It takes great members to make up a good union that protects jobs, wages and benefits. Every one of us as union members have a role to play in protecting the advantages of union membership and it’s especially true for the SMART union label campaign. Every union member should understand the whole process step by step, why what we do is critically essential, and how it all fits together. When we all do our part together the system works. See the Labels Protect You flyer here! ⇒Flyer10.pdf
YouTube VIDEO: SMART UNION Label It, Scan It, Report It! 1:42 min.
5 Key Steps to Making Labels Work
LABEL IT!
1. Put the label on: Every piece every time!
SCAN IT!
2. Check products for the label: Installers should check all products before installation. If they’re not labeled skip to step 4.
3. Scan the label: On yellow labeled products, installers should check to see which SMART contract area produced it. Scan the bar code with your mobile app or if you can’t use your smartphone, read the numbers on the label and report them to your business representative. The bar codes and numbers are linked to information about which shop produced it and at which wage rate. With this information, business representatives can ensure wage equalization takes place if the products came from lower-wage locals.
REPORT IT!
4. Report unlabeled products: Installers should report unlabeled products right away! You can do it through the label app, by text, email or a phone call to the business representative.
5. Intervention with contractors: Once business representatives are aware that unlabeled yellow label products are being used on a union site, they can step in to enforce contract provisions upon contractors to require them to prove that whoever fabricated the products was paid the appropriate rate. The label proves this automatically.
Each step is important. Every sheet metal worker has a role to play. Make sure you and everyone in this local knows these steps and does their part!
What’s the difference between the yellow label and blue label?
The blue label is used on production products. The yellow label represents building trades products. Yellow labels are used to enforce subcontracting standards and for wage equalization.
We all have a role to play!
Fabricators: Union members working in Fabrication shops take the first step. They ensure every piece fabricated has a label affixed to it (it shouldn’t leave the shop without a label)! Fabricators also should make sure the shop has labels. If not, inform the local hall and we’ll supply them.
Installers: When materials arrive on the worksite , it’s up to installers to scan the label, visually and with our new app. If products are unlabeled, they should report it to the local representative so appropriate action can be taken. If the label is yellow, it should be scanned to see whether it came from a lower wage local. If so a representative will confirm that wage equalization has occurred. Union stewards and foremen oversee worksites. On sites with many installers, not everyone needs to check and scan every piece arriving there. Stewards have a responsibility to make sure that the work has been checked. It’s critical that scanning and reporting works because these actions allow the next steps to take place.
Business Managers and Representatives: Business Managers and Reps have multiple responsibilities. First, they must make sure that our local is implementing the label system thoroughly and constantly. They order the labels and make sure that fabrication shops have them in stock. They are also the enforcers who intervene with employers to enforce contracts when installers report non-labeled products or materials from lower wage locals.
To learn more about the labels and app, visit: www.labelitscanitreportit.com