Sheet Metal Workers Local 235

What Sheet Metal Workers Local 235 does

Sheet Metal Workers Local 235 (SMWIA Local 235) is a local chapter of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association operating under SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) jurisdiction, headquartered at 1695 Gladstone Avenue in Windsor, Ontario. The local serves sheet metal workers and roofers across the Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Sarnia regions of southwestern Ontario, and is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress and the AFL-CIO. Its parent body, SMWIA, reports over 150,000 members across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

The local's core service is collective bargaining representation, supported by a portfolio that includes a certified apprenticeship program with provincial training facility access, multi-tier benefits administration (health, dental, vision, prescription, pension, short- and long-term disability, member assistance program), Workers' Compensation representation, grievance handling enforceable in federal court, and skills training in First Aid, CPR, forklift, and welding. Member acquisition runs through a confidential Organizing Department phone line targeting non-union sheet metal workers and roofers, the Helmets to Hardhats Canada veteran transition program, and the SMARTcareers job board. The local-to-local referral system enables members to travel and work at other SMWIA locals across North America.

The business model is membership-dues-funded, structured as recurring subscription revenue with rates scaled by trade and apprenticeship year. Published wage schedules show a journeyman sheet metal total package of $70.61/hr (base $48.74 plus benefits), a roofing journeyman total of $61.58/hr, and apprentice rates ranging from $32.50 (1st year) to $57.01 (5th year) in total compensation. The local operates with a small staff of approximately 5 officers and 3 area representatives, governed by an executive board led by Business Manager Ryan Thompson and President Mike Drouillard (as of 2024). No proprietary technology platform, app, or AI/ML capability is disclosed; operations run on a WordPress website and standard union referral infrastructure.

Name

Sheet Metal Workers Local 235

Legal name

Sheet Metal Workers' International Association Local Union 235

Website

https://smwia-local235.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SMWIA Local 235 is a Windsor, Ontario-based labor union local chapter serving sheet metal workers and roofers across Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Sarnia, providing collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, benefits administration, and Workers' Compensation representation funded by membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322), Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (238120)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sheet Metal & Ductwork Contracting (IMAFALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sheet Metal & Ductwork Fabrication/Installation (EDAOACAH), Sheet Metal & Flashing Works (Gutters, Copings, Edge Metal, Downspouts) (IMAFAMAE)

Keywords

• Labor union services
• Collective bargaining agreements
• Apprenticeship training programs
• Union benefits administration
• Sheet metal trades

Headquarters

HQ city

Windsor

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: Union membership dues that fund collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, benefits administration, and member representation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sheet Metal Workers Local 235 is a labor union local chapter that represents sheet metal workers and roofers in the Windsor, Chatham, and Sarnia regions of Ontario. It sells union membership providing access to a signatory contractor network for job placement, collective bargaining representation, certified apprenticeship training, and member benefits administration. Services are funded through recurring member dues and include grievance handling, Workers' Compensation representation, and a local-to-local referral system enabling work across North America.

Product overview

Sheet Metal Workers Local 235 operates as a labor union offering a portfolio of membership-based services for sheet metal workers and roofers. The core offerings include union membership providing access to a contractor network for job placement, a certified apprenticeship program combining on-the-job and classroom training, and comprehensive benefits including health insurance, pension, and disability coverage. Additional services include skills training courses (First Aid, CPR, Forktruck, Welding), Workers' Compensation representation, and a local-to-local referral system enabling members to work across different union locals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Membership - Sheet Metal Workers Union membership for sheet metal workers providing job placement through a network of union contractors, grievance handling, and representation for workplace disputes in the Windsor, Chatham, and Sarnia regions of Ontario.
• Union Membership - Roofers Union membership for roofers providing access to contractor networks, workplace representation, and collective bargaining protections in the Windsor, Chatham, and Sarnia regions of Ontario.
• Apprenticeship Program Certified apprenticeship program for sheet metal workers combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction in fabrication, assembly, installation, and repair of sheet metal equipment, including CAD training, welding, and plasma cutting.
• Benefits and Pension Services Member benefits administration including health insurance, dental coverage, prescription drug plan, vision care, pension plan, short and long term disability coverage, and member assistance program.
• Workers' Compensation Representation Representation and assistance with Workers' Compensation claims for union members experiencing workplace injuries.
• Local-to-Local Referral System Referral system allowing members to work for other local unions and travel to other SMWIA locals across North America for employment opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to $70.61/hr total compensation package for journeymen
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMWIA is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress, providing institutional support and representing workers at national labor policy level.
• AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMWIA is affiliated with AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States, providing cross-border labor solidarity and advocacy.
• SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMART is the international union representing sheet metal workers. Local 235 operates under SMART jurisdiction and provides the local-to-local referral system.
• Helmets to Hardhats CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program connecting military veterans with careers in the sheet metal industry. Local 235 participates in this program to recruit former service members.
• Ontario Sheet Metal Workers' Research and Certification Council (OSMWRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario organization for skills development and certification in sheet metal trades. Provides training standards and workforce development.
• Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCS provides skills development and training opportunities for unionized construction workers in Ontario.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators Local unions in Ontario: Insulators locals share Local 235's union structure (CBAs, apprenticeship, total package) and represent mechanical insulation workers—a closely adjacent trade to sheet metal/HVAC ductwork on Ontario construction projects.
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local unions: Iron Workers locals operate under the same AFL-CIO/SMART-adjacent labor union structure, offering apprenticeship training, collective bargaining, and total package compensation to construction trades workers in the same Ontario geographies as Local 235.
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local unions in Ontario: Boilermakers locals operate under the same union business model—collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, total package compensation, and signatory contractor dispatch. Direct comparable in skill profile and Ontario construction footprint.
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local unions in Ontario: IUPAT represents painters, glaziers, and finishers through local chapters with the same union structure (CBAs, apprenticeship, benefits). Operates alongside Local 235 on unionized Ontario construction sites and competes for the same trades workforce.
• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local unions in Ontario: IUOE represents heavy equipment operators through local chapters operating under the same union structure—signatory contractors, apprenticeship programs, training facilities, and dues-funded benefits. Direct peer for member acquisition and organizing competition in Ontario.
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Local unions in Ontario: UBC represents carpenters via local chapters with the same business model (CBAs, apprenticeship, benefits). Competes directly with Local 235 for construction trades talent and works alongside it on unionized job sites in Ontario.
• Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local unions in Ontario: LiUNA represents construction craft laborers via local chapters using the same dues-funded, CBA-based, apprenticeship-equipped model. Peer for organizing competition and for co-employment on unionized Ontario job sites.
• United Association (UA) - Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Technicians Local unions in Ontario: UA represents plumbers and pipefitters via local chapters that share Local 235's model: collective bargaining, registered apprenticeships, total package compensation, and benefits funds. Both organizations train and dispatch members into Ontario construction projects.
• IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) - Local unions in Ontario: IBEW represents electricians in Ontario with the same labor union business model as Local 235—collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, benefits administration, and member representation. Both locals operate under parallel structures (SMART/SMWIA and IBEW) and compete for the same skilled-trades talent pool in Southwestern Ontario.

Broad incumbents

• SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation) International Union: SMART is the parent international union that Local 235 operates under. Provides the local-to-local referral system, training standards, jurisdictional authority, and national CBA framework. Direct parent and the most important institutional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheet-metal-workers-local-235

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sheet Metal Workers Local 235