SMART Newsletter Fall 2022

ABOUT THE SMART NORTHEAST REGIONAL COUNCIL

The SMART Northeast Regional Council was formed in 2021 to centralize our resources throughout the region. By creating a united front among our locals and contractors, we are able to bring new jobs for our collective workforce, making us stronger and more nimble in the fight ahead. The SMART Northeast Regional Council is composed of Locals 17, 40, and 63 spanning across New England. With nearly 4,000 members and counting, we use our collective bargaining power to fight for better training, benefits, and wages for our workers and a better future for our communities.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Brothers and Sisters,

As we approach the end of the year, I hope you and your families are safe and well.

We have accomplished so much together in 2022. From continuing to overcome the challenges created by COVID-19 to better connecting our members through new websites, we have strengthened our union and laid the foundation for an even brighter future. You can read more about this year’s highlights on page 4.

One thing that makes me particularly proud is how we turned out the vote this year. Across the United States, at every level of government, we elected pro-labor candidates who will fight for our rights. Working families will have a strong voice at the table, thanks to you. Read more on page 14 and 15.

Our families are what it’s all about. We roll up our sleeves every day for our loved ones and fight for a better tomorrow. After working hard all year, the holidays give us the chance to spend quality time with the people who matter most. No matter how you celebrate, I wish you peace, happiness, and good health this holiday season.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

In Solidarity, Robert Butler President

SMART Northeast Regional Council

YEAR IN REVIEW

This year, we celebrated the first anniversary of the founding of the SMART Northeast Regional Council. Locals 17, 40, and 63 came together to form the Council, centralize our resources, and strengthen our collective workforce. Thank you for a fantastic first year — we are stronger together!

As we look back and take stock of 2022, our members can take tremendous pride in their accomplishments. Each local has continued to build upon its rich heritage and create a bright future for members with industry-leading wages, familysustaining benefits, and safe workplaces. You are the backbone of our union, and your skill, passion, and dedication have brought us many successes in 2022.

THANK YOU, PATTI SMART!

If you’ve been to Local 17’s JATC, there’s a good chance you’ve met Patti Smart. As Office Manager and Bookkeeper, she’s the first face many of us see when we walk through the doors.

After 30 years of hard work and dedication, Patti is taking a well-deserved retirement. Her warm and welcoming presence has been a true fixture in the lives of her union family, and all of us will greatly miss her. We thank you and wish you all the best, Patti!

CONGRATS TO VP BOB BUTLER!

Congratulations to Bob Butler, President of the SMART Northeast Regional Council, who has been appointed Vice President of SMART International Union!

The IU represents 700 local unions and councils in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico and coordinates the union’s activity on behalf of the membership. We’re excited to have Bob’s voice on these important issues, and we’re proud to see his local leadership recognized.

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS

In November, we celebrated Veterans Day and took the time to honor the men and women who have served our country. Because of their selfless service and sacrifice, we remain the land of the free and home of the brave.

Local 17 members celebrated Veterans Day by planting flags in the seaport district of Boston.

Sheet Metal Workers are also proud to support Helmets to Hardhats, a nonprofit group that connects veterans to life-changing opportunities in the building trades. The program is designed to help service members use the the valuable skills they’ve gained to start a quality career in the construction industry. To our service members past and present — thank you!

From Left: John Martin, John Healy, Steve MacKenzie, Patti Smart, Ed Marks

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS VISITS SHEET METAL WORKERS

The Biden-Harris administration has been the most pro-union administration in American history, ushering in the largest infrastructure investment and creating historic opportunities.

That’s why we were so proud to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to our JATC on November 2. Vice President Harris joined us to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, expanding American manufacturing and lowering costs for American families. We’re especially proud of Local 17 member Shamaiah Turner for her fantastic introduction of Vice President Harris. As Shamaiah pointed out, “The path to success doesn’t always look like a college degree. It can also look like a vocational-technical education and a career in a union with great benefits.” We couldn’t agree more!

In her remarks, Vice President Harris recognized our critical work, “When the furnace breaks in the middle of the winter, families call you to get the heat back on. When the roof starts to leak, or the refrigerator stops running, small business owners call for you to help keep their doors open. You are the folks who get people to where they need to go. Yes, I’m talking about sheet metal workers. You are moving our nation forward.”

Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for all you’ve done to help working families and put union members to work in the process!

The path to success doesn’t always look like a college degree. It can also look like a vocationaltechnical education and a career in a union with great benefits.”

“

LOCAL 40 REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT

WINNING ELECTIONS = WINNING WORK

This past election cycle proved that labor could move the needle in favor of the middle class and building trades nationally. In Connecticut, our members and officers spent countless hours knocking on doors in support of labor-friendly candidates who will help secure work for the trades under Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). Our hard work was rewarded, and now the trades have secured 19 PLAs and counting in 11+ communities. We’re now expanding our reach outside of a few core cities and putting our members to work in cities and towns across Connecticut where the union trades historically haven’t worked.

CURRENT & UPCOMING PROJECTS

With support from local governments all the way up to the White House, we are seeing an increase of work throughout the state in both the private and public sectors. Local 40 is almost fully employed with some larger projects that will break ground in 2023-2024. These projects include a new neurosciences center on Yale’s Saint Raphael Campus, a large footprint of bio labs across New Haven, a new science building at Wesleyan

University, hospital work in the Hartford area, and other various schools, dorms, and municipal buildings throughout the state. Local 40 brought in 15 new apprentices into the program this past fall and is anticipating graduating in effort to prepare the next generation of tin knockers.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Connecticut’s new Indoor Air Quality legislation is a work in progress, and the working group will soon submit its recommendations for the next legislative session for municipalities to ensure our schools’ HVAC systems get upgraded and maintained properly. In the coming months, as the contractors get a handle on the process and the new regulations, Local 40’s training center will be ready to certify our members to become VVIAQ technicians and provide new opportunities for sheet metal workers.

BECOME AN APPRENTICE

The SMART Northeast Regional Council is always looking for our next apprentice journeymen, welders, balancers, and architectural sheet metal workers. Spread the word and encourage your friends to contact Local 40 at (860) 529-2616.

LOCAL 63

REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT

Brothers and Sisters,

As we move past the November elections, I would like to thank all the members who showed up on Election Day to support candidates who ensure that working families have a voice. On the state level, we were very successful across the board, from the Governor’s office to local legislators who are labor-friendly and share our goals. I look forward to working with our legislators in Massachusetts and Vermont to improve the livelihoods of SMART members. On the national level, Americans across the country showed up in numbers to support the current administration and keep control of the Senate.

I would also personally like to thank our apprentices who volunteered to hold signs throughout the election season, as well as our JATC for their support. We are stronger together!

Since the publication of our last newsletter, our local held a couple of Pin Ceremonies to honor our members who have achieved 15, 25, 40, 50, 60, and 70 years of continued service. Congratulations to all of you for your continued service to the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 63 and milestone achievements.

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving with their families. The staff at Local 63 and I wish you all Happy Holidays!

In

Solidarity, Michael J. LaFleur NERC Local 63 Regional Manager

WOMEN IN THE TRADES

Massachusetts is a national leader for women’s representation in the trades, tripling the national average of women in union apprenticeships. We’re proud to partner in this effort, expanding opportunities for women and building a more inclusive industry. This fall, we were part of historic efforts to open doors and break down barriers.

In early October, Local 17 sisters joined over 700 tradeswomen to come together for Women Build Boston. This first-ever conference for women who work in the trades across New England, Women Build Boston was headlined by Governor-elect Maura Healey and U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.

Later in the month, our sisters showed up in force again to represent Local 17 and SMART NERC at Tradeswomen Build Nations, the largest gathering of tradeswomen in North America. We proudly showed the rest of the country why Massachusetts is leading the way for women in the trades.

In the words of Local 17 member Shamaiah Turner, “We are breaking barriers every day and constantly challenging the status quo so that women never again have to ask permission to be, do, or have whatever they want.”

We are breaking barriers every day and constantly challenging the status quo so that women never again have to ask permission to be, do, or have whatever they want.”

“

THE UNION VOTE

When the dust settled after this fall’s midterm elections, one thing was clear: working people were vital to victories everywhere. Nationwide, union families made up 18% of all voters — on track with our turnout in the historic elections of 2020 and 2018. With so many races decided by razor-thin margins, every vote mattered.

Across New England, 72% of SMART NERC’s endorsed candidates won. Your tireless organizing efforts helped put pro-labor candidates over the top in race after race. With every labor walk and door knocked, you cut through the political noise and big spending by engaging one-on-one with voters about the issues that matter to working families.

In Massachusetts, 69 of our 77 endorsed candidates won. Not only did labor champions win up and down the ballot, but women will hold all but one statewide office for the first time.

A special congratulations to:

▪ Maura Healey, governor

▪ Kim Driscoll, Lieutenant governor

▪ Andrea Campbell, Attorney general

▪ Diana DiZoglio, Auditor

▪ Deb goldberg, Treasurer

In New Hampshire, 29 of our 39 endorsed candidates won. One of our candidates won by just a single vote — never forget that every vote matters!

In Maine, 82 of our 134 endorsed candidates won. In Rhode Island, ALL 8 of our endorsed candidates won. In Connecticut, 50 of our 77 endorsed candidates won. In Vermont, 17 of our 19 endorsed candidates won.

When union workers have a voice in our elections, we deliver results. To everyone who voted and volunteered, know that you made a difference. Thank you!

We know the fight isn’t over. The real work is just getting started. We look forward to partnering with our newly elected leaders to help working families through these challenging times, protect our wages and hard-earned benefits, and create an economy that works for all of us. We will remain in this fight — for you and with you — until the American Dream is finally a reality.

SMART

Northeast Regional Council

1157 Adams Street

Dorchester, MA 02124

If you’re going through a rough patch, you’re not alone. 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental health issues each year. Ignoring the problem doesn’t work, but reaching out for help can. There’s no shame in asking for what you need.

As a SMART NERC member, you can access free counseling, substance abuse resources, and more through Modern Assistance. This benefit provides a full range of services for eligible members and their dependents.

You can contact Modern Assistance anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (800) 878-2004 or scan the QR code below to visit their website.

get the support you need when you need it.