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.
Brothers and Sisters,
As 2025 begins, we look back at the past work of SMART members in our region of the country.
Local 40 workers in Connecticut have been at the forefront of some of the biggest projects in Connecticut. They supported the massive expansion project at Hartford Healthcare, built Wesleyan University’s New Science Building, and are training the next generation of SMART members at Bulkeley High School’s Career Training and Education (CTE) program.
We celebrate the project labor agreement (PLA) victory in Massachusetts with the members of Local 17 who have been advocating for PLAs on public projects for years. Their consistent pressure in the MA legislature was a key factor in getting the Economic Development Bill signed this past December.
Our union siblings at Local 63 in Massachusetts and their elected officials have worked in tandem to build the Holyoke Veterans Home. State legislators ensured this project would be built under a PLA. This project is being completed ahead of schedule and on budget showing how union labor is efficient for taxpayers whose funds go to services like the Veterans Home.
Local 83 has been making huge strides in updating their state-of-the-art training facility and celebrating the legacy of Larry Warzek, a retiree who helped set the standard for welding training in New York.
I look forward to the great work we'll accomplish in the rest of 2025. We'll continue to work hard to advocate for you, our members.
In Solidarity,
Robert Butler President SMART Northeast Regional Council
LOCAL 17:
LOCAL 17'S PLA VICTORY
In Massachusetts, members and leaders from Local 17 have been advocating for Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for years. We've seen how PLAs ensure projects are built by well-trained workers –which means more projects being built right, built on time, and on budget.
Our hard work paid off when Governor Healey signed the Economic Development Bill, which includes language supporting the usage of PLAs on public construction projects in the Commonwealth.
Thanks to our long-term advocacy, PLAs can now be applied to a wider variety of projects and serve thousands more workers in the Commonwealth.
KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT PLA s
Anti-union forces try to obscure the facts about PLAs. We as union members have a responsibility to know the truth.
9 Any contractor—both union and non-union— can bid and win federal contracts and grants requiring or preferencing the use of a project labor agreement.
9 Small and disadvantaged businesses can bid on, and participate in, projects requiring a project labor agreement.
9 Project labor agreements open doors for women and people of color.
9 Project labor agreements apply only in the construction industry.
“
Our communities deserve the opportunity to utilize Project Labor Agreements on public projects, which ensure that taxpayer money is spent on quality building projects. The ceremonial signing of the Economic Development Bill allows for the same great results with PLAs on state and municipal projects all across the Commonwealth.
”
- Frank Callahan, President of Massachusetts Building Trades Unions
Source: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/GoodJobs/Docs/Six_Key_Facts_About_PLAs.pdf
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Local 17 sheet metal worker and pastor Wayne Zanchi served 90-100 people with a group of volunteers from local churches at Common Ground Ministries in Haverhill, MA. Wayne led the team of volunteers and has organized the Thanksgiving meal each year for the past 6 years, serving the homeless a hot meal to make them feel at home and wanted each Thanksgiving.
Common Ground feeds the homeless lunch daily and breakfast on weekends. Wayne preaches there each Sunday. They have showers and laundry available at no cost, clothing, emergency food, and a monthly food pantry serving the surrounding area.
SMW 17 ANNUAL CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARTY
On Saturday, December 7, dozens of our SMW 17 union families gathered together at the Union Hall to celebrate Christmas. The kids enjoyed visits with Santa and characters from Frozen, along with a slew of other festive activities including face painting, a balloonist, and so much more. It was a day to focus on the magic our kids bring to the season, and remind us of the joyful heart of the holidays.
As a union, it’s so important to gather together off the job site. If you and your family couldn’t make it this year, we hope to see you at the next one in 2025!
Scan to view and download professional photos of your family!
Brother Wayne with friends from West Church in Haverhill, MA, who joined him in serving the Thanksgiving meal this year
Brother Wayne and his wife Joanna
LOCAL 40 UPDATE
REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Local 40 members are working on some of the biggest projects in the state of Connecticut, including the new Hartford Hospital and Training Center, Bulkeley High School, and Wesleyan University.
Hartford Healthcare has a massive expansion project going on that comprises a 600,000-square-foot parking garage with ground floor, clinical and community support program space, a 470,000-square-foot inpatient bed tower, an 80,000-square-foot patient bed wing expansion, a 80,000-square-foot cancer center and emergency department expansion, and a 35,000-square-foot medical office building. Our members are working hard to finish this project ahead of schedule. It will be a state-of-the-art addition to a hospital that has kept our community healthy since 1864.
At Wesleyan University, the 197,000-square-foot new science building is set to be completed in Spring 2026 and it will be ready for use in Fall 2026. It will be home to 39 research and support labs, nine teaching labs, seven classrooms, a vivarium, a greenhouse, faculty and department offices, and conference spaces. A diverse union-majority workforce is helping to build the project: 50 percent are from within a 25-mile radius of campus, and 30 percent are people of color, and Local 40 is proud to be part of those ranks.
At Bulkeley High School, students are prepared for future union careers as SMART members with a state-of-the-art Career Training and Education (CTE) program led by Local 40 instructors. Students get hands-on training with materials and tools of the trade. They’re gaining real-world experience so that when they graduate, they’ll have a leg up on the competition to achieve a valuable union apprenticeship. This program serves as a model for CTE in the Northeast.
In Solidarity, John Nimmons
Local 40 Regional Manager
SMART Northeast Regional Council
LOCAL 63
REGIONAL MANAGER’S REPORT
Holyoke Veterans Home
In 2021, Massachusetts state legislators required the new Holyoke Veterans Home be built under a Project Labor Agreement as part of a provision for the Economic Development Bill. Governor Healy and Frank Callahan, President of Massachusetts Building Trades Unions were in attendance for this historic signing that champions our workers and our veterans in the Commonwealth.
PLAs have been utilized across construction projects for the communities and counties that make up our commonwealth. Now, our veterans will live in a well-built veterans home that benefits the community it is part of.
The Holyoke Veterans Home is being built ahead of schedule and on budget and exceeds workforce goals for women, minorities, military veterans, and minority and women-owned contractors. The PLA that was set for the Holyoke Veterans Home is a prime example of how PLAs are key to building robust and cost-effective infrastructure for our communities and ensuring taxpayers that their money is well spent.
In Solidarity,
Michael J. LaFleur
Local 63 Business Manager
SMART Northeast Regional Council
LOCAL 63 KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Local 63 hosted its annual Kids Christmas Party this past December. Local 63 families gathered for holiday treats and games including a visit from Santa Claus. This festive celebration brought us together to celebrate the holidays and the community we have together as a union. Holiday fun was had by all. Local 63 hopes even more families can join us next year.
LOCAL 83
LARRY WARZEK: A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
Lawrence "Larry" Warzek’s career in SMART began in 1969 when he started training as an apprentice after high school. Even before his formal training, Larry had been learning the craft from his father, a sheet metal worker. As a teenager of 14, he began developing his welding skills under his father’s guidance. One of his early experiences involved working on state jobs, including a significant project at what is now known as Rockefeller Plaza after which he remained for two years.
In the 1970s, Larry expanded his professional experience by welding at the naval nuclear reactor Trident submarine test facility for two years. This work, which only excluded missile tubes for submarines, was demanding and high-stakes. He then joined an industrial contractor and stayed with them for 29 years. During this time, he continued to gain handson welding experience, even though it was not yet formally included in the SMART apprenticeship program.
In 1987, Larry was selected as the welding instructor for Local 83 at a time when they were on the verge of starting their own welding training program. With the support of the National Training Fund (NTF), Local 83 purchased one of the mobile welding training trailers that could be brought directly to job sites, such as nuclear facilities, and set it up in the parking lot along with a modest 12’ x 12’ prefabrication building used as an oxy-fuel cutting training classroom.
In 1991, Larry began pursuing his Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification, a challenging credential with a 75% first-time failure rate. Over the course of two summers, he underwent rigorous training at a facility in Dallas, Texas, which was operated by the National Training Fund, known today as the ITI under the Codes and Standards of the American Welders Society (AWS), and studied for months in between. By 1993, Larry had earned his CWI certification, a distinction he maintained for 18 years.
L to R: Local 83 President-Business Manager emeritus Mark Landau, Larry Warzek, Mike J. Sullivan, President emeritus of Sheet Metal Workers International Association at the 100-year anniversary of Local 83
Larry Warzek presenting his speech at the 100-year anniversary of Local 83
Larry’s leadership in training grew when he became the training coordinator in 1995, combining administrative and instructional responsibilities. Under his guidance, the training program expanded significantly. By the 2000s, he had overseen the transition from a mobile trailer to a 5,700-square-foot training center, equipped with a computer room supporting CAD training and a larger welding area.
In 2007, the SMW Local 83 Training Facility at 718 Third Street was officially named, and Larry was honored at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. This milestone reflected his dedication to consistently modernizing and expanding the program.
The 2010s brought further growth. In September 2017, the Local 83 offices and training facility moved to a 24,000-squarefoot facility in Clifton Park, NY with financial assistance from the membership and SMACNA. This move was a significant undertaking, involving the relocation of heavy equipment and welding stations. The new facility included cutting-edge technology such as orbital welding equipment, virtual welding setups, and CNC plasma tables. The computer systems were also upgraded, doubling their capacity to support apprentices.
In 2021, Larry shifted his focus to managing the facility’s operations while a second part-time coordinator, Larry Hebbard, took over administrative responsibilities.
In September of 2024, Larry officially stepped down as coordinator as the JATC appointed Steven Savoca the new full-time coordinator.
On December 12, 2024, the new training center was dedicated to Larry to honor his half-century of major contributions. Now fully retired at the age of 74, Larry reflects on a career that spans over five decades. Larry will be receiving his 50-year pin and marking 55 years of membership in the trade, he continues to inspire others with his words of wisdom:
Know your math. Almost everything we do is math. Find a good journeyman as a mentor—someone willing to show you everything they know. Never stop learning. The more you know, the more you’re going to work. The more you work, the sooner you retire with a better pension and retirement. Be the best you can. ”
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the training center addition, September 6, 2003
Larry Warzek with his graduating CWI class in 1993
Local 83's state-of-the-art welding lab in 2024
SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (SMACNA) & COLLEGE OF FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
The applicant may pursue any course of study; however, it is hoped that a career in a field related to the sheet metal industry will be considered.
College of Fellows Scholarships will be in the amount of $4,000 per academic year not to exceed $16,000 for four years of undergraduate study.
SMART-UNION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
(FORMERLY S.M.W.I.A.)
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
The Scholarship Fund awards 34 scholarships in the amount of $6,000 per year* for up to four years for full-time undergraduate study at any accredited college or university.
The Scholarship Foundation awards 20 one-year $4,000 scholarships and two one-year $5,000 awards: the Joseph J. Nigro award and the Joey Nigro, Jr. memorial award.
Eligibility for a scholarship under the Fund or Foundation requires that an applicant be an active member of SMART’s former SMWIA, a covered employee or a dependent spouse or child under the age of 25 of a SMART/SMWIA member or covered employee. The applicant must also be a full-time student or be accepted to be a full-time student at an accredited college or university. Definitions of eligibility (member, dependent, spouse, full-time) are printed on the application. Grandchildren are not eligible.
Applications are available at SMACNA.org/About/About-SMACNA/ Scholarships. They must be postmarked or have an email transmission date no later than February 28, 2025.
Applications can also be mailed to: SMACNA College of Fellows Scholarship Program 4201 Lafayette Center Dr. Chantilly, VA 20151-1219 or emailed to: cof_scholarship@smacna.org
Scan to view the application
Application request forms are available at Smart-Union.org/Why-Join-Smart/Scholarships between the dates of September 1st and February 15th.
The Scholarship Programs Office will review the information on the application request form and will mail the appropriate application (Fund or Foundation) to the address provided by the applicant.
*Please note that only qualified applicants from locals that participate by collectively bargaining to contribute or to authorize checkoffs at one cent per hour worked are eligible for the four-year scholarships. All other eligible applicants will be considered for the scholarship foundation’s single-year scholarships for undergraduate study.
Scan to request your application
LOCAL 17 LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
All applicants must register with SMART-NERC Local 17 by emailing the completed bottom half of this letter to dholmes@smart-nerc.org or by mail to:
SMART-NERC Local 17
Attn: Debbie Holmes
1157 Adams St 2nd Fl Dorchester, MA 02124.
Scan to download the letter:
SMW17Boston.org/Announcing-2025-ScholarshipOpportunities/
The last day to apply for this scholarship is March 31, 2025. The winners will be drawn at the May 2025 Boston Union Meeting.
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS
As a member of SMART-NERC, you have a right to quality healthcare, retirement benefits, and more. You have the right to stand with your fellow workers and hold your employer to a higher standard without fear of repercussion. Your Board of Trustees continually evaluates the benefits we offer and looks for opportunities to enhance those benefits while maintaining a financially sound Insurance Fund. We depend on you as a member of the Fund, and you should depend on us to provide benefits that meet your needs and are easy to use.
KNOW YOUR SMART MAP BENEFITS
A union’s solidarity reaches far past the boundaries of the workplace. All members of SMART are eligible for the Members Assistance Program (MAP). This program is for those dealing with problems associated with mental health issues with a focus on substance use disorder and suicide prevention, SMART MAP educates union members on those primary issues, as well as employee assistance programs, ethics, confidentiality, and self-care practices. Those members are SMART MAP mentors: compassionate, empathetic, and well-respected union members who continue to support our members when they return to work.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance, know that members can receive free and confidential assistance through our helpline at (877) 884-6227.
No one should have to struggle alone. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help when you’re in need. SMART MAP’s helpline is available all day, every day, and ready to answer your call.
To learn more about your SMART MAP benefits and what SMART MAP can help you with, please scan the QR code
LOCAL 17'S ANNUAL TRUNK-OR-TREAT
Our fantastic members and their families joined us for our SMW 17 Women’s Committee annual Trunk-or-Treat event this past Fall. Everyone brought their A-game when it came to costumes and top-notch trunk designs!
Local 17's 2024 Annual Trunk-or-Treat event