The patience and persistence of SMART union organizers is set to pay off for both workers and a new signatory contractor in New Jersey.
About three years ago, the Local 27 (Southern New Jersey) Organizing Department began to connect with a small but growing duct cleaning contractor called Induct Air Duct Cleaning. What started as a simple cold-call visit gradually turned into meaningful conversations, with organizers stopping by the shop periodically to discuss how Local 27 might be able to provide expanded opportunities for the company’s success and growth, always leaving the door open for the next meeting and further discussion.
Pictured: George A. Nowatcki, Local 27 organizer, and company owner Boota S. Kharoudh. Not pictured: Greg Goble, Local 27 organizer.
Over time, those brief discussions turned into meaningful dialogue with the company’s owner. As trust slowly developed, the conversations moved from quick visits at the shop door to scheduled sit-down meetings where the organizers and the owner could talk more openly about the future of the company and the benefits of becoming a union contractor.
The local took a slow and steady approach. During several meetings over the years, organizers focused on building a relationship rather than forcing a quick decision. They explained how becoming signatory could provide access to a skilled workforce, training resources and long-term stability in a growing industry sector. The owner listened carefully, asking questions about how the agreement would work and what it would mean for his business.
Eventually, the outreach paid off. The company agreed to move forward, making Induct Air Duct Cleaning the first duct cleaning contractor to become signatory with Local 27.
What began as simple walk-ins and persistence ultimately turned into a successful organizing effort — one that expanded the local’s reach into a specialized part of the HVAC industry and set a precedent for future organizing in the duct cleaning sector. Now, both Induct and its workers are set to benefit for the years to come.
When companies use low-road contractors on construction projects and lower local jobsite standards, sheet metal workers, communities and businesses suffer — which is exactly why SMART local unions organize to make sure that doesn’t happen.
For SMART Local 19, a campaign that started with a Chick-fil-A construction site in Glassboro, New Jersey, eventually led to a huge victory for sheet metal workers and communities across the state.
The Glassboro Chick-fil-A was initially using a nonunion contractor to install its sign, menu board and advertising package — meaning sheet metal workers performing that work were not being paid the union-negotiated wages that local community members deserve. In response, Local 19 began bannering the Chick-fil-A construction site; later they brought out an inflatable “Scabby the Rat,” which stood on the jobsite with the banner for three days. Shortly thereafter, Local 19 Organizer Brian Heino received a call from management, informing the local that the work package for that project was re-awarded to a Local 19 signatory contractor.
Another Chick-fil-A location soon broke ground a few miles away — again, using a nonunion contractor. So Local 19 brought back the banners and Scabby in order to raise awareness about why it’s important to use high-road contractors and pay New Jersey sheet metal workers what they deserve. Once again, a Local 19 contractor was re-awarded the work package, securing opportunity for SMART members.
But this time, the work award wasn’t just for the one project — it was for ALL future and current Chick-fil-A locations being built and planned for construction in New Jersey.
When we let people know about the issues happening in their communities, and when companies and contractors realize that those issues aren’t just going to disappear, unions can win real progress for sheet metal workers and local jobsite standards.
For SMART members in New Jersey, the proof lies in every new Chick-fil-A construction site that breaks ground from here on out.
When two members of SMART Local 27 (Southern New Jersey) started to think about starting their own sheet metal company, the local initiated organizing conversations right off the bat. The result? Local 27’s latest signatory contractor: SteelCraft Industrial, a specialty steel fabrication company in Keyport, New Jersey.
The strategic organizing effort started early. When the two members first began to consider leaving their jobs and starting their own business, they had preliminary discussions with the local’s Organizing Department, expressing interest in being signatory to Local 27. Recognizing the opportunity, local organizers immediately began working with them on the benefits of building the company as a union contractor from the start.
Under the direction of Local 27 Business Manager Christopher George, the organizing department worked directly with the prospective owners over several meetings and phone calls, outlining the advantages of becoming signatory — including access to a skilled workforce, the ability to compete for prevailing-wage and public works projects, the benefits of participation in the union’s established benefit and training programs, and much more. The members and the local also discussed the long-term stability that union affiliation could provide for both their business and their families.
After several months of back-and-forth discussions and negotiations, the owners agreed to move forward and sign with SMART Local 27 — expanding our union’s contractor base in the Garden State.
SteelCraft provides yet more proof of why we organize: to benefit sheet metal workers, contractors and communities across North America.
Fifth-year Local 27 (Southern New Jersey) apprentices forged their way into the local’s history with their group project this summer, creating a “27” sign that is now proudly displayed at the Local 27 union hall. The apprentices fabricated the sign out of 11 ga carbon steel, designing and forming the project using CAD, a plasma table and a press brake — all equipment that was provided through the International Training Institute (ITI) grant program.
Pictured, front row, left to right: Business Rep. Mike Kolbasowski, President/Business Manager Thomas De Bartolo, fifth-year apprentices Malcolm Hill, Clayton Jansa, Conner Kozar, Training Coordinator John Espinos Jr., Zach Szabo, Isaac Rolph. Back row: Peter Palumbo, Thomas Sommers III, Rob Rasmussen, Mike Melon, Dan Marino, Alex Sarti, Will Anderson.
Local 25 sheet metal workers in northern New Jersey recently completed work on the brand-new Terminal A at Newark Liberty Airport. The huge project, funded by a $3 billion investment from the Port Authority of New Jersey/New York, included 33 airline gates and eight bridges, as well as restaurants, bars and retail.
“Local 25 covered all sheet metal and HVAC work in the terminal: restaurants, bars, stores, gates, airways to planes, exhausts and kitchen equipment to all bars and grills,” said Local 25 Organizer Gregory Conte. “Local 25 had over 90 members on the job at any given point in the project.”
Newark Liberty Airport Terminal A, post-redevelopment
At more than one million square feet, the new Terminal A was the largest design and build project in New Jersey. The terminal was designed and built by Tutor Perini and Parson in a joint venture development; signatory contractors WDF and Halo Sheet Metal began work in September 2021 and finished the project – on time – on January 24, 2023.
“We are proud of everyone who worked on this massive new terminal,” said Local 25 President and Business Manager Joseph Demark, Jr. and area Business Agent/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Calvin Brooks. “Next up will be Terminal B and then C. Great job!”
Members work on the Newark Liberty Airport Terminal A projectUnion ductwork at Newark Liberty AirportLocal 25 members on the jobOrganizer Gregory Conte (left) and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Calvin Brooks
In 2023, Local 19 worked with the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) and pro-union politicians in New Jersey to help pass fire life safety legislation — helping keep citizens safe and creating more work for SMART members in the Garden State.
The process began in January, when then Assistant Business Manager Bryan Bush, Assistant Business Manager Luke Gordon and Political Director Todd Farally approached Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli and Senator Nilsa Cruz- Perez about running a bill that would ensure the state of New Jersey would follow the National Fire Protection Association Code (NFPA), along with the International Fire Code (IFC). Both mandate inspections of fire, smoke, combination fire/smoke dampers and smoke control systems, which include but are not limited to smoke evacuation systems and stairwell pressurization. In addition, any deficient dampers or smoke control systems would need to be repaired in a timely manner after inspection.
Early on, Local 19’s team consulted with Jeremy Zeedyk, the Northeast representative for NEMI. Zeedyk helped to get the ball rolling on crafting the legislation and ensuring that all the technical information, including the necessary certifications, were specified within the language of the bill. After several rough drafts, Local 19 had solid language and talking points to bring to Trenton.
Fire life safety is just one example of the job-creating lawmaking opportunities available to local unions. NEMI encourages all locals to reach out for assistance identifying and drafting legislation.
“By early March, companion bills were introduced in the Assembly and the state Senate, and both bills passed unanimously out of two committees in each chamber over the next couple months,” said Farally. “The Assembly fully passed their version in May, and the Senate moved to pass the legislation in mid- June. Oftentimes we see votes in government fall along stark political lines, but these bills left both the Assembly and Senate unanimously and were headed to Governor Murphy’s desk.”
That’s when the process hit a momentary hitch. After the bills had passed both chambers in Trenton, sponsors of the legislation began to receive questions and calls for concern from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Fire Service, which falls within the DCA. Assemblyman Verrelli’s office reached out to Local 19, laying out the concerns and where they were coming from.
“At this point, we reengaged Jeremy Zeedyk to look over the concerns the Fire Service had and then proceeded to set up a meeting between Local 19, the DCA, the Fire Service, NEMI and Assemblyman Verrelli,” explained Farally. “We were able to hear and address many of their concerns, and Local 19 shared our concerns with some of the proposed changes from the DCA.”
After a few months of drafting and redrafting language, in mid- November all parties agreed to some changes within the bill that give the state some flexibility while still upholding important standards which must be enforced. At this point, the bill was labeled as conditionally vetoed, which meant the governor’s office had changed some elements of the bill and it would be sent back to both legislative chambers for a vote to concur with those amendments.
In early December of 2023, the New Jersey Senate and Assembly both unanimously concurred with the changes, and fire life safety is now the law statewide — showing how important it is for SMART to be involved in the political process, and the vital role pro-union legislators play.
“There are still some steps to go through at this point under the regulatory process before everything is implemented, but rest assured — Local 19 will be there every step of the way to ensure the regulations are applied correctly and fairly to all,” Farally concluded.
Fire life safety is just one example of the job-creating lawmaking opportunities available to local unions. NEMI encourages all locals to reach out for assistance identifying and drafting legislation.
Local 25 sheet metal workers in northern New Jersey recently completed work on the brand-new Terminal A at Newark Liberty Airport. The huge project, funded by a $3 billion investment from the Port Authority of New Jersey/New York, included 33 airline gates and eight bridges, as well as restaurants, bars and retail.
“Local 25 covered all sheet metal and HVAC work in the terminal: restaurants, bars, stores, gates, airways to planes, exhausts and kitchen equipment to all bars and grills,” said Local 25 Organizer Gregory Conte. “Local 25 had over 90 members on the job at any given point in the project.”
Newark Liberty Airport Terminal A, post-redevelopment
At more than one million square feet, the new Terminal A was the largest design and build project in New Jersey. The terminal was designed and built by Tutor Perini and Parson in a joint venture development; signatory contractors WDF and Halo Sheet Metal began work in September 2021 and finished the project – on time – on January 24, 2023.
“We are proud of everyone who worked on this massive new terminal,” said Local 25 President and Business Manager Joseph Demark, Jr. and area Business Agent/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Calvin Brooks. “Next up will be Terminal B and then C. Great job!”
Members work on the Newark Liberty Airport Terminal A projectUnion ductwork at Newark Liberty AirportLocal 25 members on the jobOrganizer Gregory Conte (left) and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Calvin Brooks
SMART members in New Jersey at a Passaic Central Labor Council labor walk.
This election cycle, SMART members across sheet metal and the Transportation Division flexed their muscles at the ballot box, helping elect union-friendly candidates across the United States. That includes SMART members who ran for office themselves, pledging to pursue policy that supports working families.
In New Jersey, the SMART New Jersey State Council endorsed a bipartisan group of pro-labor candidates that won big. Johnnie Whittington of Local 27 (southern New Jersey) won his election to the East Windsor Township Council, while Glen Kocsis — also from Local 27 — won re-election to the Neptune City Council: putting the voice of SMART workers in powerful positions to benefit their union brothers and sisters.
“So far this election cycle, 82% of our labor candidates have won their elections,” said Joseph Demark, Jr., president of the New Jersey State Council for Sheet Metal Workers, president and business manager of Local 25 (northern New Jersey) and executive board member of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “Together, we made the difference and won!”
In Kentucky, SMART members endorsed and helped re-elect Andy Beshear as governor. His victory is a big win for workers — during his first term, he made Kentucky the battery manufacturing capital of America, and he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with union members from the picket line to the governor’s office. Thanks in no small part to Beshear’s leadership, SMART members are seeing an extraordinary amount of work in the Bluegrass State — and our union is growing as a result.
Up and down the ballot, in races across the country, SMART members fueled a score of impressive victories. Warren Faust, SMART International representative and former business manager of Local 44 (northeastern Pennsylvania), won re-election to the Wilkes-Barre School Board. And in Virginia, workers marched to the ballot box to help pro-union candidates take the state House and Senate, putting advocates for working families in control of policymaking.
Ultimately, 2023 reiterated the importance of the union vote. Election Day reminds all legislators: When you stand with union members, union members stand with you.
“From door-knocking, to phone-banking, to peer-to-peer text messaging, we showed the power of our vote,” said SMART-TD Virginia State Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs. “When we stand together as one, there is NOTHING that can stop us in our tracks.”
Note: This article was originally published by Eye On Sheet Metal, a resource for the unionized sheet metal industry.
John Espinos (second from right) received the Patriot Award in November.
John Espinos has mentored many apprentices in his time as training coordinator at SMART Local 27 in central and southern New Jersey, but receiving a Patriot Award for going above and beyond in his support of a servicemember took him by surprise.
“I was not expecting this at all,” Espinos said. “It actually brought a tear to my eye.”
The award pin and certificate were presented to Espinos by Ronni Enzman, Monmouth County chairperson for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), at a small ceremony at the training center on November 27.
Sgt. Mike Pruchnicki, currently in the second year of his apprenticeship, is the servicemember who nominated Espinos. He recalled all the extra time Espinos took with him to help get his Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits in place and, later, to make his deployment as smooth as possible.
“John helped me a lot since I came to Local 27 … he supported me each time I went away on orders or training, and ensured I still would have work when I returned,” Pruchnicki said. “He has been very supportive through everything, and when I found out about the Patriot Award, I couldn’t think of anyone else more deserving than John.”
The Patriot Award is one in a series of Department of Defense awards granted by the ESGR, and it reflects efforts made to support servicemembers through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence when needed. Servicemembers can nominate a supervisor they feel has made a substantial difference for them.
“This is yet another way to show the sheet metal industry is employing veterans, and veterans appreciate the support they are given,” said Josh Moore, International Training Institute field representative and SMART Heroes specialist. “This young man was worried about his apprenticeship, and he was glad John was there to support him. I think it’s great that the local is being recognized. They’re the ones that support the apprentices as they make their transition into journey work.”
Moore and Espinos believe this is the first time a training coordinator for a SMART local has received a Patriot Award. The ESGR awards program is progressive, with the Patriot Award serving as a first step toward further recognition. In order to qualify for consideration for higher honors, such as the Above and Beyond Award or the program’s highest recognition, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, an employer must first have at least one supervisor recognized with a Patriot Award.
Espinos is no stranger to recognition as a mentor — or lapel pins of appreciation. He’s been involved in Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster for many years, and over time he accumulated quite a few mentor pins from Eagle Scouts who wished to honor those who had helped them on their journey. It got to the point, he said, that at Boy Scouts events he would jokingly walk lop-sided and say all the pins were weighing him down. Memories of those events came back to him as he received the Patriot Award.
“It reminded me of something my dad said before he passed,” recalled Espinos. “He told me, ‘You were a rough kid growing up, always in trouble, but I knew you were here to make an impact on other people’s lives.’”
The difference Espinos made for Pruchnicki was evident when Espinos received his award, but this is far from the first or last time a training coordinator will go to bat for an active-duty guard or reserve member. They step in to coordinate solutions when a contractor must lose a valued apprentice due to deployment, then make sure that servicemember’s job is safe and waiting for them when they return. Training coordinators at sheet metal locals also often help apprentices with VA matters and paperwork or online forms for the GI Bill, as well as making sure the apprentice gets hours covered to receive health care, pension and everything else that should be available to them.
Espinos said that there are quite a few hoops to jump through, but once you go through it the first time, it gets easier each time afterward. He also noted that apprentices at Local 27 are really in full-time classes for only around four weeks a year, each year of the five-year program.
“In that short amount of time, it felt good to make an impact on [Pruchnicki’s] life,” Espinos said.
Note: This article was originally published by Eye On Sheet Metal, a resource for the unionized sheet metal industry.
John Espinos (second from right) received the Patriot Award in November.
John Espinos has mentored many apprentices in his time as training coordinator at SMART Local 27 in central and southern New Jersey, but receiving a Patriot Award for going above and beyond in his support of a servicemember took him by surprise.
“I was not expecting this at all,” Espinos said. “It actually brought a tear to my eye.”
The award pin and certificate were presented to Espinos by Ronni Enzman, Monmouth County chairperson for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), at a small ceremony at the training center on November 27.
Sgt. Mike Pruchnicki, currently in the second year of his apprenticeship, is the servicemember who nominated Espinos. He recalled all the extra time Espinos took with him to help get his Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits in place and, later, to make his deployment as smooth as possible.
“John helped me a lot since I came to Local 27 … he supported me each time I went away on orders or training, and ensured I still would have work when I returned,” Pruchnicki said. “He has been very supportive through everything, and when I found out about the Patriot Award, I couldn’t think of anyone else more deserving than John.”
The Patriot Award is one in a series of Department of Defense awards granted by the ESGR, and it reflects efforts made to support servicemembers through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence when needed. Servicemembers can nominate a supervisor they feel has made a substantial difference for them.
“This is yet another way to show the sheet metal industry is employing veterans, and veterans appreciate the support they are given,” said Josh Moore, International Training Institute field representative and SMART Heroes specialist. “This young man was worried about his apprenticeship, and he was glad John was there to support him. I think it’s great that the local is being recognized. They’re the ones that support the apprentices as they make their transition into journey work.”
Moore and Espinos believe this is the first time a training coordinator for a SMART local has received a Patriot Award. The ESGR awards program is progressive, with the Patriot Award serving as a first step toward further recognition. In order to qualify for consideration for higher honors, such as the Above and Beyond Award or the program’s highest recognition, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, an employer must first have at least one supervisor recognized with a Patriot Award.
Espinos is no stranger to recognition as a mentor — or lapel pins of appreciation. He’s been involved in Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster for many years, and over time he accumulated quite a few mentor pins from Eagle Scouts who wished to honor those who had helped them on their journey. It got to the point, he said, that at Boy Scouts events he would jokingly walk lop-sided and say all the pins were weighing him down. Memories of those events came back to him as he received the Patriot Award.
“It reminded me of something my dad said before he passed,” recalled Espinos. “He told me, ‘You were a rough kid growing up, always in trouble, but I knew you were here to make an impact on other people’s lives.’”
The difference Espinos made for Pruchnicki was evident when Espinos received his award, but this is far from the first or last time a training coordinator will go to bat for an active-duty guard or reserve member. They step in to coordinate solutions when a contractor must lose a valued apprentice due to deployment, then make sure that servicemember’s job is safe and waiting for them when they return. Training coordinators at sheet metal locals also often help apprentices with VA matters and paperwork or online forms for the GI Bill, as well as making sure the apprentice gets hours covered to receive health care, pension and everything else that should be available to them.
Espinos said that there are quite a few hoops to jump through, but once you go through it the first time, it gets easier each time afterward. He also noted that apprentices at Local 27 are really in full-time classes for only around four weeks a year, each year of the five-year program.
“In that short amount of time, it felt good to make an impact on [Pruchnicki’s] life,” Espinos said.
