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LEADING BY EXAMPLE – TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP
SMACNA and SMART engage in one another's events and conferences to show the industry first-hand that cooperative partnerships work.
Partners in Progress is not just a catchy title for a publication or a conference. And a partnership is not progressive unless that message is conveyed and resonates with all levels and with all members of an industry or membership organization.
SMACNA and SMART know that accomplishing common goals like increasing work opportunities and recruiting for the future is far more effective when labor and management collaborate. National association leaders also know that they must set the bar high and live up to their partnership standards to inspire labor and management at the local and company levels to work together to strengthen the sheet metal industry. That is a compelling reason for SMART and SMACNA to invite one other’s leadership to participate in their most highprofile annual meetings.
In August, SMACNA then-immediate Past President Angie Simon of Western Allied Mechanical filled in for then-President Al Labella at SMART’s Annual Leadership Forum (previously known as the Business Agents’ conference). This gave Simon an opportunity to share SMACNA’s goals and plans with almost all of SMART’s local leaders. She was able to convey the national association’s commitment to joint labormanagement initiatives, including the B4All program, which is aimed at making the industry more inclusive and welcoming to all who work in it.
New SMACNA National CEO Aaron Hilger was also in attendance. Hilger, who previously managed the SMACNA Rochester Chapter, was well known to the Local 46 leaders that he worked with for a number of years. Attending and presenting at the Leadership Forum gave him the opportunity to meet and introduce himself to union leaders from areas throughout North America. He was also able to share details of SMACNA’s upcoming strategic planning initiative and the priorities he will pursue in his new role.
Simon and Hilger were not simply invited to provide remarks. They were invited to attend the educational sessions hear SMART’s plans to pursue union “Growth Through Unity,” the Forum’s slogan and one of the union’s key priorities. SMACNA representatives were also invited to attend the Forum’s social functions so they could meet union leaders from all over the United States and Canada.
Jason Watson, SMACNA’s executive director of labor relations, was also invited to attend. He could not attend in person, but SMART made it a priority to allow Watson to prerecord his remarks so that he could convey his perspective on industry issues and the importance of a strong SMACNASMART partnership.
Fast-forward to September 2022 when four SMART International representatives showed their commitment to the national labor-management partnership by taking time from their busy schedules to address the contractors and chapter representatives at SMACNA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show.
One of the more popular presentations at the convention is the SMACNA Labor Forum, which features remarks from SMART’s General President Joseph Sellers, Jr. This year, Sellers introduced the other members of his team who were in attendance: General Secretary/Treasurer Joe Powell, and Donna Silverman and Mike Coleman who both serve as assistants to the general president.
Sellers shared his perspective on labor and management initiatives requiring attention at the national and local levels, including making sure the union sheet metal industry is the dominant force in ventilation verification work and ensuring that customers can meet various mandates to lower their carbon footprint.
Sellers noted SMART’s and SMACNA’s commitment to industry diversity and inclusion through Be4All. When the program was launched, there were two other International unions and national contractor associations. Those organizations are no longer participating, but SMACNA and SMART are in it for the long run because of the need to change industry work culture and prevent hate crimes on job sites. Sellers further urged all to communicate labor needs, work to mobilize the workforce on high profile projects like chip plants and automotive industry projects, and do their best to recruit and retain sheet metal workers to meet the needs of current and new industry customers. The Labor Forum concluded with a candid Q&A session.
Sellars and the attending SMART representatives were fully engaged in the SMACNA conference. They attended the educational sessions every day and visited the trade show to keep on top of the latest technical innovations in the industry. They made themselves available to meet with contractors to discuss local market opportunities and challenges, and they were on hand to congratulate those contractors and chapter executives who earned awards for safety, legislative activity, and outstanding service.
A successful SMACNA-SMART partnership requires buy-in and support from the members of each association. Members need to know why labor and management working together accomplishes far more than the union or contractor associations working on their own.
SMACNA and SMART encourage all local unions, associations, and contractors to make sure their members know why the relationship is so important to future growth and work opportunities. Both organizations want members to know that at times labor and management will not agree on an important issue but they can communicate their views and differences in a constructive manner while continuing work on issues that unite the union sheet metal industry.
Contractors, their associations, and Locals are urged to create opportunities to for members to interact.
Ways to do that include: • Invite the leaders of your partner union or SMACNA Chapter to participate in one of your membership meetings to demonstrate partnership to your own members. • Provide an opportunity for your labor or management partner to address an important industry issue from the union or contractor perspective. • Invite several labor or management partners to attend one or two local events, outings, or recognition functions to allow union members and contractors to interact socially. • Support each other’s charities and jointly participate in community initiatives. • Highlight any joint activities to promote the industry in your publications.
If you value your labor-management partnership, be proud of it and demonstrate that to your members. ▪
SMACNA and SMART know that accomplishing common goals like increasing work opportunities and recruiting for the future is far more effective when labor and management collaborate. National association leaders also know that they must set the bar high and live up to their partnership standards to inspire labor and management at the local and company levels to work together to strengthen the sheet metal industry. That is a compelling reason for SMART and SMACNA to invite one other’s leadership to participate in their most highprofile annual meetings.
