As a member of the SMWIA, you belong to a strong and dynamic union with a proud history of service to its membership. Below are some of the milestones in our history:
January 25, 1888 Representatives from Peorio, IL; Kansas City; Omaha, NE; Memphis, TN; Dayton, and Youngstown meet in Toledo, OH to form the Tin, Sheet Iron and Cornice Workers’ International Association. The President was Archibald Barnes; Secretary was A. W. Chatfield; and Robert Kellerstrass was named Treasurer.
| 1896 |
- Local 30 is the 1st Canadian Local chartered.
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| 1897 |
- Tin, Sheet Iron and Cornice Workers’ International Association changed to the Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
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| 1899 |
- First charter granted to the Union by the American Federation of Labour.
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| 1901 |
- Union membership reported at 5,581 with 108 Local Unions.
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| 1903 |
- Name changed to the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Alliance. Headquarters established in Kansas City, MO.
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| 1907 |
- Local 47 is the 5th Canadian Local chartered.National Building Trades Department established under the American Federation of Labor. The International becomes a charter member.
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| 1922 |
- The first air conditioning system for human comfort was used in a motion picture theatre.
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| 1924 |
- Name changed to Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association.
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| 1925 |
- Pacific Coast Conference of Sheet Metal Workers agres to affiliate with the Sheet Metal Workers Alliance. Membership grows about 24,000 with 441 Local Unions.
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| 1927 |
- Sheet Metal Workers from Local 206 in San Diego, CA build a major portion of what became the “Spirit of St. Louis.” This is the plane Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic in May 1927.
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| 1942 |
- During WWII, a number of Sheet Metal Workers were engaged in “secret work” associated with development of an atomic bomb.
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| 1952 |
- First pension checks issued by Local 28 in New York City, NY. This program is the first of its kind in the building trades. Local 47 became the first Local in the SMWIA and Canada to represent Roofers.
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| 1957 |
- International begins tracking industry products manufactured under collective bargaining agreements.
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| 1962 |
- SMWIA becomes first union to offer its members accident insurance – protecting members at work and at home in case of accidental death.
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| 1971 |
- National Maintenance Policy Agreement established to promote labour-management cooperation in he construction trades.
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| 1981 |
- National Energy Management Institute created in partnership with the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SMACNA).
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| 1986 |
- Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute established to address asbestos exposure in Sheet Metal Workers.
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| 1988 |
- Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association celebrates 100th anniversary.
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| 1996 |
- Department of Education established to provide a specialized training curriculum for the future union leaders.
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| 2000 |
- First Bi-Annual Labour-Management Partnership Conference hosted by SMACNA and SMWIA.
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| 2003 |
- SMWIA joins the Industrial Union Council (IUC). The Industrial Union Council consists of 14 unions with members represented in manufacturing.
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| 2004 |
- SMWIA Local 41, the first SMWIA Local Union outside the U.S. and Canada, is established in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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| 2005 |
- SMWIA Members receive degrees from the National Labour College.
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| Present |
- Continuing to represent all the SMWIA members.
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Since its founding, the SMWIA has continued its growth during times of war, peace, depression and prosperity.
We now represent about 150,000 active and retired workers in areas such as HVAC installation, Fabrication, Repair, and Service; Architectural sheet metal; Roofing, Production Shops, Railroad and Shipyard work and a range of other industries and occupations.
