Welcome to the SMART Local 202 Information Hub
We’re excited to have you here! This page is designed to give you up-to-date information about our union efforts at Windsor Door. We believe that an informed and united workforce is key to securing a strong contract and better future for all of us. Below, you’ll find details about how you can get involved, upcoming events, and why union membership matters.
Why Union Membership Matters
Becoming a member of SMART Local 202 comes with many benefits, including:
As a union member, you have access to essential protections, better wages, and benefits. Here’s why being part of the union is important:
- Job security and protection against unfair treatment.
- Collective bargaining power for better wages and working conditions.
- Access to health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits.
- Legal support and representation when needed.
Your rights are protected under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and federal labor law. This means the company cannot interfere with your right to organize, join the union, or participate in union activities. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enforces these protections, ensuring that your employer follows the law.
We are a union made up of many cultures, but we stand united for a common goal: better jobs, better wages, and respect in the workplace. When we come together, we are unstoppable. No matter your background or the language you speak, we are stronger together.
We understand that some of you may be afraid to speak with us, but your conversations with the union are protected and confidential. No one, not even your employer, has the right to interfere with your decision to talk to us.
Upcoming Events
Get involved and stay informed by attending the following events:
- Bargaining Updates: Please take a moment to complete the following Contract Negotiations Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6CZLCGJ
- Union Meeting: October 23rd at Noon and 1:30pm – UFCW Local 2008 Hall, 7924 Intersection 30 #A, Little Rock, AR 72209
Mark your calendar and make sure to bring a coworker along!
A union is a nonprofit, democratic organization of workers who have formally come together to promote their interests and advocate on each other’s behalf. Unions push for better wages and working conditions, defend individual workers when their rights are violated on the job, champion state and federal laws and new legislation that protect workers’ rights, and hold irresponsible companies or government agencies accountable in court or by other means, when they don’t do their jobs properly.
The International Association of SMART is made up of many local union chapters around the U.S. and Canada. Every SMART member belongs to a local union that is primarily who they will interact with for most union-related matters. A local union can be as simple as the workers at one manufacturing facility, rail yard or bus company, or it can be tens of thousands of workers across several states at many employers, such as in the HVAC industry. Each local union has its own bylaws and elects its own local union leadership.
In a nonunion setting, the employer makes all the rules. They may promise to listen to employee input, but at the end of the day, they aren’t required to take any of that input seriously and ultimately still get to decide what the final policies are. In a union setting, the rules are negotiated by the union and the employer, with the union representing the best interests of the workers and the employer representing the best interests of the company.
One of the most important benefits of coming together with your co-workers to form a union is gaining the clarity and security of a union contract. Having one means knowing exactly what is expected of you at work, and what you can expect from your employer in return. A union contract is a written agreement between the employer and the employees that details the terms and benefits in a clear and legally binding way.
Because they work! Labor unions band workers together through collective bargaining to exercise a voice in their own lives and futures, in a way that individual wage earners cannot. Union members elect their own officers, determine their own goals, set their own dues and choose the rules by which their unions operate for the common good. It is this collective strength and power that allows labor unions to negotiate for more favorable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining. On average, union workers’ wages are 27% higher than their nonunion counterparts, in addition to the many other benefits a union contract brings.
“Organizing” can be a confusing term for people because it means different things in different contexts. Here at SMART, we use it as shorthand to talk about nonunion workers joining SMART to improve their jobs. It starts with workers talking to each other about improving their wages, benefits and working conditions. Once a majority of workers agree that they are interested in forming a union and want to make things better at their workplace, they should reach out to SMART. An experienced organizer whose job is to help guide you through this process will be assigned to you and your co-workers.
Next Steps
We encourage you to:
- Attend our upcoming meetings to learn more about the union and how you can get involved.
- Engage with your union representatives to share your thoughts on the upcoming contract negotiations.
- Bring a coworker to the next meeting and help grow the strength of our union.
SMART Local 202 Interest Form
With a union, we have power and a voice with our employers and elected officials. We fight for wages, health care, safety and respect in our workplaces. There’s never been a better time than now to take the next step! Please fill out the form below for more information.