News Archive
CARES Act (Corona Virus Phase III) Passes Congress
Here are the key provisions that will impact members in the $2 trillion package the Senate approved on March 25, 2020, and the House today on March 27. Examples of How the Bill Affects Building Trades Members: Anticipated real-life scenarios of how the CARES Act will impact [...]
DOL’s OLMS extends LM reporting deadline to June 30
Due to the ongoing disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) updates its March 17, 2020, advisory concerning Title II of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). Unio [...]
Provincial Resources and Benefits Available for Canadian Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Below are links from each Canadian Province and Territory for members and workers effected by the societal disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Canada Passes Emergency Response Act: Details On New Benefit for Workers
After an overnight session, the Canadian Parliament has passed the new COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, ensuring that Canada has the tools and flexibility to respond quickly to the rising challenges being posed by the COVID-19 virus. The Act includes the new Canada Emergency [...]
State Resources and Benefits Available for Workers Impacted by COVID-19
State Resources and Benefits The following are online links to U.S. states and some local municipal resources for workers that have been impacted by COVID-19. Within these links are resources for Unemployment Insurance as well as other support services. ALABAMA General infor [...]
U.S./ Canada Emergency Legislative Center
The purpose of this page is to serve as an information clearinghouse for clear and accurate information about emergency legislative an regulatory activity regarding the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the general public along with SMART members and their families. This site is t [...]
New Emergency Employment Insurance Benefits Passed In Canada
Below is a summary of EI sickness benefits, EI regular benefits, the new Emergency Care Benefit and a new Emergency Support Benefit for Canadian members passed by the Canadian government. EI Sickness Benefits Workers that have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus or are en [...]
Families First Act Signed Into Law: How This Affects SMART Members
On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law, marking the second major legislative initiative to address COVID-19 (the first was signed on March 6 and provided emergency funding relief for domestic and global efforts). The Families First [...]