Shipyard steward turned organizer helps win contract victory in Missouri

June 15, 2026

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Collaboration between the SMART International Association and Local 441 led to the hiring of a retired steward at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Missouri as a subsidized organizer. That, in turn, helped spark a successful internal organizing campaign that won workers a momentous contract — demonstrating the power of organizing from coast to coast.

In March 2026, SMART Local 441 reported on a momentous victory at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In a so-called “right-to-work” state — where workers making less and having less collective power is somehow defined by state law as a good thing — a concerted organizing push helped members at the shipyard win a collective bargaining agreement with stellar pay gains, shift premiums of 10%, and an additional 5% for combination workers.

A key to that victory? Collaboration between the SMART International Association and the local union, leading to the hiring of an organizer who knew the workplace well.

Pictured: Local 441 Business Manager Thomas E. Fisher II presents Lake with an award recognizing his dedication to our union.

In May of 2025, Local 441, with the help of SMART Director of Organizing Jason Benson and then Regional Director Josh Garner, requested a subsidy from the SMART IA to hire member John Lake to help increase the percentage of the Ingalls shipyard workers paying dues to SMART. Local 441 has a bargaining unit size of 650 workers at Ingalls; in May 2025, the percentage of this group who were members of SMART had fallen below 60%.

SMART General President Michael Coleman and the General Executive Council approved the subsidy to allow Local 441 to hire Lake. Brother Lake, a long-time member and shipyard steward for Local 441, had recently retired. However, when called upon to help rebuild the percentage of organized workers at Ingalls, he answered the call!

In a 12-month timeframe, Lake, along with Local 441’s team of representatives, organizer and stewards, was able to restore the percentage of organized workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding to above 80%, the highest percentage of all of the crafts at the shipyard covered by a Metal Trades collective bargaining agreement.

Local 441 honored Lake’s hard work at a recent union meeting by presenting him with a plaque recognizing his love and dedication to our union.

Great work, brother!