SMART 100
WINTER 2022 UPDATES
A Word from Your Business Manager
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TRAINING CENTER NEWS
Looking to the Future
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FUND NEWS
From the Field On the Money
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
Reagan National Airport
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SAFETY AND COVID UPDATES
Safety First!
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Retirees and In Memoriam
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POLITICAL UPDATE
Beyond 100
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WORKER SPOTLIGHT
Apprenticeship Spotlight
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ABOUT SMART LOCAL 100 Sheet Metal Air Rail & Transportation Local 100 provides top quality advocacy, support and employment services for skilled Sheet Metal Workers in Washington D.C., Baltimore, Cumberland, Richmond, Roanoke and Norfolk regions. We care about quality construction because we live in the communities where we build. From drawing boards to grand openings, our members are true partners in the growth of our communities while receiving best-in-class wages and benefits. We ensure fair wages, job safety, quality health care, pensions, training and more to support all generations of skilled Sheet Metal Workers.
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SMART 100 UPDATE
Business Manager's Message
A WORD FROM YOUR BUSINESS MANAGER BROTHERS AND SISTERS, In your hand you hold the first issue of our new, members-only SMART Local 100 newsletter. After this first issue, you will receive a new installment four times a year. Make sure you read each one as it comes in for important updates from union leadership, news that impacts our work and our job sites, and upcoming events. As Business Manager, I can tell you with confidence that 2022 is set to be a year of growth and strength for our union. After the past few years, the world’s been a little crazy. It can be difficult to maintain a sense of optimism, but the track record of our union and its members gives us no choice but to be optimistic. We have grown our membership, increased the size of our apprenticeship program, and gained new market share. We’ve secured good contracts and have great benefits. We have also been able to do more for the community by donating to charities and organizations such as Creative Suitland, Christmas in April, the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Special Olympics, just to name a few. The recent history of our union, however, isn’t just one of resilience, but a true comeback story. When I assumed the role of Business Manager, there was no guarantee that we as a union would make it to where we are today. Our financial outlook was bleak, as we were over $5 million in debt at the time. Today, I am proud to announce that we are stronger than ever before. On top of new growth in membership and apprenticeships, we are free from our $5 million debt and enjoy a balance of approximately $18 million at the end of fiscal year 2021. This budget surplus will go far toward stabilizing our financial outlook for the benefit of members, including by shoring up several million dollars in reserves to improve our contracts, organizing, and Union Hall improvements.
as Business Manager. It is an honor to serve you and to move our union towards a brighter future. In the year ahead, members of SMART Local 100 can expect to hear more from your brothers and sisters as well as from your elected leaders. We are also launching new email and texting capabilities to better serve our members, so check your email and your phone for important updates and events. Thank you all for your contributions to our union and for your dedication to our communities, and once again, happy new year!
Richard LaBille III Business Manager SMART 100 Washington, D.C. • Baltimore • Cumberland • Roanoke • Norfolk • Richmond
This great turnaround for our union is a testament to the power of collective action and what we can achieve for each other as members when we band together. Personally, I would like to thank all of you for placing your faith in me
WINTER 2022
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Training Center News
Looking to the Future DILLAN GRESHAM – SECOND-YEAR APPRENTICE WITH W. E. BOWERS Like many young people, when he graduated high school, Dillan Gresham was unsure of not only what he wanted for his future, but also how to get there once he decided. Also like many young people, Dillan enrolled in college filled with uncertainty. He obtained an associate’s degree, but still didn’t know where he was headed in life. “I didn’t see where my path was leading to,” he remembers. “I didn’t want to be in debt going to a four-year school and not really see where I was going.” Dillan took a restaurant job before a friend encouraged him to look into an entry-level position with W. E. Bowers in Beltsville. He applied and was hired as a classified worker. After learning about SMART 100’s apprenticeship program, he took the test and is now in his second year as an apprentice and excited about his career and his future. “You have a structured path leading you to success,” Dillan says. “What you learn here, you take into the real world.
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SMART 100 UPDATE
You get all the training. The classes we take are college classes, but we don’t pay for it. There’s no debt. And we get a $2 raise every six months for five years. I don’t know of any other company that does that.” The early morning schedule was an adjustment, but now he enjoys starting and ending his workday early, leaving him time in the afternoon for himself. The pay and security are important, of course, but as a former college student, Dillan is most excited about learning the trade every day. “I like going to work. I am excited to go to work every day,” he says. “Out in the field, it’s something different every day. That’s something to look forward to. There’s so much room to learn. It’s not like a 9-5 job where you’re just sitting at a computer and you’re kind of dreading the day. You’re constantly learning.” His only regret: not joining SMART Local 100 earlier. “If I could go back in time, I would have joined the union right out of high school,” he said. “It’s not just the money, it’s because I like going to work.”
Fund News
From the Field SMART LOCAL 100 MEMBERS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY While the COVID-19 pandemic has limited the volunteer work we have been able to do in the community, we have continued to be generous charitable partners in support of a variety of important causes. These include national organizations like the Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Special Olympics as well as causes closer to home, such as Creative Suitland.
past, our workers have been more than generous in sharing their time, expertise, and skills with the communities where we work and live. In the coming weeks and months, we will return to these efforts to help our communities bounce back and grow.
As restrictions are lifted and communities continue to recover and rebuild, SMART Local 100 will be an essential partner to help cities and towns get back on their feet. In the
WINTER 2022
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Fund News
On the Money KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR UNION’S FUNDS In 2016, at the time the current Business Manager assumed office, our local was deeply in debt. The general fund alone was $5 million in the red. Today, we can proudly report that at the end of fiscal year 2021, we have more than $18 million in the general fund and have well beyond the month’s required reserves. We have seen a lot of benefit increases in our health and pension funds in the last few years thanks to our shared commitment and vision. It hasn’t been easy, and it’s taken a
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SMART 100 UPDATE
team effort, but we have invested wisely in our general and benefit funds to secure our collective futures. As members, we have all sacrificed to rebuild these funds, and we can all be proud of what we are doing together to continue advancing our local. We would also like to acknowledge all the hard work of our business agents and organizers. The support we show each other is why we are growing and experiencing so much success, together.
Fund News
APPRENTICESHIP FUNDS In 2016, we had six different apprenticeship funds. We have started the process of merging them all into one fund to maximize returns on investment and education. Five years ago, we put almost $400,000 from the Washington Recruitment Fund into the Washington Apprenticeship and Training Fund and increased the monthly allocations. Today, that fund contains more than $4.5 million. The plan behind the merger is to give every apprentice in Local 100 the same opportunity to learn at state-of-the-art training centers. Every day, our coordinators and teachers are doing amazing work training the next generation of our trade. They aren’t just teaching students; they’re ensuring the continued professionalism and quality of our craft for many years to come.
PENSION AND HEALTHCARE FUNDS Our Washington Area Pension Fund is stronger than ever. Our funding status has reached over 110%, which allows us to increase the pension credit to $120 per year. That’s an over 20% increase in the last 4 years. Close management of the funds is the most important job, as a healthy fund means that our retirees and all our members can feel secure that the funds they have worked for their entire lives are protected and will be available to them when they need
them. The health fund for the Washington and Virginia areas is also in great financial shape. While the Baltimore-Cumberland health fund has not followed the same path as the Washington and Virginia funds up to now, a merger plan is in place and your trustees have worked hard to make it a smooth transition. BaltimoreCumberland participants will be moved into the larger fund by April 1, 2022. Rest assured that all Local 100 members and their families will have the same great health care that they deserve.
WINTER 2022
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Project Spotlight
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SMART 100 UPDATE
Project Spotlight
Making it Happen A SPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS LOCAL 100 MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON THROUGHOUT OUR REGION Drive around D.C., Maryland, and much of Virginia, and you’ll see our footprint almost anywhere you turn. From the metal sculptures decorating public spaces around our nation’s capital to universities, hospitals, and other major builds, the work of SMART Local 100 members brings the biggest and best projects to life. One of the largest construction projects in the region is the $1 billion-plus renovation of Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. SMART Local 100 members working for ADJ Sheet Metal in White Plains, Maryland, and Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal in Wheeling, West Virginia, have been on the job, helping make the enormous “Project Journey” upgrade at Reagan become a reality. The massive project began in 2017 and includes a new 14-gate concourse, a 225,000 square foot facility that opened to the public in April 2021. The new concourse
features three levels, four elevators, four moving walkways, seven stairwells, four public restrooms, 14,000 square feet of concession space, seating for 850 people, a new 1,300foot baggage conveyor, and six domed structures. Nearly 22,000 square feet of metal panel was used on the job, along with 2,000 tons of steel, 7,500 cubic yards of concrete, 82,000 square feet of glass, and 70,000 square feet of flooring. In all, more than 70 subcontractors worked on the job. There’s also a new state-of-the-art security checkpoint, which opened in November 2021. The new checkpoint is a 50,000 square foot building that includes four escalators, 1,000 square feet of concession space, 15 new check-in kiosks and 14 TSA screening lanes. A second new checkpoint building of the same size is under construction. The security checkpoint required more than 150,000 square feet of metal panel, 2,700 tons of steel, 5,500 cubic yards of concrete, 115,000 square feet of flooring, 33,000 square feet of glass and 5,000 square feet of ceramic tiling. More than 80 subcontractors worked on the job.
WINTER 2022
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Safety and COVID Updates
Safety First SAFETY AND COVID UPDATES THE IMPORTANCE OF OBTAINING BOOSTERS Obtaining booster shots is an important way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19. As new strains emerge and cases continue to rise, we must stay vigilant and follow current guidance from the CDC. In response to these developments, the CDC advises those who have been fully vaccinated to schedule an additional booster shot. For those of you who may be immunocompromised, this vaccination is especially important. Over time, vaccines may become less effective at preventing infection. As shown by the rise of the Delta and Omicron strains, the virus is rapidly changing, and it is important to ensure that you stay protected. Boosters can help to combat the severity of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe. By following current guidance, we can help to prevent new cases and mitigate the spread of the virus. We encourage you to obtain a booster shot if you are eligible for one. To schedule a vaccine appointment near you, visit Vaccines.gov
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SMART 100 UPDATE
ORDER FREE COVID-19 RAPID TESTS The Administration recently announced that each household in the country is eligible to receive four COVID-19 tests at no charge. These rapid antigen tests will show results within a half hour and work regardless of symptoms. Once ordered, they will be delivered to your home via USPS within seven to twelve days. Having access to over-the-counter tests is crucial to help prevent the spread of the virus. It is important to note that a negative result does not guarantee that you cannot pass COVID-19 to others. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, please engage in best practices like hand washing, wearing masks, and keeping tabs on any symptoms. We encourage you to take advantage of this free resource to help keep you and your family safe if you haven’t ordered them already. To order your free rapid tests, visit COVIDTests.gov
Congratulations and In Memoriam
Congratulations Tom Killeen George “Wes” Shaw Richard Titus Philip Beglan Timothy Bootz John Frey Wayne McCarthy Donny Rowe Lawrence Smith Leonard Stotler John Dabbs Freddie Baker Herbert Haines Timothy Matters
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In Memoriam Brother Maurice L. Brown (retired) of Temple Hills, Maryland Brother William C. Malanowski of Dundalk, Maryland Brother James A. Myrick (retired) of Chester, Maryland Brother James R. Phebus (retired) of Stevensville, Maryland Brother William “Willie” Frazier (retired) of Portsmouth, Virginia
WINTER 2022
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Political Update
Beyond 100 NEWS AFFECTING OUR UNION AND OUR TRADE From Washington In February, the White House released a report containing dozens of steps the administration will be taking to help make it easier for Americans to form or join a union. These steps contained in the report apply to both public and private sector employees. This good news follows the creation of a task force created by the White House, which had nearly 70 recommendations to help Americans in both the public and private sector unionize. The President has since accepted all of the task force’s recommendations.
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SMART 100 UPDATE
One of the steps would ensure that union organizers have access to employees on federal property. Another suggests building new preferences into federal grant and loan programs for employers with strong labor standards. What does this mean? It would prevent employers from using the money they take in from federal contracts (taxpayer dollars) on anti-union campaigns!
Political Update
FROM AROUND THE BLOCK
TOP HEADLINES
In Maryland, your union is working with partners across the state on an innovative bill that will save lives and improve safety in our communities. The “Fire Life Safety Bill” would mandate inspections of dampers and smoke suppression systems in commercial buildings.
• Congressional staffers on Capitol Hill the latest group of workers to publicly push to unionize.
The proposed legislation is similar to ordinances passed in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Some states, including Nevada and West Virginia, have similar statewide laws. In addition to protecting public safety, this law will ensure that all commercial buildings use our licensed sheet metal professionals to install, inspect and maintain duct work and dampers.
• Like Starbucks workers, bookstore workers want a union too. Employees at D.C.’s Politics and Prose are at the forefront.
• Leaked documents show nationwide retailer Target instructing its managers to help prevent workers from unionizing.
• In Baltimore County Libraries, a majority of employees have voted to unionize. • In Richmond and elsewhere in Virginia, Starbucks workers continue to join the labor movement.
WINTER 2022
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Worker Spotlight
Apprenticeship Spotlight Our apprentices take classes from quality educators while also gaining real-world, on-the-job training. They learn in-demand skills that will last a lifetime and receive mentorship from experts in the field. We love seeing our apprentices on their way to greatness!
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SMART 100 UPDATE
Worker Spotlight
WINTER 2022
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SMART Local 100 4725 Silver Hill Road Suitland, MD 20746