SMWIA Blog

SMWIA Ratifies National Railroad Agreement

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:08:00 GMT

The Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) announced ratification of the agreement covering Sheet Metal Workers employed by rail freight carriers represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee.

Idaho’s Anti-Job Targeting Law Ruled Invalid

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:59:00 GMT

Idaho’s Republican-dominated legislature passed a law a year ago that made it a misdemeanor for a union or contractor to pay or receive market recovery or job targeting funds to help union contractors win construction projects. Market recovery subsidies are drawn from union member contributions and help union contractors compete for construction jobs, especially where nonunion workforces dominate the market. Idaho’s Republican governor signed it into law on March 3, although it would not go into effect until July 1.

SMWIA Local 36 Goes Green

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:37:00 GMT

Green” has been the new buzz word for a few years now, and while, for some, the buzz has worn off, for others inspiration turned into motivation. In St. Louis, the new business offices and training center for Sheet Metal Workers Local #36 could bring a new distinction – LEED Platinum.

GEC and Staff Appointments

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:25:00 GMT

Patrick C. Landgraf has been appointed 10^th General Vice President effective November 1^st, 2011. Brother Landgraf is a member of Local 18, State of Wisconsin. He started his apprenticeship in July 1979, receiving a certificate of completion in 1985. He has served as a union steward from 1991 to 1998. In July 1998, he became a fulltime organizer for Local 18. In November 2002, he became a fulltime Business Agent and became President/Business Manager on July 1, 2008. He currently
serves as chairman of the state union health fund and is a trustee of the Fox Valley health fund. Landgraf is also President of the North Central States Council. He is on the executive board of the following entities: the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and the Building Advantage Labor Management Council of Milwaukee.

SMWIA General President Nigro On Eviction of Peaceful Protestors

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:25:00 GMT

The following statement from General President Joseph Nigro of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) is in response to police actions initiated in the dead of night against participants in the Occupy Wall Street movement.

With a Little Over Two Weeks Left Until Election Day, SMWIA Members on Tele-Town Hall Pledge Support to Defeat Issue 2/SB 5

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:22:00 GMT

Reggie Hohenberger, Business Manager of SMWIA Local 33, joined Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga for a tele-town hall meeting to discuss voting NO on Issue 2 to repeal Senate Bill 5 on November 8.

Arbitrator Rules In Favor Of SMART

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:06:00 GMT

A third party arbitrator, chosen to decide the outcome of the SMWIA-UTU merger forming SMART, has ruled in favor of the merger this week.

SMWIA Joins Occupy Wall Street Movement

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:05:00 GMT

Formed in 1888, the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) was born in an era that saw America dominated by wealthy big money interests. It was a time when not a single banker or corporate executive was punished for behavior that saw families destroyed, thrown out of their homes and penniless while workers were arrested for the simple act of standing up for their First Amendment rights.

HTPG Workers Ratify New Contract

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:20:00 GMT

HTPG Workers Ratify First Contract With Local 555 Workers at HTPG, Inc. voted 269 to 10 to approve a first contract at their plant in Scottsboro, Alabama.

Helping Members Plan for Tomorrow

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:32:00 GMT

The Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) understands the challenges members face in saving for retirement. In fact, their members may actually be more prepared than many Americans, as the union’s pension plan will provide a steady stream of income throughout retirement. However, the pension plan does not eliminate the need to save. Members need to develop core financial planning strategies to meet future financial challenges, both big and small.
The SMWIA affords locals the opportunity to offer a competitive retirement plan via the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Supplemental Savings Plan (NSSP), a multi-employer collectively bargained 401(k) plan provided by New York Life Retirement Plan Services