FALL 2020
SMW17 UPDATE
DELIVERING RESULTS IS WHAT WE DO
ELECTING LABOR CHAMPIONS PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: EAST PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL INDUSTRY-LEADING OPPORTUNITIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT 4 ELECTING LABOR CHAMPIONS 6 BUILDING THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE 8 INDUSTRY-LEADING OPPORTUNITIES 9 FIGHTING FOR PRO-WORKER LEGISLATION 10 SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN NEED 11 UPCOMING SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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ABOUT
SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 17 Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 is a building trade union representing more than 2,700 skilled and licensed workers throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. We stand together as the most highly trained professionals in the industry, bringing the top safety standards and quality to every project. Local 17 was formed in 1896 so that men and women working in the sheet metal industry could bargain collectively for better work standards. Today, our members enjoy dignified contracts, industry-leading wages and healthcare, and a sound pension plan they can count on after retirement. 1157 Adams Street, Dorchester, MA 02124 (617) 296-1680
FRONT COVER:
Father-son duo Wayne and Shane Hannagan work together to build the future of education for East Providence High School students.
BUSINESS MANAGER'S REPORT BROTHERS AND SISTERS, These last four years have been a challenging time for workers. We’ve repeatedly fought measures in Washington that would have jeopardized our wages and benefits. Outgoing President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress tried to block workers from organizing, and undermine retirement security and prevailing wages. Now, thanks to the work of Local 17 members and unions across our nation, we’re in a strong position to reverse this trend. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to defend our retirement security and strengthen pension plans. He’s committed to investing $2 trillion in infrastructure and creating millions of union jobs. Most of all, he’s already appointed over 27 union leaders to his transition teams and in the Department of Labor, with more to come. But we’re not just going to take any politician’s word for it. Whether an elected official is a Democrat or a Republican, we’ll ask the tough questions and make sure that they keep their promises. That’s why we’re keeping the pressure on the Massachusetts Legislature. Some contractors are taking advantage of a dangerous loophole that allows them to underpay workers at off-site prefabrication facilities. We’ve been working with Rep. Tackey Chan and other allies in the Legislature to build momentum to close this loophole. Together, we pushed it further than ever, winning a favorable recommendation from the Labor and Workforce Development Committee this year. When the new legislative session starts in January, we’ll hit the ground running to pass this key reform. For more on our advocacy work, see page 9 of this issue. Whether we’re on the job site or at home for the holidays, it’s important for all of us to follow proper safety precautions and prevent the spread of COVID-19. As cases surge again, we must adhere to all government regulations. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recently issued new guidelines restricting indoor gatherings to just 10 people and outdoor gatherings to 25 attendees. The winter months will only make COVID-19 more serious. I encourage all of you to take the necessary steps to reduce your exposure and stay safe. As we look to 2021, we’ll continue to stand by our values and make sure that everyone has a chance to work hard and provide for their families. Whether it’s on the job site, at the bargaining table, or at the ballot box, our collective voice will keep our Union strong. In Solidarity,
Bob Butler Business Manager Sheet Metal Workers Local 17
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POLITICAL ACTION
ELECTING LABOR CHAMPIONS 1
THIS FALL, LOCAL 17 MEMBERS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND CAME OUT STRONG TO ELECT OVER 50 UNION CHAMPIONS TO PUBLIC OFFICE.
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We are confident that these leaders will stand up for our members and working families across the region. Together, we elected Joe Biden, a labor champion who will take the needs of workers seriously in the White House. We also made critical inroads in Maine and New Hampshire, powering candidates like Troy Jackson and Jared Golden to victory. These connections will help us strengthen labor rights across New England. Thank you to all those who cast ballots in this critical election. Whether you voted, volunteered your time for a campaign, or helped spread the word to your neighbors and friends, your efforts did not go unnoticed. The election may be over, but please keep up your political engagement. JOE BIDEN 3
1: In Massachusetts, Local 17’s Executive Board supported Patrick McDermott for Norfolk County Sheriff. 2: Members got out the vote for Massachusetts State Senator Patrick O’Connor for Plymouth & Norfolk. 3: Local 17 members joined union workers across New England at a virtual event with Joe Biden and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh before the election.
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4: The union building trades came together for a “Hardhats for Biden” rally event at 20 Winthrop Square in Boston.
5: Local 17 stood out for Sara Gideon in Maine.
50+ CHAMPIONS ELECTED ACROSS NEW ENGLAND U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MASSACHUSETTS ▪ Richard Neal – District 1 ▪ Jim McGovern – District 2 ▪ Lori Trahan – District 3 ▪ Katherine Clark – District 5 ▪ Stephen Lynch – District 8 ▪ Bill Keating – District 9
NEW HAMPSHIRE ▪ Jared Golden – District 2
MA STATE SENATE ▪ John Velis – Second Hampden & Hampshire ▪ Pat Jehlen – Second Middlesex ▪ Rebecca Rausch – Norfolk, Bristol & Middlesex ▪ Walter Timilty – Norfolk, Bristol & Plymouth ▪ John Keenan – Norfolk & Plymouth ▪ Susan Moran – Plymouth & Barnstable ▪ Mike Brady – Second Plymouth & Bristol ▪ Patrick O’Connor – Plymouth & Norfolk ▪ Nick Collins – First Suffolk ▪ Michael Rush – Suffolk & Norfolk ▪ John Cronin – Worcester & Middlesex
ME STATE SENATE ▪ Troy Jackson - Senate President
MA STATE HOUSE ▪ Carol Doherty – 3rd Bristol ▪ Jerald Parisella – 6th Essex ▪ Tram Nguyen – 18th Essex ▪ Orlando Ramos – 9th Hampden ▪ David Linsky – 5th Middlesex ▪ Thomas Stanley – 9th Middlesex ▪ John Lawn – 10th Middlesex ▪ Carmine Gentile – 13th Middlesex ▪ Vanna Howard – 17th Middlesex ▪ David Robertson – 19th Middlesex ▪ Marjorie Decker – 25th Middlesex ▪ Erika Uyterhoeven – 27th Middlesex ▪ Mike Day – 31st Middlesex ▪ Christine Barber – 34th Middlesex ▪ Paul Donato – 35th Middlesex ▪ Dan Sena – 37th Middlesex ▪ James Murphy – 4th Norfolk ▪ Mark Cusack – 5th Norfolk ▪ William Galvin – 6th Norfolk ▪ Ted Phillips – 8th Norfolk ▪ John Rogers – 12th Norfolk ▪ Joan Meschino – 3rd Plymouth ▪ Patrick Kearney – 4th Plymouth
▪ Josh Cutler – 6th Plymouth ▪ Michelle DuBois – 10th Plymouth ▪ Dan Ryan – 2nd Suffolk ▪ David Biele – 4th Suffolk ▪ Rob Consalvo – 14th Suffolk ▪ Kevin Honan – 17th Suffolk ▪ Natalie Higgins – 4th Worcester ▪ Meghan Kilcoyne – 12th Worcester
MA MUNICIPAL ▪ Patrick McDermott – Norfolk County Sheriff ▪ Terry Kennedy – Governor’s Council
NH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ▪ Cinde Warmington – District 2
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PROJECT SPOTLIGHT
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BUILDING THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE: EAST PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL While this school year is markedly different than any other in our nation’s history, the safety of our students remains paramount. Many of our kids aren’t physically in school full-time, but they will be soon. When it’s safe, we know that they deserve to be welcomed back into spaces that support their learning. That’s why Local 17 members are hard at work in East Providence, Rhode Island, helping to build a new, state-of-the-art high school. Upon its completion, the $190-million-dollar project will boast 300,000 square
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feet of classrooms, science labs, and athletic facilities. It will also host a wide range of specialized technical education facilities, including a student-run community restaurant, auto repair shop, and construction lab for more than 1,600 students. The project couldn’t come at a better time. The new school will replace a deteriorating building. Students will no longer have to learn in a space with leaky roofs, crumbling infrastructure, and poor climate controls.
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1: Local 17 members install duct work for the new East Providence High School. 2: Al Holt and Ryan Pelletier prepare to install duct work in a new classroom. 3: The new school will house over 300,000 square feet of classrooms and labs.
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4: Local 17 members’ HVAC duct work will keep students cool in the summer and well-ventilated during cold and flu season. 5: The project is on track to be completed in time to welcome students next fall. 6: David Faria cuts metal flashing for the school’s new roof. 7: Wayne Hannagan and Scott Blinkhorn plan out next steps for HVAC installation.
On site, Local 17 members are fabricating and installing HVAC heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducts tailored to the special requirements of the new school. The team is also constructing metal flashing and, in light of COVID-19, they’re installing key filtration systems to keep everyone safe. Thanks to their hard work, the new school will be ready to welcome students next fall.
Providence High is the first of many school renovations to come. Providence, Cranston, Warwick and Newport residents all overwhelmingly voted to pass Question 2 on their ballots, releasing funds for much-needed school renovations. We’re looking forward to these projects, which will bring even more opportunities to Local 17’s workforce.
The project couldn’t have been possible without the thousands of voters who approved a bond referendum question in 2018. After this election cycle, East
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CREATING OPPORTUNITY
RIGHT: Quilda Rodrigues got her start in sheet metal work through the pre-apprenticeship program Building Pathways.
INDUSTRY-LEADING OPPORTUNITIES LOCAL 17 RECOGNIZED FOR RECRUITING RECORD NUMBER OF TRADESWOMEN When the Commonwealth of Massachusetts put forth a challenge to increase the number of women in our apprentice class to 20% by 2020, we answered the call. We’re proud to receive the 20% Tradeswomen by 2020 Award this year for making — and exceeding — this goal. Quilda Rodrigues is just one of our members who has benefited from these efforts. Rodrigues joined the Building Pathways pre-apprenticeship program two years ago, after 13 years as an elevator worker. “I wasn’t making much money, and it was the same work over and over,” she said. Rodrigues applied for Building Pathways’ pre-apprenticeship program, which introduced her to a wide variety of trades. And at the suggestion of Building Pathways Executive Director Mary Vogel, Rodrigues applied to be a sheet metal worker.
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“I never thought I would be able to do it,” she said. “I started two years ago, and I love it. It sounds crazy to say ‘I love my job,’ but I really, really do. My team is great, and my foreman is super patient. I’m in the process of buying a house, which I wouldn’t be able to do this soon without this job.” As a single mother, Rodrigues used to worry about providing for herself and her kids. She credits her work as a union sheet metal worker for putting those worries to rest and building her confidence. Most of all, she wants other women to see that they can do the work, too. “I used to have low self-esteem and doubt what I was capable of, but with this job, there’s nothing I feel like I can’t do. I’m like, ‘Okay girl, you can do anything.’”
Learn more about the Building Pathways pre-apprenticeship program by scanning the code with your smartphone:
STANDING UPFIGHTING FOR WORKERS BACK
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FIGHTING FOR PRO-WORKER LEGISLATION We’re holding our politicians accountable and protecting working families. Learn about our wins and upcoming priorities in the fight ahead.
IRAPs, sending over 326,000 comments to the DOL. As of this spring, the construction industry is exempt from dodgy training standards.
1. PUTTING WORKERS FIRST IN FY21
3. CLOSING THE PRE-FABRICATION LOOPHOLE
Recently, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker tried to sneak anti-labor policies into this year’s budget. These policies would’ve compromised our current bid laws and jeopardized millions of dollars in state projects for the union building trades. We responded quickly, galvanizing legislators to oppose the measures. Thanks to our work, these dangerous provisions were stripped from the budget.
We also secured major progress on the bill to close a dangerous loophole in Massachusetts’ prevailing wage law for off-site prefabrication facilities. This loophole allows some contractors to cheat workers and drive local companies out of business. And as more workers fabricate and pre-assemble materials off-site, they are deprived of the same family-sustaining wages and benefits as their colleagues on site.
2. HALTING INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
Through our strong advocacy on Beacon Hill, we secured a favorable report from the Labor and Workforce Development Committee for the first time in the bill’s history. Thanks to Rep. Tackey Chan for drafting this bill and amassing 22 signatories in the State House. We are looking forward to reintroducing the bill this session.
Our apprenticeship programs are foundational to what we do. These very programs fell under attack when the Department of Labor (DOL) tried to implement “IndustryRecognized Apprenticeship Programs,” (IRAPs), which would’ve allowed private employers to water down key safety standards and training procedures. Together, the union building trades rallied and fought back against
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GIVING BACK
LEFT: Volunteers continue to pack and distribute food throughout the week.
SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN NEED LOCAL 17 DONATES $2,500 CONDENSER TO COMMON GROUND CAFÉ Common Ground Café in Haverhill, Massachusetts isn’t your usual coffee shop. For nearly 10 years, the Café has worked with elderly, low-income, and homeless individuals to meet basic needs for food, clothing, housewares, and personal care items. Any community members in need are welcome to visit the Café for a warm cup of coffee and a space to socialize. Local 17 member Wayne Zanchi is one of the many dedicated volunteers who help run Common Ground Café. During cold New England winters, the Café serves as a warm space for homeless individuals in the Haverhill area. But this summer, Zanchi noticed the Café was much less comfortable. Without a compressor, the Café didn’t have air conditioning on long summer days when temperatures can top 90°F.
Thanks to the hard work and generosity of Local 17 members, Common Ground Café will be a comfortable place for volunteers, community members, and visitors all year round.
When Zanchi shared the story with Local 17, our Brothers and Sisters stepped up. This fall, members of Local 17 installed a new condenser for free — an in-kind donation valued at $2,500.
TOP RIGHT: Business Agent Mike Sheehan, Member Wayne Zanchi, Common Ground Café Director Ron Mills
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Learn more about Common Ground Café at cgmcafe.org.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Wayne Zanchi wrote a letter to Local 17’s Executive Board, asking for a condenser to complete the Cafe’s recent renovations.
UPCOMING SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WE’RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR 2021 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF LOCAL 17 MEMBERS. At Local 17, we’re committed to creating opportunities for hardworking students in our region and supporting them on the path to success. Thanks to our members’ generosity, we’ve donated more than $1.8 million in scholarships since 1983.
LOCAL 17 SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships are awarded based on performance on the AFL-CIO Labor History Exam or through a lottery drawing. MASS. AFL-CIO LABOR HISTORY EXAM (HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ONLY) ▪ Awards range from $500 to $16,000 in scholarships. ▪ All applicants must register online with the Massachusetts AFL-CIO to take the Labor History Exam, which will be administered at high schools across MA from January 25, 2021 through February 5, 2021. All applicants must then register with Local 17 by filling out the scholarship application. ▪ Application deadline: December 18, 2020 at 5 PM SMW LOCAL 17 LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS Students may also be eligible for the following scholarships: SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (SMACNA) COLLEGE OF FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP ▪ Multiple four-year scholarships at $4,000 per year and $2,000 per year for academic study. ▪ Application deadline: February 28, 2021 SMART-UNION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS ▪ Multiple scholarships of up to $6,000 for four years at a college or university, or $4,000 and $5,000 one-year scholarships. ▪ Application deadline: February 15, 2021 UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
▪ Awarded by lottery to children, grandchildren, or spouses of active or retired Local 17 members in good standing.
▪ One-time awards ranging from $500 to $4,000 for study beginning in Fall 2021.
▪ Application deadline: March 31, 2021
▪ Application deadline: January 31, 2021 at 12 PM
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to get more info and download the applications:
Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera for application instructions:
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Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 1157 Adams Street Dorchester, MA 02124
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM LOCAL 17 From all of us at Sheet Metal Workers Local 17, have a safe and happy holiday season.
@SheetMetalWorkersLocal17
@SMWLU17
@SMWLU17
SMW17Boston.org