Sheet Metal News
Local 73 secures work for members by organizing
A recent story from SMART Local 73 (Chicago and Cook County, Illinois) shows just how important organizing is to members and their families. Through coordinated job action, strategic market recovery efforts and strong teamwork from members and staff, Local 73 successfully reclaimed multiple Home Depot rooftop unit replacement projects from a non-signatory contractor and secured the work for a Local 73 union contractor.
2026 AFL-CIO Convention: Delegates plan a unionized future
From June 7-10, 2026, affiliated unions of the AFL-CIO, including SMART, came together for the federation’s convention in Minneapolis, Minn.: charting a path forward for our movement and strategizing on how we can secure a UNIONIZED future. Led by General President Michael Coleman, who also served on the AFL-CIO’s Constitution Committee, SMART delegates attended to bring the voice of sheet metal and transportation members to the largest gathering of organized labor in our nation.
Local 33 builds new partnerships, creates opportunities for members through organizing in West Virginia
Local 33 (Northern Ohio area) has started 2026 with strong organizing momentum, signing six new contractors to date and continuing to grow the local’s market share across multiple districts. These victories are especially significant in West Virginia, where organizing success in a "right-to-work" state requires persistence, relationship-building and commitment from the local’s staff and potential new partners.
Local 63 rebuilds presence in Vermont, puts union members to work through organizing
The union difference isn’t just something that pays off in better pay, safer working conditions and stronger benefits for union members. Study after study shows that unions raise pay and living standards across entire regions, for both union and nonunion workers alike. That’s why organizing is so important, and why SMART works constantly to bring signatory contractors into every state and province of North America. A recent victory in Vermont demonstrated how that work pays off in practice.
Local 85 builds on SMART-TOOTRiS partnership to offer apprentices child care
Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) has an expanded partnership with TOOTRiS, offering members the existing benefit and providing apprentices monthly child care subsidies— delivering added support during the years when new members of our union are just starting their careers.
SMART Local 9 holds first annual SMART Derby, BBQ and Car Show
SMART Local 9 members, families and friends gathered at the local’s Denver union hall on September 6, 2025, for the inaugural SMART Derby, BBQ and Car Show, a first-of-its-kind event that celebrated craftsmanship, fellowship and the future of our trade.
BE4ALL Town Hall brings leadership, nearly 200 members together in Seattle
The second-ever BE4ALL Town Hall — featuring General President Michael Coleman, SMACNA President Todd Hill and Funds Executive Director Michael Harris — brought nearly 200 SMART members and dozens of SMACNA contractors together at Seattle’s Museum of Flight to speak directly with leadership about an important initiative to strengthen the unionized sheet metal industry.
Federal judge dismisses criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia — General President Coleman responds
On Friday, May 22, 2026, Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. dismissed the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, “ruling that the Trump administration had brought human trafficking charges against him as part of a vindictive effort to punish him for challenging his wrongful deportation to El Salvador last year,” according to the New York Times. Read SMART General President Michael Coleman's statement in response.
