can also find gift ideas from Labor 411, the union business directory from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.
Some of the brands you will find include:
- Hugo Boss (UNITE HERE)
- Jim Beam (United Food and Commercial Workers [UFCW])
- Joseph Abboud clothing (UNITE HERE)
- Klein Tools (Boilermakers [IBB])
- Knob Creek whiskey (UFCW)
- Louisville Slugger (UAW)
- Naturalizer shoes (UFCW)
- Old Spice (UFCW)
- Pierre Cardin cologne (UFCW)
- Red Wing Shoes (UFCW)
- Spalding basketball (Machinists [IAM])
- Stella Artois beer (IAM)
- Timex watches (IAM)
- The Union Boot Pro (UFCW)
The International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and its allied unions on the Long Island Rail Road invite members of organized labor and their family, friends and supporters to a “LIRR Labor Rally” on Saturday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at the Massapequa Train Station.
SMART Transportation Division GO 505 General Chairperson Anthony Simon said the purpose of the rally is to demonstrate the resolve of affected LIRR employees in achieving the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 245.
In a ruling delivered May 20, PEB 245 found decisively in favor of the unions in their ongoing dispute with New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority over wages, work rules and pension reforms.
In its report, the board notes that “the lack of notice and bargaining on substantial issues in the Carrier’s final offer is of significant concern … The Unions’ final offer, on the other hand, represents a reasonable balance addressing the priorities of both parties … It is noteworthy that the Unions’ assertion that real wage increases for LIRR employees, absent inflation, have not increased at all since 1991, was not challenged by the Carrier.”
The PEB report set in motion a final 60-day cooling off period. If no agreement is reached during that time, SMART and the other unions are legally allowed to strike July 19 under provisions of the Railway Labor Act.
However, Simon told New York’s Newsday May 27 that SMART would be willing to extend by 60 days, or until mid-September, any strike on the railroad.
“Our members care about Long Island and its economy,” said Simon, adding that a strike could harm summer tourism-based businesses. “All we would need is the MTA to mutually agree on the extension.”
SMART’s coalition partners include the Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers-Service Employees International Union.
To print a rally flyer, click here.