News Archive

Information on contract negotiations will be provided before the strike vote. This vote is necessary to allow all local unions to be in a strike position for May 01 if a tentative agreement has not been reached. Make every effort to attend. A 2/3 majority strike mandate is necessary to qualify for strike pay from SMART International.

Please see attached letter from the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers’ and Roofers’ Conference on eligibility to vote.






Attached Letter;

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS EMPLOYED IN ICI SHEETMETAL

YOU UNION IS SCHEDULING A STRIKE VOTE

March 21, 2025



Mississauga, ON - Your Sheet Metal Negotiating Committee has been meeting with the Ontario
Sheet Metal Contractors’ Association to negotiate a renewal to our ICI Collective Agreement.
In order to give us the most leverage possible your leadership has determined we need a strong
strike mandate. While progress has been made on some issues we remain far apart on hours earned
in overtime for pension and benefits, protecting our hiring halls and a fair wage package.
To be eligible to participate in the Sheet Metal ICI Strike Vote, you must be currently working
in the ICI or on your local union hiring hall list. Members currently employed as Roofers, or in
the Residential and EPSCA sectors are not eligible to participate in this Strike Vote. Traveller's
working in ICI Sheet Metal are eligible to vote in the local union they are currently working in.
Please look to your local union’s websites and social media pages for the specific information on
time and location of strike votes.
Please return to this webpage or your Local’s website and/or social media for all future updates.
In Solidarity

Sheet Metal Negotiating Committee.


WHAT IS A STRIKE VOTE? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – STRIKE VOTES IN ICI SECTOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
1. WHAT IS A STRIKE?
A strike is defined as “a cessation of work, a refusal to work or to continue to work by employees in combination or in concert or in accordance with a common understanding, or a slow down or other concerted activity on the part of employees designed to restrict or limit output.”
It is a collective action taken by all workers in a bargaining unit to put pressure on the employer to take their concerns seriously by withdrawing all or some of their labour.
It is the fundamental basis by which unions regulate the employment relationship with employers.
“The strike is the weapon of the oppressed, of men capable of
appreciating justice and having the courage to resist wrong and
contend for principle." - Eugene V. Debs

A strike vote is the process by which the Union polls its members to assess the level of support of the members to engage in a strike.
The vote is conducted by secret ballot and is organized by each Local Union. All members of that trade that are working in the bargaining unit are entitled to participate in the strike vote.
3. WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS VOTING ON IN A STRIKE VOTE?
During a strike vote members are empowering the Negotiating Committee for a clear mandate to call a strike, if and when necessary and appropriate to do so.
In a strike vote, members are provided with only two options:
1) Vote in favour of authorizing a strike; or
2) Vote against authorizing a strike.
4. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN AN ICI SECTOR STRIKE VOTE?
Section 165 of the Labour Relations Act 1995 sets out the eligibility requirements to cast a ballot in a strike vote. In order to be eligible to cast a ballot in an ICI strike vote you must be either:
(a) Employed in the bargaining unit on the date of the vote; or
(b) a member of the Union, not employed on the date of the vote (i.e. on the hiring all list).
In the ICI Sheet Metal Strike Vote, only sheet metal workers, sheet metal workers apprentices, sheeters, sheeters’ assistants, material handlers, gasfitters, and testing and balance technicians employed in the ICI sector on the date of the strike vote can participate or those unemployed members on the ICI Sheet Metal hiring hall/unemployed lists.
5. WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE SHEET METAL ICI STRIKE VOTES
a) Members working in Production, Residential or the EPSCA Collective Agreement b) Retirees
c) Roofers working under the ICI or Residential Roofing Agreements
d) Supervisors, Estimators, General Foremen and other excluded management positions e) Owner members.
f) Members of the Union that are unemployed but not on the ICI hiring hall list.
There is no discretion or exceptions to the eligibility requirements. Anyone who does not qualify under the legislation will not be permitted to vote.
6. WHAT IF I WORK IN MULTIPLE SECTORS, AM I ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?
You are only eligible to vote if you are working in the bargaining unit (i.e. in Sheet Metal ICI sector) on the date of the vote.
For example, if you work for a contractor who does both ICI and Residential work and you are currently employed on a Residential project at the time of the vote, you are not eligible to cast a strike vote in ICI Sheet Metal.
7. I PAY UNION DUES AND AM A MEMBER OF THE UNION, WHY CAN’T I VOTE IN THE ICI SHEET METAL STRIKE VOTE?
Your membership in the Union does not determine whether you can participate in a strike vote in any Sector of the Construction Industry or a particular collective agreement If you are not employed in the ICI Sheet Metal or on the hiring hall/unemployed list then you cannot participate in a strike vote in that bargaining unit.
8. WILL I BE PAID IF WE ARE ON STRIKE?
Pursuant to Section 4 of the International Association of Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Workers’ (SMART) Constitution, members may qualify for strike benefits if certain conditions are met. The SMART Constitution requires that a strike vote of two thirds (2/3) of members casting ballots, vote in favour of a strike in order for members to be eligible for strike pay.
The payment of strike benefits is at the sole discretion of the SMART General President. Should there be a strike, the Local Unions will apply to the General President seeking strike benefits.
9. IF WE VOTE IN FAVOUR OF A STRIKE, DO WE GO ON STRIKE IMMEDIATELY?
The earliest that a strike can commence in ICI Sheet Metal is May 1, 2025.
10. DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STRIKE?
If the Union authorizes a legal strike of all Locals, it will do so for all employees working under the Sheet Metal ICI Collective Agreement.
If you are employed as a Roofer in ICI or Residential Roofing, under the EPSCA Collective Agreements or working under a Residential Collective Agreement then you cannot go on strike. Only employees working under the ICI Sheet Metal Agreement or on the Local Union hiring hall/unemployed list, are authorized to go on strike.
And as all our members know, our union fully honour strike votes and strike actions. If your bargaining unit or sector of the construction industry (Sheet Metal ICI) is on strike, no one goes back to work until we all do.No, there are certain timelines and other requirements outlined in the Labour Relations Act, that dictate when the Union may commence a strike. Members are required to continue to attend at work as normal until the Union notifies that a strike is commencing.
Following the vote, you will be notified by you Local Union/Ontario Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers Conference (Employee Bargaining Agency) if and when it authorizes/calls a strike

In solidarity,

Rob Weiler
Business Manager
SMWIA local 562