Jeff Holly, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of SMART Local 359, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the state of Smart Local 359.
Holly discussed the major work projects where Local 359 members are working in the Phoenix area. Recent work has begun on the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Plant, with about 400 members at the plant. There’s also a new Intel campus being built in the area, with more than 300 union members currently assisting on the project, with more work promised in the future, according to Holly.
Since 2015, Holly said Local 359 has seen a massive increase in members. Local 359 has about 800 members involved in the building trades, 600 involved in production and another 400 travelers from all around America. With the growing number of projects, the apprenticeship program has also increased. Previously the largest class in their program history was 153 apprentices, but now there are over 300 apprentices in the program. Holly attributes much of the union's growth to new residents moving to the area from more pro-union states and bringing their voting history and pro-union feelings into the region.
Holly believes the next three to five years will see a large quantity of work for his Local. He believes they will likely lose some traveling members during that time however. More projects are coming to the area in the next decade, Holly said, and if Local 359 can continue its growth and involvement, the next decade will be very busy.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.