The SMART Education Department held its new “Right to Work and Member Retention” class in Detroit, Mich., during the week of September 30th. The class focused on the open shop movement, the impact of so-called right to work, strategies for improving membership retention, and the critical role that union leaders play in maintaining local union power.

Twenty-three participants from across our union worked together to problem solve and create action plans for their respective locals. The class also took time to celebrate the repeal of Michigan’s right-to-work law and the role that Michigan Locals 7 (Lansing), 80 and 292 (both Detroit) played in that process.

“Everyone’s hard work will help strengthen our union!” said SMART International Instructor Richard Mangelsdorf.

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Right to Work (RTW) legislative measures, designed to weaken unions, are supported by Trump and his administration, so it is imperative that we make our opposition known and heard.
SMART Transportation Division will be hosting a free event for all union members of all crafts, and for the public, to discuss how RTW was designed to weaken unions, decrease pay and decrease benefits.
Toledo, Ohio Meeting:
Date & time: Saturday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Sheet Metal Workers Local 33; 27430 Crossroads Pkwy. Rossford, OH 43460
Refreshments will be served
Click here to download Toledo Meeting Flyer to pass out to members, friends and family.
Cincinnati, Ohio Meeting:
Date & time: Saturday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Sheet Metal Workers Local 24; 1579 Summit Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237
Coffee & donuts will be served
Click here to download Cincinnati meeting flyer to pass out to members, friends and family.
Take two minutes and TAKE ACTION against Right-to-Work measures:
Click here to send a message to Ohio legislators against HB 113
Click here to send a message to U.S. Congress against HR 785

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Thanks to scores of union members who showed up at a committee hearing  in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a right-to-work measure was effectively shut down and cannot be reintroduced for the remainder of 2017. Read the complete story published by PeoplesWorld.com, here.

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Source: Cleveland.com, 2/13/17
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On February 13, 2017, Rep. John Becker (R) introduced H.B. 53, a Right-to-Work measure designed to weaken collective bargaining rights for public and private employees.
H.B. 53 would allow public sector employees to opt out of joining a union or paying union dues, and would eliminate state mandated “fair share” or agency fees used for collective bargaining purposes.
Current state law allows collective bargaining agreements to require collection of “fair share” fees from non-union employees.
The measure would also enable unions to opt out of representing employees who choose not to join.
Read more here.
Left: Dr. King’s quote on  ‘right to work’ lie.

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The AFL-CIO just released a poll that shows a significant drop in support for Trump from Ohio union members. From Trump’s support of “Right to Work” laws aimed at dismantling unions, to Pence’s 99% record of voting against labor, the downward shift in labor support comes as no surprise. Read more here. 

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