SMART Newsletter Summer 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTRACTOR

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.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL COUNCIL

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Brothers and Sisters,

I trust that you and your loved ones have been enjoying the summer season. The dedicated staff of Sheet Metal Workers Locals 17, 40, and 63 have been tirelessly advocating for you and your families – check out the latest updates throughout this newsletter.

We were honored to have taken part in the beloved tradition of joining the 2023 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Downtown Boston last March. Local 17 members donned our adored tin man mascot. You can find additional details about the parade and view photos on page 4.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 were also proud to host an Opportunity Pipeline Event featuring President Sean McGarvey of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), spotlighting the transformative power of union apprenticeships last month. Union and state government leaders joined us for an energizing day talking about how apprenticeships can set workers on the path to a secure, debtfree middle-class life. Thank you to the apprentices who took visitors on a tour of the SMW17 JATC afterward! Read more about the Opportunity Pipeline Event on page 15.

It’s important to stay aware of your union benefits and how you can use them. In this edition of the newsletter, we’re breaking down your right to unpaid medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

As always, thank you for your hard work and dedication. Our union is strong because of members like you.

In Solidarity,

Bob Butler President SMART Northeast Regional Council

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

SMW17’s most famous member – the tin man – led a contingent of workers marching in the 2023 Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade through South Boston on March 19. The parade is a tradition dating all the way back to 1737, and Local 17 was honored, as always, to be part of it. Check out some great photos from the event!

LOCAL 40 UPDATE

SMART LOCAL 40 INTERVIEWS

SMART Local 40 JATC held its first mass interview, with over 55 applicants coming in front of the Labor Management JATC. As of June, the new first-year class has 22 apprentices and climbing.

THE TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT

The Torrington High School project resides in the open territory of Litchfield County, a blue-collar conservative city. The city of Torrington has approved a $180 million Project Labor Agreement for it. For residents working on the project, this is an opportunity to work close to home. It is also a chance for our local and other trades to bring new members to join the unionized construction industry.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES

BULKELEY HIGH SCHOOL

Connecticut’s capital city of Hartford has a 20+ year history of continuous PLAs with the Building Trades. The Bulkeley High School $245 million PLA is just one example of an agreement that has helped the city’s residents. With the assistance of such agreements, 1,200 Hartford city residents will have careers in the building trades over the years.

Below is the recent graduating class of Sheet Metal Workers being sworn in by retired Business Manager, David A. Roche.

LEFT TO RIGHT: New Journeyman Trivon Dukes, Amin Ramadan, Thomas Bouchard, Peter Marquez Jr. , Justin Gilette, Nicholas Delbuono, David Rygielski, Daniel Brisson, Ebelisse Robles, Mark Bielecki

LOCAL 63 REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT

Brothers and Sisters,

As we head into summer the Massachusetts House and Senate will be moving forward on their legislative agenda. There are some key pieces of legislation that will help union members throughout the state.

The first is An Act Authorizing Project Labor Agreements –this legislation will establish procedures and standards for the Commonwealth and its subdivisions to voluntarily enter into Project Labor Agreements with appropriate labor organizations.

Next, is An Act Ensuring a Skilled Workforce – this legislation will advance opportunities for apprentices to complete their training and ensure a skilled workforce in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by requiring registered apprentices on all public construction projects.

Third, is An Act to Prevent Wage Theft and Promote Employer Accountability – this legislation increases accountability for labor violations and strengthens enforcement powers to stop wage theft and level the playing field for all businesses.

Lastly, as I’ve reported at many recent local union meetings, is An Act Relative to Compliance with the Prevailing Wage Laws of the Commonwealth – this legislation updates the prevailing wage law to include offsite fabrication work for qualified projects. Currently

many companies pay substandard wages and benefits on hours worked for this scope of the project. With the tight timelines and schedules for public work these days, our industry has seen offsite fabrication rise from 15% of total project hours to approximately 35% to 40%. Think about that!

On prevailing wage projects, certified payroll records are required and submitted weekly to make sure the identified workers are receiving the proper wages, which are posted for a given project based on its geographical location and average wage and benefits paid within that county.

The current prevailing wage loophole rewards companies by allowing them to shortchange workers. It hurts local contractors, and it cheats working families, who are forced to try to live and get by on less, just because of where they report to work. It also deprives cities and towns of tax revenue while they struggle to fund police departments, fire departments, and public schools.

I’m asking all of you to support these bills and help educate your co-workers on the importance of closing this loophole in the state prevailing wage.

Have a safe summer!

Michael J. LaFleur Local 63 Business Manager

EVERgREEN SHEET METAL SPOTLIgHT

It’s a family business built to last. Local 17 members Donald and Charlie Green are a father and son duo who run EverGreen Sheet Metal, Inc. in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

The company specializes in custom fabrication, creating unique and artistic metalwork. With ten members of Local 17 at EverGreen, they bring their experience to some of the biggest construction projects in the region, from UMass Boston to Johnson and Johnson to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

Donald first began his career as an automotive mechanic. But looking for better opportunities, he chose to become a Sheet Metal Worker with Local 501, which later merged with Local 17.

“I was a mechanic and I had some natural skills that made me a Sheet Metal Worker,” Donald recalled. “So I served a five-year apprenticeship.”

After rising to become president of the local, Donald launched EverGreen as a member-owner. His son Charlie went on a similar journey. He started out as an engineer on a commercial ship, but came home to train as a Sheet Metal Worker for seven years. He took over running EverGreen when Donald retired five years ago.

Over the years, EverGreen has invested in innovative, cutting-edge technology. They were an early-adopter of the CNC plasma table, and last year they added a CNC water jet cutter. What hasn’t changed is their commitment to education, training, and excellence.

“Most of our employees have been with us for over 20 years,” said Charlie. “It’s a good place to work.”

We salute Donald and Charlie Green, their team, and all our members who have contributed to the remarkable success of EverGreen Sheet Metal.

BENEFITS UPDATE

In the United States, as a worker, you have the right to unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA is a federal law that guarantees eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. Additionally, depending on the state you reside in, you may also be eligible for further leave benefits that go beyond the federal requirements.

FMLA BENEFITS

At some point in your life, you will probably need to take leave from work — whether for good news like a new child, or for bad news like a serious illness. That’s where your FMLA benefits can help.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires some employers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year. FMLA applies to employers who:

▪ Have 50 or more employees

▪ Those employees work within a 75-mile radius

▪ Those employees worked at least 20 weeks in the present or previous year

If your employer meets those qualifications, you can apply for FMLA leave if you have worked at least 1,250 hours over the previous 12 months. You can take leave for a number of reasons, including:

▪ The birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child

▪ You become seriously ill

▪ You need to care for a seriously ill spouse, child, or parent

To request FMLA leave, contact your employer with at least 30 days’ notice or as soon as possible. Your employer must respond to your request within five business days. You will not lose your health insurance during your leave, and you are entitled to return to the same or equivalent job when you return.

FAIR PAY FOR OFFSITE WORKERS

You work hard and deserve to be paid a living wage — no matter where your work gets done.

In Massachusetts, prevailing wage laws set baseline wages for construction workers to ensure they are paid fairly. But a dangerous loophole allows contractors to skirt the prevailing wage by underpaying workers working in a shop rather than at a job site. These contractors even hire non-union, out-of-state workers for projects, shortchanging Massachusetts families and harming our state’s economy.

The SMART Northeast Regional Council has been fighting to close the prevailing wage loophole for the last six years. In 2022, we got very close to getting this bill passed, but unfortunately, it never came

up for a vote because it wasn’t a priority of State House leadership. With your help, we can make it a priority for them this year – with a new governor and legislative session this year, we’re closer than ever.

Two new bills in the Massachusetts State Legislature, House Bill 1943 and Senate Bill 1171, would level the playing field by preventing contractors from underpaying offsite workers and removing their incentive to hire workers out of state.

It will take all of us to pass these bills and guarantee fair pay for workers. So stand with your union brothers and sisters, and show your state legislators that thousands of Sheet Metal Workers are united behind these bills.

Take Action: Scan this QR code and urge your state legislators to close the prevailing wage loophole by sponsoring House Bill 1943 and Senate Bill 1171.

SMART ENDORSES PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR A SECOND TERM

The SMART General Executive Council (GEC) voted in May to endorse President Joe Biden for re-election, highlighting the administration’s unwavering commitment to workers and their families.

Throughout his first term, President Biden demonstrated his prioritization of workers by spearheading crucial initiatives like the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. These actions have directly contributed to enhancing the lives of SMART members, providing muchneeded support and relief during challenging times.

“President Biden’s first term has been a transformative one for SMART members and working people across our nation,” said SMART General President Mike Coleman. “His unapologetically pro-worker agenda led to the passage of laws that protect union members’ retirement security, invest unprecedented dollars in our industries and ensure that SMART members will be on the job for decades to come.”

Stay tuned for updates and ways you can get involved in supporting our endorsed candidates in the coming months! Together, we can continue to build a better future for workers across the nation.

OPPORTUNITY PIPELINE: THE POWER OF APPRENTICESHIPS

In May, Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 had the honor of welcoming President Sean McGarvey of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to the JATC for an Opportunity Pipeline Event all about union apprenticeships. Speaking before an enthusiastic audience of union apprentices, union workers, labor leaders, and elected officials, McGarvey and SMW17 Business Representative Shamaiah Turner touted the power of union apprenticeships to transform lives and lift people and communities into the middle class.

Shamaiah spoke movingly about how she knew she wanted to pursue construction in high school – but it wasn’t until later, when she learned about SMW17’s apprenticeship program and Building Pathways, that she could turn her dreams into reality.

“With the federal investments in infrastructure passed by Congressional Democrats and President Biden, we’ll see a lot of work coming our way in Massachusetts.

Hiring registered union apprentices is the way to get the best craftsmanship,” said Shamaiah.

President Sean McGarvey of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) spoke about how $9.5 billion in Massachusetts infrastructure dollars will help to create thousands of good-paying union jobs that impact lives and uplift communities for generations — including through an anticipated “apprenticeship boom.”

“We’re creating opportunities and moving people to the middle class through our training infrastructure,” said Sean. “The passage of historic federal investments in infrastructure gives us the golden opportunity to create more pathway programs into the union building trades and to expand pathway programs in the unionized construction sector across the United States.”

We’re creating opportunities and moving people to the middle class through our training infrastructure.”

- Sean McGarvey

1157 Adams Street

HELP IS A CALL AWAY

Balancing work and life can be a lot. We've all had to deal with a bad day at work or stress at home. As Sheet Metal Workers, we also have some of the toughest jobs in the country. Just like we take care of our physical health, we must also take care of our mental health.

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 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.

For 34 years, Modern Assistance has been New England's leader in providing mental and physical health resources to construction and trade unions. When you reach out, you will be put in touch with experienced counselors who truly understand the needs of SMART members.

You can contact Modern Assistance anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (800) 878-2004 or scan the QR code to visit their website. Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish-speaking staff are also available.