News Archive
Ford’s Kentucky battery plant promises jobs for SMART members
Kentucky’s Blue Oval SK (BOSK) Battery Plant will be union-built and require the services of hundreds of SMART sheet metal workers. In recent months, accompanying a rise in union organizing and the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, we have seen what could be the return of [...]
New Ford EV plant “a game-changer” for SMART Tenn. local
Rendering of the concept design of the all-new $5.6 billion Ford electric vehicle mega campus in Stanton, Tenn. Image courtesy of Ford Media Center. In new podcast episode, SMART Local 4 business manager details enormous amount of sheet metal work coming to Tenn. A new $5.6 b [...]
U.S. Department of Labor puts final nail in IRAPs’ coffin
On September 23, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule to rescind the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP), and will instead direct the department’s resources toward support of registered apprenticeships. The DOL issued this final rul [...]
Two-person crew rule’s comment period receives extension
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced Sept. 22 that the public comment period for the two-person crew size Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) has been extended. Stakeholders now have an additional 60 days to show their support for the minimum crew size of two [...]
Virginia TD celebrates community bond during Summer Bash
In late July, members of the SMART Transportation Division in Virginia showed what union camaraderie is all about, gathering with their families during the annual Virginia TD Summer Bash. The celebration also demonstrated the role SMART members play in their local communities [...]
Solidarity with Kingspan workers
Kingspan workers in Santa Ana, Calif. are standing up for good jobs, safe workplaces and healthy communities. In October of 2021 they took their campaign public by presenting to their managers a majority petition demanding a fair process to decide whether to unionize. They al [...]
Daniel becomes General Vice President, Parks Chief International Rep.
New SMART 11th General Vice President John Daniel has steadfastly served SMART members for more than 30 years. Since entering the industry in 1991, John has been a sheet metal fabricator and installer, an instructor, organizer, business representative, financial secretary-tre [...]
SMART Local 23 wins Ketchikan union campaign with help from NWRC locals
SMART SM Local 23 (Anchorage, Alaska) won a wall-to-wall election at Ketchikan Vigor Shipyard in June 2022, bringing workers at the third-largest employer in Ketchikan into our union. This is a huge triumph for the shipyard workers and Local 23, giving SMART and working famil [...]