On Saturday, SMART Local 55 members in the Tri-Cities voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with 96% voting YES and 4% voting NO.

This vote was about sending a clear message that Tri-Cities Sheet Metal Workers deserve a contract that reflects today’s market realities.

Throughout negotiations, Labor has raised concerns about manpower shortages, increasing competition from neighboring trades, Oregon work that costs our members money to take, and the growing wage gap that continues to pull skilled workers away from our industry. We have emphasized that hiring halls across The Tri-Cities area, are empty while future work demand continues to grow.

The membership understands what is at stake.

This vote gives our negotiating committee the backing it needs to continue fighting for a fair agreement, protect our work, strengthen travel language, and address the financial impact Oregon work has on Local 55 members.

Thank you to every member who took the time to participate.

Strike Authorization FAQ:

How did we get here? The local #55 negotiating committee has met several times with the contractors this past spring. Even after using local mediators, we could not reach an agreement, let alone any meaningful offer to bring back to membership for ratification.

What’s next? Our collective bargaining agreement (CBA) contains ART X, which has a provision for settling outstanding items such as contract renewal. This step is the National Joint Adjustment Board (NJAB), which is comprised of national representatives of both SMART & SMACNA. The role of the NJAB is to help mediate the parties to reach an agreement, and if they cannot, the NJAB will arbitrate the outstanding items (meaning that they will make the final decision on outstanding items in arbitration, which are then binding to each party). Any decision that the NJAB arbitrates is the final decision.

No local ratification vote or further negotiations take place after NJAB arbitration.

*It is very rare that the NJAB Panelists deadlock on arbitration items.

Typically, each year, depending on if there are contracts that have not been settled at the local level, the NJAB will meet in June and September.

When does the NJAB meet next? The NJAB will meet June 16^th & 17^th in Chicago, IL. Local #55 along with the Inland NW SMCANA Chapter has submitted filing for the NJAB arbitration services. Each party can bring back three (3) items and wages to the NJAB board.

Local #55 has filed items: Oregon Zone Pay, 75-mile subsistence language (match Spokane), two (2) year agreement and wages.

What does the strike authorization vote mean? Because of the ART X and the NJAB provisions there cannot be any strikes or lockouts.  Only, in the rare event that the NJAB panelists deadlock on an arbitration decision could there be a strike or lockout.

Our strike authorization vote is a way to show union solidarity and that members of local #55 take the contract terms seriously. When the negotiation team appears before the NJAB it sends a signal that we are unified and they have solidarity behind them.

If we vote Yes for a strike authorization, will we be on strike Monday?     NO

Only, in the rare event that the NJAB panelists deadlock on an arbitration decision could there be a strike or lockout.