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2023 has been busy, and SSMRC millwrights will be in high demand within the automotive and power-generation industries across our footprint this fall. Recruitment is a high priority, and we need members to accommodate all of the upcoming projects headed our way.

Responsibilities include direct supervision of instructors, admin staff and apprentices, including management of all training center activity associated with apprentice training, program related advising, scheduling, curriculum evaluation, recruiting, and evaluation of instructors. Collaboration with coordinator in program development and implementation for apprenticeships as well as journeyman upgrade programs.

The U.S. Labor Department has announced comprehensive updates to the Davis-Bacon Act that will raise pay for many construction workers (including millwrights), help ensure prevailing wages keep pace with actual wages, expand coverage to modern energy projects, beef up enforcement, and protect workers from retaliation.

SSMRC leaders successfully advocated for our members on two fronts recently during meetings with a U.S. senator from Georgia and a Florida district secretary of transportation. “The bipartisan relationships we’ve built here in the South help us get a lot accomplished,” said Rick Halford, political director for the SSMRC.

With the weather heating up, it's important to know your rights regarding working in hot temperatures. Let your supervisor, job steward or business agent know if you have any jobsite health and safety concerns, including those related to extreme heat.

Jason B. Engels has been appointed Southern District Vice President for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Engels served as an Executive Secretary-Treasurer (EST) within the UBC for over 18 years. Most recently, the Central South Carpenters Regional Council.

The Western Region has many working opportunities available to its members that will continue through June.

The SSMRC’s motto is “Safe, Productive, Professional”. Safety is always first in everything that we do, and we should not only adhere to that standard, but we should educate others on our jobs and speak out when there are issues that need to be addressed. No millwright wants to be injured on a job and no employer wants someone on their job to be hurt. As union members you should not fear retaliation from pointing out safety concerns or taking the time to ensure the task is safe for everyone involved. We expect that from every member. From the brand-new apprentice to the seasoned journeyperson. You will always have the support of SSMRC representatives and leadership if there are ever safety issues.

Most Locals have nominations and elections that are coming up for their local union. I encourage you to nominate and vote for someone who will represent your local in those positions to a higher standard. If running for a position in your local union, I ask that you read the constitution and fully understand the duties of the position that you are campaigning for. If elected, I encourage you to perform your duties that are assigned by the constitution and to take these positions seriously.

Tax fraud hurts everyone – workers, including our members, and their families, law-abiding contractors, communities, school children, veterans, and all taxpayers. That's why we unite with the UBC and other regional during Tax Fraud Days of Action every year.

Construction of a 25,000-square-foot training center in La Vergne, Tennessee, near Nashville, is complete. The next step is installing training equipment, and a grand opening is slated for May. The new building consists of 20,000 square feet of training space and 5,000 square feet of office and administrative areas.

Union millwrights are already working on a $2.5 billion expansion announced yesterday of solar-panel manufacturing facilities in northwest Georgia. Those millwrights and others will be needed at the Dalton factory during the next year, and opportunities for SSMRC members to work at a similar factory in Cartersville, Georgia, are likely, said Robert Strickland, business agent for Millwright Local 1263, which covers Georgia and the Carolinas.

I am pleased to report on the first quarter of 2023 for the Eastern Region of the SSMRC. As we have forecasted, the employment opportunities have been endless. Our district is on track to shatter our previous years' hours worked, which is great news for our brotherhood. We are alive and well and growing exponentially. There has never been such a great time to be a union millwright in the South.

The Western Region of the SSMRC kicked off the first quarter of 2023 with a bang. Right after the holidays, work has been non-stop and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all.

SSMRC President and Nuclear Representative, David Bonds is retiring after nearly 45 years of service to the brotherhood.

From a young age, Local 1000 member Ethan Neville, knew he was destined to work in the construction industry. Growing up, Neville kept himself busy working on cars and finding ways to expand his knowledge of the construction industry. After graduating high school, he used his knowledge to begin working as a heavy machinery rigger, traveling the country before making the courageous decision to become a union millwright. While learning the millwright way of things has posed some challenges for Neville, he has adjusted well and excelling quickly in his career.

Most children often look up to their parents and tend to grow up and be like them. That was no different for Local 1421’s Zoey Illingworth. After watching her father growing up, she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and carry on the legacy he has created working as a union millwright.

March and April work is already on the books for the Western Region. Power Gen industry work is picking up with multiple projects kicking off through the end of February and the first week of March. The Gulf Coast market has been full speed ahead with one Petro Chem project after another. Conveyor and Manufacturing work […]

The Southern States Automotive Contractors Association, a group the SSMRC was instrumental in creating, is hosting the Auto Focus 2023 summit March 1-2 at our Charlotte, North Carolina, training facility. The event is aimed at confronting – and finding solutions to – challenges in the automotive industry.

The Southern States Millwright Regional Council and Millwright Local Union 1263 invite contractors, educators, and elected officials to attend an open house at the Charlotte, North Carolina, training center on Thursday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

High school students at Fayetteville High School participated in mock interviews as part of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Week.

The percentages of women and Black and Latino workers signing up for union-affiliated registered apprenticeships are significantly higher than the percentages of those workers joining non-union apprenticeships, according to a study by the independent Institute for Construction Economics Research.

Twenty-four years ago, in the state of Pennsylvania, Drew Ohorodnyk began his journey as a millwright and never looked back. Throughout the years, Ohorodnyk has worked extremely hard to advance in the trade, where he has been presented the opportunity to use his skills to teach others the trade that has given so much to his family. In 2020, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is currently a part-time millwright instructor, while still working on his tools.

President Biden announced on Dec. 8 the release of $36 billion to prevent drastic cuts to the pensions of more than 350,000 union workers and retirees. Funded by the American Rescue Plan’s Special Financial Assistance Program, this is the largest award of federal financial support for worker and retiree pension security.

Congress has approved the first funding increase for the federal labor board since 2014, averting a budget crisis but falling short of what’s needed given a dramatic rise in unionization and unfair-labor-practice charges.

The Western Region is expecting to have a busier spring outage season than we had last year. To put that into perspective – last spring was the busiest the Western Region has been since the council was formed in 2010. Last year, we worked more than 200,000 man-hours over our previous highest year.

The outlook for work in the Eastern Region in 2023 is very promising. We are seeing a variety of opportunities that will be kicking off early next year. Our outage schedule is going to be one of the busiest we have ever seen.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency that enforces U.S. labor law in relation to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices, is struggling to do its job due to a budget crisis that only Congress can correct.

Over 400 high school students visited the carpenter and millwright training center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during National Apprenticeship Week.

SSMRC West Texas business agent, Dwight Murrah, honored those who have served our country in New Braunfels annual Veterans Day parade in Texas.

Central Region Work Update from Regional Director, Jeff Smith.

Several women expressed strong interest in becoming millwrights after stopping by the SSRMRC's booth at the Women's Resource and Employment Fair held Nov. 3 at Moore Community House in Biloxi, Mississippi.

For the past 11 years, Jeremy Gonzales, a member of Local 2232 has dedicated himself to a career as a union millwright. Being a millwright comes with a lot of challenges, in which a lot of people do not talk about until they have walked in the shoes of a millwright. No job is ever the same and each day presents a slate of new challenges. Being a millwright is not for the faint of heart. But with a whole lot of faith and a lot of hard work, it is a rewarding career.

Construction should be complete before the end of the year on a 25,000-square-foot training center in La Vergne, Tennessee. This property is in a high-traffic area surrounded by residential subdivisions, which will greatly enhance our recruitment efforts.

The term “millwright” is more than just a title given to someone who works in the construction industry. It is a word that describes hard work and the brotherhood between individuals alike. Jacob Gatlin, a member of Local 2411 and 2nd year apprentice millwright starts every day with a “go get ‘em” attitude, working hard to achieve the goals he has set for himself as a young millwright.

Western Region Work Update from Regional Director, James Rowland.

SSMRC Political Director Rick Halford and A.J. Starling, secretary-treasurer of the Tennessee AFL-CIO, are working with the Tennessee Workers' Alliance to fight back against the falsely named "right-to-work" amendment that Tennessee voters will consider on Nov. 8.

Representatives from all three regions of our council are running the SSMRC's stand-out booth at the Southern Automotive Conference in Atlanta. They are networking with auto-industry manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors.

Given the high vaccination rate in the U.S. and Canada, combined with effective treatment methods and lower infection rates, the requirement that participants be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend programs at the International Training Center has been rescinded effective immediately.

Watch a video of pump expert Randal Therman telling why millwrights and their knowledge are important and why people throughout the pump industry need to be connecting with the millwright workforce.

Western Region September Work Update from Regional Director, James Rowland.

Several candidates running for office in Oklahoma spoke about labor issues during our September staff and delegate meeting in Oklahoma City. The candidates included Joy Hofmeister, who is running for governor, U.S. Senate candidates Kendra Horn and Madison Horn, and labor-commissioner candidate Leslie Osborn.

Monte Thompson, a 17-year millwright and member of Local 2232, which covers Houston and the Gulf Coast region of Texas, began working as a business representative for Local 2232 in early July.

The mayor of Savannah, Georgia, has declared the week of Labor Day to be Labor Week in that municipality. "I want to thank those who work hard in our community," Mayor Van Johnson said at an Aug. 25 event announcing Labor Week.

Working in the construction industry comes with a great deal of sacrifices. Many long hours, travel, and time away from family and friends. However, it also comes with a great deal of rewards. This past week, Local 2411 business agent, Robert Jeffers, presented James D. Moore with a “70 Year” membership pin recognizing his dedication to the UBC.

SSMRC Eastern Region director, Logan Brown met with members of Boy Scout Troop 8 in Augusta, GA at the beginning of August. Troop members worked toward earning their Labor Merit Badge, while being educated on labor history, apprenticeship requirements, and different types of labor unions and trades.

Eager to learn, Heather Pratt dedicates herself to a successful career as a union millwright. When the alarm clock sounds early in the morning, Heather Pratt, a member of Local 1192 starts her workday with an analytical mindset, eager to face the ever-changing challenges that come with working as a millwright.

Harris County, Texas, Commissioner Adrian Garcia visited the Houston training center Aug. 10. He toured the facility, met with apprentices, and discussed with SSMRC staff issues that are affecting union millwrights.

In the next year, $1 billion in airport-terminal-improvement projects will begin at 85 airports across the country. Funding for the projects comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and represents the first year of a five-year program to invest $5 billion in terminals.

Union millwrights from across the South and beyond will be needed to build the largest auto-production complex in Ford Motor Company’s history. Ford announced last year it will build the $5.6 billion project in Stanton, Tennessee.

The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee has released a study showing that, compared to their non-union peers, union members earn 10.2% higher wages and are 18.3% more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance.

Primaries are happening across the South; make a plan to get out to vote. Voting laws across some of the Southern states have changed. Here’s what you need to know.

Since he became a union millwright in 1994, Ellis Griffin has worked across all 11 of the council’s states in nearly every industry that the SSMRC serves, and while he mainly sticks to turbine work these days, he takes pride in serving as a mentor to the apprentices working alongside him.

Regional councils and locals that make up the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, our parent organization, participated in more than 200 events and initiatives across the United States and Canada during construction-industry Tax Fraud Days of Action, April 11-16, 2022.

A proposal by a Republican U.S. senator from Florida would increase income taxes for the lowest-earning 40% of Americans and allow all federal legislation to "sunset" within five years, meaning programs including Social Security, Medicare, and more would end unless Congress reauthorized them.

Local 1192 member Andrew Sims has been a member of the SSMRC for nearly 20 years and a field superintendent for nearly a decade, and his commitment to safety for his fellow millwrights has led to recognitions from Atlantic Plant Maintenance.

The White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment has released a report with nearly 70 recommendations that promote worker organizing and collective bargaining.

Representatives of the Southeastern Carpenters Training Trust recently attended a career expo at Savannah Technical College to talk to more than 40 high school juniors and seniors and their parents about opportunities within the SSMRC and UBC.

The new millwright and carpenter training center in Russellville, Arkansas is about 85% complete. With square footage between 20,000 and 30,000, the new center will provide two-to-three times the space of the existing facility.

A bill in the Georgia House of Representatives would change the definition of "employment" to include "services performed by an individual for wages" unless the individual is free from control or direction over the performance of such services.

The Office of Labor-Management Standards has rescinded a Trump-administration rule that imposed unjustified and burdensome paperwork requirements on labor unions.

Efforts continue in the U.S. Congress to pass Build Back Better legislation that would assist working families with child- and elder-care costs, reduce health-care costs, housing, and education costs, and invest in union apprenticeships, rural communities, and union-built clean-energy projects including wind-turbine installation.

The members of Millwright Local 1000 recently honored Tim Hurd with a plaque to recognize his craftsmanship, attention to detail and years of dedicated service to the local’s membership and to the Millwrights Apprenticeship Training Program.

Three SSMRC representatives discussed the benefits of our workforce with Alabama political and industry leaders during the Manufacture Alabama Annual Legislative Reception and Dinner held in Montgomery on Jan. 11.

On Jan. 13, the Supreme Court of the United States blocked a mandate from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that would have required all employers with 100 or more employees to require those employees to either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or to be tested weekly and wear masks at work.

The first SSMRC Sisters in the Brotherhood Committee meeting was a great success. Forty-three sisters from across the South attended the virtual meeting held on Jan. 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Central Time.

The Labor Department is seeking comment on a proposed rule that would eliminate the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program started under the Trump administration so the department can direct its resources toward Registered Apprenticeships (union apprenticeship programs are "registered apprenticeships").

During the past month, the National Labor Relations Board ordered a new union election at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, and, for the first time, workers at a Starbucks store voted to unionize.

Millwright apprentices in the Savannah, Georgia, area and their families celebrated a day of fun and information at the Savannah training center on Dec. 4. Forty apprentices and more than 25 family members, friends, and walk-ins participated in Apprentice Appreciation Day.

The UBC's Military Veterans Program is wasting no time prepping our nation’s heroes to hit the ground running as professional union millwrights or carpenters once they complete their military tours.

The SSMRC will send you a free t-shirt after you complete the online course "101 Constitution: U.S. Government and Labor Law," which is hosted in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Department of Education and Training's Learning Management System.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced on Nov. 4 an Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing. Two days later – after multiple lawsuits were filed – the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals put the new rule on hold until the court system decides its legality.

Millwright Local 1263 members Jeremy Rentz and Derek Igou tell about their work as foremen for TurbinePros on the Units 3 and 4 construction project at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle nuclear station.

To meet the demands of contractors, the UBC has launched an online portal to upload proof of COVID-19 vaccination through Training Verication Cards. The portal can be accessed through the UBC Mobile App or from your TVC Card.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Sept. 20 the appointments of 29 members to serve on the newly reinstated Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship, which will provide advice and recommendations on issues related to registered apprenticeship (union apprenticeship programs are "registered apprenticeships").

Travel to oceanside communities in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle has increased tremendously in recent years, and millwrights from Local 1192 are helping expand the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to accommodate the growth.

After 45 years as a member of Local 1263 and 31 years as the local’s business agent, Michael Hamilton will retire on Sept. 30. Mike will be greatly missed, and we wish him the best in retirement! Michael Hamilton has held many leadership positions within the SSMRC, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and UBC Millwrights. In […]

All SSMRC members now have access to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters' online course "101 Constitution: U.S. Government and Labor Law," which is hosted online in the Department of Education and Training's Learning Management System.

Mitchell Howton knows what it’s like to work at the Warrior Met Coal mine in Brookwood, Alabama. He hasn’t forgotten being underground 14 hours a day, seven days a week, with the promise that next week he would get Sunday off – a promise that never materialized.

Several SSMRC sisters have begun building a Sisters in the Brotherhood (SIB) committee for our council. Find out how you can get involved.

The SSMRC and two of its partners presented a scholarship tool package on Aug. 17 valued at more than $1,000 to Asia Lewis, a recent graduate of the Moore Community House Women in Construction Program

The U.S. Senate has passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that would provide $73 billion for electric grid and power infrastructure, $55 billion for water systems and infrastructure, $25 billion for airports, and more.

Union member and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (pictured first row, middle) met with regional executive secretary treasurers at the UBC's International Training Center last month.

The SSMRC's regional directors have made videos reporting on the first half of this year, highlighting upcoming work opportunities, and providing information on other important developments in their areas.

Much information and a wealth of resources surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations are now available. Check out some of them here.

Members of the Southern States Millwright Regional Council and the Central South Carpenters Regional Council helped create a tribute to fallen soldiers at the Veterans Memorial Park in Russellville, Arkansas.

SSMRC staff operated a recruiting booth at a National Hot Rod Association event in Concord, N.C., in May. Business agents handed out hundreds of flyers and brochures.

Several governors in our jurisdiction have announced they will end participation in a federal unemployment program that gives workers an additional $300 per week.

The federal infrastructure proposal announced March 31 at a carpenters union training center would provide funding for power-generation projects the SSMRC is set to capitalize on.

March 31, 2021, was the professional stopping point for a stalwart of Millwrights Local 1263 in Kennesaw, Georgia. James B. West officially retired on that date.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced last month it is making $31 million in grants available to create Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers of Excellence.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Marty Walsh as secretary of the Labor Department on March 22.

Millwright Local 1192, which covers Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle, has purchased a 6,080-square-foot office building to accommodate rapid growth.

The Amazon election could signal the growth of labor unions in general, after decades of decline, if legislation such as the PRO Act were to become law.

The SSMRC has selected Thomas Brown as business agent for Local 1421, which covers north Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

Ground was broken March 8 for a $5 million, 35,000-square-foot millwright and carpenter training center in Russellville, Arkansas.

Rickey Moore has been named executive director of the Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council Training Trust Fund.

Congratulations and thank you to the SSMRC members who helped the Limetree Bay refinery in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, resume operations.

Thank you to the SSMRC members who have helped build Units 3 and 4 at Georgia Power's Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia.

COVID-19 cases in the United States have dropped nearly 30 percent in the past two weeks, but public health officials say more contagious variants of the virus and relaxed precautions could lead to a resurgence.

An article about Local 1192 member Joey Hildreth ran as the main feature on the front page of the Florence Times Daily. We're so proud of Joey and her career!

Construction of a $6 million training center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is now complete, and classes are scheduled to begin in February.

More than $20 million is being invested in new union millwright training centers and training-center upgrades across the Southeast. These investments will address the shortage of skilled industrial construction workers affecting many areas.

Members working at Southern Company facilities or considering employment at Southern Company sites should be aware of these COVID-19 quarantine/isolation guidelines released Dec. 30.

Guy Carter, training coordinator and Local 1000 president, began his career as a millwright at age 38 and discovered a love of teaching six years later. He also continued working through a cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2018.

The Arlington training center's exterior remodel is nearing completion! The new façade is part of an $800,000 upgrade that also includes new training equipment.

After Joey Hildreth began working as a millwright in 1974, she didn’t see another female millwright on a jobsite for at least four years. But that didn’t shake her confidence in her career choice.

After a year of construction, the new millwrights and carpenters training center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is nearing completion. The most recent work includes electrical wiring, plumbing-fixture caulking, painting, and installing of drop ceilings.

Members should be aware some CBD oils contain THC, and this can show up in a drug screening. Do your research before using any CBD product.

The SSMRC's parent organization, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, is holding a UBC Sisters in the Brotherhood Caucus Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Calder Manley, a military veteran and member of Local 1192, currently works at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

Union volunteers, including members of Millwright Local 1192, will soon complete site work and construction of a public fishing weigh-in pavilion at Alabama’s Smith Lake.