The SMACNA Labor Relations Department completed the third edition of a History and Explanation of the Standard Form of Union Agreement for the Sheet Metal Industry. Robert J. Fenlon of the law firm of Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, P.A originally authored this publication. The firm has represented SMACNA since 1945, and Bob Fenlon personally was directly involved in all Standard Form of Union Agreement negotiations that occurred since 1968 on behalf of SMACNA. He served as counsel at virtually all National Joint Adjustment Board (NJAB) hearings through 1994. The second edition of the History and Explanation of the Standard Form of Union Agreement (SFUA) was primarily written by Stephen J. Burton of the Felhaber-Larson law firm. He provided labor counsel to SMACNA from 1977 through 2015, representing SMACNA at NJAB hearings and advising SMACNA’s Labor Committee in the negotiation of the SFUA.
Four individuals collaborated to make changes to this third edition: Jason Watson, SMACNA Executive Director of Labor Relations and Chair of the SMACNA Labor Committee and Management Co-Chair of the NJAB. Joye Blanscett served as SMACNA’s Director, Labor Services and Administrator of the NJAB from 2008 through 2023, and former SMACNA Executive Director of Labor Relations & Human Resources Deborah Wyandt. Ms. Wyandt has participated in all NJAB, Labor Committee Meetings and SFUA Negotiations from 1988 through 2020. Julie Marnell served as SMACNA’s Director, Labor Services and Administrator of the NJAB from 1989 through 2005. She rejoined the Labor Relations in July of 2023. Dan Kelly of Felhaber-Larson has served as SMACNA outside labor counsel advising SMACNA’s Labor Committee and NJAB members from 2015 through the present day.
It should be clearly understood that this document represents the opinions, interpretations, and research of the above authors, who collectively have over 120 years of experience at the national level interpreting and negotiating the SFUA. This document has not been reviewed for concurrence by the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA, now SMART), nor does it carry the imprimatur of the National Joint Adjustment Board, which has the ultimate responsibility to interpret the Standard Form of Union Agreement through the grievance procedure. Hopefully, this document will give SMACNA contractors and Chapter Executives a better understanding of the Standard Form of Union Agreement, which is a critical factor in the labor relations of the sheet metal industry.
Take a moment to read the Third Edition of the History and Explination of the SFUA.
