SMART Newsletter Fall 2024

2024 ELECTION GUIDE SMART UPDATE • FALL 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 LABOR DAY 2024 4 LOCAL 17 ENDORSED CANDIDATES 5 LOCAL 40 ENDORSED CANDIDATES 6 LOCAL 63 REGIONAL MANAGER'S REPORT 8 LOCAL 83 REGIONAL MANAGER'S REPORT 9 JOBSITE SPOTLIGHT 10 NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION: WHAT'S AT STAKE 12 LABOR MOVEMENT COMPARISON CHART

ABOUT SHEET METAL WORKERS 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, 63, and 83. Our locals span across New England. With over 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.

LABOR DAY 2024 This Labor Day, we honored the collective contributions of American workers to the nation’s economic strength and social progress. It marked a moment to recognize the power of workers coming together to demand change, exemplifying the strength found in solidarity and unity.

In the context of our current political landscape, this unity is crucial. Labor movements succeeded through collective action—strikes, protests, and union organizing—that forced reforms such as the 40-hour workweek, workplace safety regulations, and the end of child labor. Labor Day reminds us that progress is made when workers, across

industries and backgrounds, unite for common goals. It reinforces the idea that political and social unity can drive significant improvements in the workforce's lives.

While political divisions exist, Labor Day 2024 was a chance to bridge those gaps and recognize that the well-being of the working class is a nonpartisan issue that transcends party lines. The day thus stands as a reminder of the importance of collective action in improving the lives of all Americans, celebrating the progress made and acknowledging that we need politicians in office who are on our side.

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Local 17 Endorsed Candidates

2024 MASSACHUSETTS & NEW HAMPSHIRE AFL-CIO ENDORSED CANDIDATES CONGRESS CANDIDATES

Elizabeth Warren Jim McGovern Lori Trahan Jake Auchinloss Katherine Clark Seth Moulton Ayanna Pressley Stephen Lynch Bill Keating

US Senate 2nd District 3rd District 4th District 5th District 6th District 7th District 8th District 9th District

MA SENATE

Scan the code to view the MA AFL-CIOs complete list of endorsed candidates:

CANDIDATES

Dylan Fernandes Paul Feeney, IBEW Paul Mark, IBEW Lydia Edwards, UAW

Scan the code to view the NH AFL-CIOs complete list of endorsed candidates:

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Plymouth & Barnstable Bristol & Norfolk Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire Third Suffolk

EARLY VOTING IN THE NOVEMBER 5 MA ELECTION Early voting locations for the November 5, 2024 election will be posted in mid-October.

Voting early makes it easy to cast your vote ahead of the Election Day rush.

Check back to this link in mid-October:

Local 40 Endorsed Candidates

2024 CONNECTICUT AFL-CIO ENDORSED CANDIDATES *Indicates that the candidate is an active/retired union member

U.S. HOUSE

U.S. SENATE

STATE SENATE

CD 1: John Larson CD 2: Joe Courtney CD 3: Rosa DeLauro CD 4: Jim Himes CD 5: Jahana Hayes*

Chris Murphy

SD 3: Saud Anwar SD 4: MD Rahman SD 5: Derek Slap* SD 6: Rick Lopes* SD 7: Nathan Wolliston* SD 9: Matt Lesser SD 10: Gary Winfield* SD 11: Martin Looney SD 12: Christine Cohen SD 13: Jan Hochadel* SD 17: Jorge Cabrera* SD 18: Andrew Parrella* SD 19: Catherine Osten* SD 20: Martha Marx* SD 22: Sujata Wilcox SD 24: Julie Kushner* SD 25: Bob Duff SD 28: Rob Blanchard SD 29: Mae Flexer* SD 32: Jeffrey Desmarais SD 34: Brandi Mandato SD 35: Merry Garrett*

Scan the code to view the CT AFL-CIOs complete list of endorsed candidates:

EARLY VOTING IN THE NOVEMBER 5 CT ELECTION October 21 - 31 November 1 - 3 10 AM – 6 PM 8 AM – 8 PM on October 29 and 31 John Nimmons Local 40 Regional Manager SMART Northeast Regional Council

Scan the code for more information on early voting:

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Local 63 Regional Manager's Report

COMPARISON: OUR WORK HOURS Looking back at Local 63’s total hours over the past 8 years we have significantly increased annual hours from 2021 – 2024 under the Biden Administration as compared to hours from 2017- 2020 under the Trump Administration.

2017 – 2020 Total Hours = 2,273,795 2021– Present Total Hours = 2,637,930 (Hours through August 2024)

LOCAL 63

REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT Brothers and Sisters, As Fall 2024 is upon us, so is the presidential election as well as several elections for our state reps and senators. As I’ve said before, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. Those elected officials are many times the decision makers when it comes to voting whether or not a construction project moves forward in their respective cities and towns.

Electing pro-labor and pro-worker candidates who advocate for safer workplaces and trades careers with health insurance and retirement benefits helps to strengthen the communities in which we live and raise our families.

Let the numbers speak for themselves. I would never tell a member who to vote for, but I will tell you that some members who do not support labor-friendly candidates are in essence voting against their UNION Jobs.

VOTE FOR OUR HARD-EARNED RIGHTS Being a union member is more than just showing up on election day to cast our votes, it’s about helping union leadership get the message out to our friends and families. It’s more than just a job with great pay and wonderful health and retirement benefits. Our past brothers and sisters stood on picket lines and actively fought for the aforementioned benefits that some members take for granted, and non-laborfriendly candidates are trying to take from us.

Many times, you will receive a text or email asking you to support a piece of legislation or to show up for a standout to support a union-endorsed candidate.

These things matter, and I hope in the future I will see an increase in participation when members are asked to volunteer.

Election Day is Tuesday November 5, 2024. As always, I will continue to work collectively with the Northeast Regional Council representatives to provide new work opportunities and reduce administrative costs for our hard-working brothers and sisters.

In Solidarity,

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Michael J. LaFleur Local 63 Business Manager SMART Northeast Regional Council

Local 63 Regional Manager's Report

LOCAL 63 VOTING GUIDE Berkshire County Building Trades has Endorsed Senator Paul Mark and has encouraged all its trade affiliates to follow suit.

SMART Local 63 Western Massachusetts has not officially endorsed any candidates yet, but here is a list of Mass State Reps and Senators that have opposition in the 2024 election.

EARLY VOTING IN THE NOVEMBER 5 NH ELECTION Scan the code to learn how to vote as an absentee in the NH election:

Berkshire County Building Trades has Endorsed Senator Paul Mark and has encouraged all its trade affiliates to follow suit.

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Local 83 Regional Manager's Report

LOCAL 83

REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT New York’s history is firmly rooted in the labor movement. Some of the first labor organizations in the country were formed in our state in the early 19th century. Nearly 2 million NY residents are union members, and we as voters have a critical task this November: Keep worker protections strong by electing labor-friendly politicians.

Please ensure that the politicians you vote for this November have the following fundamental values at top of mind: 1. Worker Protections: Labor-friendly candidates prioritize legislation that strengthens worker protections, such as fair wages, safe working conditions, and benefits like healthcare and retirement plans.

2. Union Support: Support unions' rights to organize and negotiate on behalf of workers, which is essential for collective bargaining power and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.

3. Economic Equity: By supporting policies that promote fair wages and job security, labor-friendly candidates contribute to reducing income inequality and fostering economic stability within communities.

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Voting for labor-friendly candidates is not just about supporting workers' rights today, but ensuring a more equitable and just future for workers tomorrow. Let’s agree to vote for candidates who uphold the values of fairness, dignity, and opportunity in the workplace.

Though our Local has not yet officially endorsed candidates, the NY AFL-CIO has provided their list of endorsed candidates that you can use as a safe guideline for voting for your jobs.

In solidarity, Robert D. Monahan Local 82 Regional Manager SMART Northeast Regional Council

Scan the code to view all of the NY AFL-CIO's endorsed candidates:

EARLY VOTING IN THE NOVEMBER 5 NY ELECTION Scan the code to learn how:

JOBSITE SPOTLIGHT: 350 BOYLSTON Located in Boston's historic Back Bay, 350 Boylston Street is set to redefine luxury office spaces.

Situated at the iconic Public Garden in the heart of the Back Bay, the ten-story building boasts warm gray limestone facades and a granite base, complemented by expansive, energy-efficient floor-to-ceiling windows.

Equipped with advanced chilled beam systems and hands-free technology, 350 Boylston Street is poised to meet the demands of a post-Covid market with cuttingedge building solutions.

Scheduled amenities include exclusive shops, restaurants, a tenant-only spa and fitness facility, alongside onsite parking. Office tenants will enjoy residential-style terraces on setbacks from the seventh to ninth floors, enhancing the workspace environment.

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November 2024 Election: What's At Stake

WHAT’S AT STAKE IN THE NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION A dire warning: Our work, our union, our livelihoods are on the line.

Brothers and Sisters, The time has come to face a stark reality—one that could have devastating consequences for every one of us in the SMART Northeast Regional Council, and for working people across this country. There’s a blueprint out there known as Project 2025 that threatens to dismantle everything our union has fought for over the years. This is not just another political talking point. It’s a calculated, cold-blooded plan to strip away the rights, protections, and dignity that we have worked so hard to secure.

Let’s be clear: Project 2025 is no accident. It was drafted by the Heritage Foundation, a think tank with deep ties to corporate interests, and it was designed with one goal in mind—to crush the power of unions and hand over control to the corporations.

And don’t be fooled by Donald Trump’s attempts to distance himself from this plan. The facts speak for themselves—140 of his former staffers were directly involved in drafting this playbook. When someone draws up a playbook, they damn sure mean to use it.

If this plan is put into action, the impact on our lives could be catastrophic. Here’s what’s at stake: THREAT #1: LOWER WAGES AND JOB SECURITY Project 2025 proposes eliminating Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), which have been the backbone of fair wages and job security for union members working on federal projects. Without PLAs, corporations will undercut wages, and non-union contractors will flood the market, driving down pay and benefits. We’ve seen it before—when workers are forced to compete in a race to the bottom, it’s our families who suffer.

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THREAT #2: DISABLING OUR RIGHT TO ORGANIZE This blueprint is designed to make it nearly impossible for workers to organize and maintain strong unions. It pushes for laws that allow for union decertification at any time, weakening our collective bargaining power and leaving us vulnerable to corporate greed.

It also aims to ban card check recognition, forcing all union elections to be secret ballot, which historically has made organizing far more difficult. This is a direct attack on our ability to stand together and fight for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

THREAT #3: THE ROLLBACK OF WORKER SAFETY PROTECTIONS Project 2025 isn’t just about weakening unions; it’s about rolling back worker protections that have been in place for decades. This plan includes abolishing overtime pay laws, gutting health and safety regulations, and even getting rid of the federal minimum wage. Perhaps most alarmingly, it proposes stripping out Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) protections, leaving workers exposed to hazardous conditions without the oversight needed to keep our jobs safe. This is not just an attack on union members—it’s an assault on all working Americans.

THE INVOLVEMENT OF JD VANCE JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, has been a vocal supporter of this anti-worker agenda. Vance has made it clear that he’s aligned with the corporate interests behind Project 2025, and he’s ready to carry out their plan if given the chance. Vance has

November 2024 Election: What's At Stake

repeatedly positioned himself against the very values that unions stand for—fairness, dignity, and the right to a decent living. His involvement in this scheme is a direct threat to everything we’ve built together.

THE REALITY WE FACE Make no mistake, this is not just rhetoric. Project 2025 is a detailed, 900-page plan that lays out exactly how they intend to dismantle the protections that working people rely on. It’s a blueprint for corporate dominance, and if it’s implemented, it will fundamentally change the landscape of labor rights in this country. Trump’s plan will attack workers' rights to organize, lower pay and standards on construction jobs nationwide, and strike at the core of what separates the building trades from non-union construction work: broad-based, debt-free training through apprenticeship.

OUR POWER IS IN OUR VOTE Remember, our greatest strength is our collective power—our vote. This upcoming election is not just another political contest; it’s a battle for the soul of our nation and the survival of our unions.

A vote for the Harris-Walz ticket is a vote for stability, fairness, and the continuation of the protections that we all depend on. It’s a vote to reject the anti-worker agenda laid out in Project 2025.

We’ve faced challenges before, and we’ve always come out stronger. But this time, the threat is greater than ever. We must fight back with everything we have. We must ensure that Project 2025 never sees the light of day.

Stand strong, SMART NERC. Our future depends on it.

We cannot afford to sit idly by while our livelihoods are threatened. The stakes are too high. We must stand together, stronger than ever, to protect our union, our rights, and our future. This fight is about more than just our jobs—it’s about the kind of country we want to live in, and the kind of future we want to build for our children.

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VOTE FOR YOUR JOB.

VOTE FOR YOUR JOB. WE DON’T VOTE FOR CANDIDATES BASED ON RED OR BLUE – WE VOTE FOR CANDIDATES WHO FIGHT FOR WORKERS.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NLRB

HARRIS

TRUMP

Harris has been a friend to labor since the beginning, casting the deciding vote to appoint Jennifer Abruzzo, a pro-labor former attorney with the Communications Workers of America, to the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).1

During his presidency, Trump appointed a General Counsel for the (NLRB) that chose cases that stripped worker rights and stacked the rules in favor of union-busting corporations.3

Harris has cast the most tie-breaking votes in the Senate of any Vice President, including casting the deciding vote that passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided millions in funding to American manufacturers and created good union jobs.2

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Now, Project 2025, an extremist agenda authored by Trump’s closest confidants, includes plans to gut the NLRB by firing the General Counsel, making it easier to decertify unions, and cracking down on workplace organizing. 4

VOTE FOR YOUR JOB.

HARRIS

TRUMP

APPRENTICESHIPS

The Biden-Harris administration reversed Trump’s anti-worker IRAPs with an executive order, protecting quality apprenticeships like ours and maintaining high industry standards.5

The Trump administration supported the creation of IRAPs, an anti-union program trying to undercut our highquality apprenticeship program, lower industry standards which would’ve impacted our wages & benefits and made us less safe on the job. 6,7,8

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES & DISCRIMINATION

The Biden-Harris administration’s DOL launched the Mega Construction Project (Megaproject) Program, which provides free, direct assistance to contractors and unions to help ensure employment opportunities for underrepresented workers, showing their commitment to diversity and equity.

Trump banned the use of federal funds for diversity and inclusion training which stimulate the economy, make companies more profitable, and are vital for creating a more equitable, fair workplace for all.10

They also launched a $20 million initiative to help increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in Registered Apprenticeship programs, potentially increasing our membership.9 IMPACT ON WORKERS’ PAY

The Biden-Harris administration expanded the use of project labor agreements, which help unions like ours strengthen pay, keep workers safe on the job, and ensure everyone can access good careers in the building trades.13 As co-chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, Harris recommended requiring projects with federal grants and contracts to use union labor, giving us more work hours.14

INFLUENCING YOUR RETIREMENT

Harris gave the deciding vote to pass the American Rescue Plan, which provided a 30-year benefit guarantee and $86 billion for multiemployer pension plans, helping us protect our hard-earned pensions.18

Project 2025 will widen inequities in the workplace and give bad employers the ability to discriminate on the job without legal consequences.11,12

Trump reduced wage protections for millions of workers, preventing almost 8.2 million workers from receiving overtime pay and costing them over $1 billion a year in lost wages.15,16 Project 2025 proposes legislation that would allow corporations not to pay workers overtime, draining money from hard-working everyday people to billionaire corporations.17

Trump’s 2020 budget proposal cut retirement benefits for federal employees by $143.5 billion. His proposal included reducing federal pensions and reducing or eliminating cost of living adjustments.19

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VOTE FOR YOUR JOB.

UNIONS & WORKER POWER

IMPACT ON OUR RIGHT TO ORGANIZE

IMPACT ON UNION JOBS

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HARRIS

TRUMP

As a senator, Vice President Harris stood up to then-President Trump’s campaign against federal workers, criticizing his executive orders that limited the power of federal workers’ unions and made it easier to fire federal employees.20

Trump stripped workers at federal agencies of their bargaining rights at the bargaining table.21

Harris has pledged to sign the PRO Act into law if passed by Congress.

The PRO Act is landmark legislation that would effectively end right to work laws, expand our right to organize and collectively bargain, and strengthen our union.23

Trump World’s Project 2025 calls for an end to labor unions as we know them, threatening wages, benefits, and retirements. It wants to replace unions with a watered-down diluted alternative called “employee involvement organizations” which would weaken our bargaining power and threaten our wages, benefits, and retirement.22 Trump kicked unions out of their collectively bargained offices in federal buildings and instituted one-sided contracts onto several agencies.24

TIM WALZ

JD VANCE

As governor of Minnesota, Walz signed the Local Jobs and Projects Plan, which gave almost $1.9 billion to infrastructure and renovation construction projects, creating good union jobs.25,26

Vance voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided millions in funding to American manufacturers and created good union jobs.27

VOTE FOR YOUR JOB.

WORKER PROTECTIONS

TIM WALZ

JD VANCE

Walz pushed for pro-labor legislation that created statewide sick and medical leave and added additional safety measures for workers in warehouses, construction sites, hospitals, nursing homes, and public schools.28

Vance cosponsored the anti-labor TEAM Act, which relaxes anti-company union laws and promotes “employee involvement organizations,” companycontrolled organizations that weaken unions’ ability to organize and collectively bargain.29

Walz has passed laws that help organizers, banning anti-union captive audience meetings, a technique that bad businesses use to discourage employees from unionizing.30,31

Vance is against the PRO Act, a bill that would effectively ban so-called right-towork laws and give unions more ability to organize and protect working families.32

Walz passed laws protecting workers from wage theft, making general contractors liable for wage theft committed by their subcontractors and making them pay construction workers their fair share, protecting hard-working families like us from the scourge of wage theft.33,34

Vance voted to strike down the NLRB’s updated joint employer resolution, a rule that would’ve helped unions organize at large corporations with thirdparty contractors by bringing employers to the bargaining table.35

1 callaborlaw.com/entry/nlrb-general-counsel-office-moves-to-decidedly-pro-labor-perspective 2 whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/16/fact-sheet-two-years-in-theinflation-reduction-act-is-lowering-costs-for-millions-of-americans-tackling-the-climate-crisisand-creating-jobs/ 3 cwa-union.org/trumps-anti-worker-record 4 americanprogress.org/article/project-2025-would-undo-the-nlrbs-progress-on-protectingworkers-right-to-organize/ 5 hrdive.com/news/biden-rescinds-trump-era-industry-apprenticeship-program/595370/ 6 dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200310 7 apprenticeship.gov/sites/default/files/IRAP_General_Fact_Sheet.pdf 8 ccdaily.com/2022/09/bye-bye-iraps/ 9 whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/01/fact-sheet-ahead-of-labor-daybiden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-empower-workers-building-on-thepresidents-historic-support-for-workers-and-unions/ 10 epi.org/publication/biden-first-18-months/ 11 forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2024/07/08/three-ways-project-2025-will-impact-americanworkplaces/ 12 cbsnews.com/news/what-is-project-2025-trump-conservative-blueprint-heritage-foundation/ 13 whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/02/04/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-signing-of-an-executive-order-on-project-labor-agreements/ 14 govexec.com/federal-news/2024/07/unpacking-kamala-harris-record-federal-workforce-issues/398226/ 15 cwa-union.org/trumps-anti-worker-record 16 epi.org/blog/president-trump-has-attacked-workers-safety-wages-and-rights-since-dayone/#:~:text=The%20Trump%20NLRB%20has%20engaged,right%20to%20fair%20union%20elections 17 americanprogress.org/article/project-2025-the-plan-to-seize-power-by-gutting-americas-system-of-checks-and-balances/ 18 pbgc.gov/american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021#:~:text=The%20American%20Rescue%20 Plan%20(ARP,Financial%20Assistance%20(SFA)%20Program.

Vance rejected pro-worker nominations to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), government offices that have been essential to our labor wins these past four years.36

19 washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/05/08/trump-thanks-federal-employees-with143-5-billion-in-retirement-cuts/ 20 theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/25/kamala-harris-speech-teachers-unio 21 epi.org/blog/president-trump-has-attacked-workers-safety-wages-and-rights-since-dayone/#:~:text=The%20Trump%20NLRB%20has%20engaged,right%20to%20fair%20union%20elections 22 forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2024/07/08/three-ways-project-2025-will-impact-americanworkplaces/ 23 theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/25/kamala-harris-speech-teachers-unio 24 pacfteamsters.com/images/VOL._5_NO._7_JANUARY_2021_PDF.pdf, https://ucommblog. com/section/national-politics/biden-repeals-union-busting-executive-orders 25 time.com/7008402/tim-walz-policy-positions-abortion-guns-immigration/ 26 mn.gov/governor/accomplishments/accomplishments.js 27 cnn.com/2024/07/17/business/jd-vance-populist-pro-worker/index.html 28 mn.gov/governor/accomplishments/accomplishments.js 29 onlabor.org/unpacking-jd-vances-labor-record/ 30 minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/07/heres-what-tim-walz-has-done-as-governor-of-minnesota/ 31 minnesotareformer.com/2023/05/17/labor-victory-minnesota-lawmakers-approve-9-major-worker-friendly-changes/ 32 onlabor.org/unpacking-jd-vances-labor-record/ 33 minnesotareformer.com/2024/08/07/heres-what-tim-walz-has-done-as-governor-of-minnesota/ 34 minnesotareformer.com/2023/05/17/labor-victory-minnesota-lawmakers-approve-9-major-worker-friendly-changes/ 35 fastcompany.com/91157177/j-d-vance-says-he-is-pro-worker-heres-what-he-really-believes 36 fastcompany.com/91157177/j-d-vance-says-he-is-pro-worker-heres-what-he-really-believes

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Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 1157 Adams Street Dorchester, MA 02124

SMART-NERC MEMBERS:

DONATE TO HURRICANE HELENE DISASTER RELIEF In late September, we watched in horror and trepidation as Hurricane Helene made landfall and decimated so many areas across the southeastern US. Now is the time to activate and help those impacted.

SMART General President Michael Coleman has instructed the SMART Disaster Relief team to launch operations immediately to assist all members and their families affected by this catastrophe.

This affects many of our own SMART-NERC retirees and SMART members in the impacted areas. We don’t yet have a full grasp of how many and who specifically have been affected since some local communities only recently began to come back online.

16 smart-union.org/resources/disaster-relief

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At this moment, we have learned from affected locals that the following items are needed: • Hand sanitizer • Ice • Water • Toilet paper • Nonperishable food • Premixed fuel for chainsaws • Files for chainsaws

• Safety glasses • Gloves • Extension cords • 5-gallon gas cans • Fuel/gas cards • Tarps • Clorox

Donations can be sent to any of the following staging locations: SMART Local 399 841 Main Street South - New Ellenton, SC 29809 SMART Local 5 1446 Bethel Drive - High Point, NC 27260 SMART Local 85 4830 Mendel Court, SW - Atlanta, GA 30336