Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33

What Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33 does

Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33 (SMART Local 33) is a chartered local labor union headquartered in Parma, Ohio, operating under the international SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) umbrella. The union represents sheet metal workers across Northern Ohio, most of West Virginia, two counties in Michigan, and one county in Pennsylvania, organized through nine district offices and six dedicated training centers. It was chartered in 1988 through the consolidation of eight prior local unions, and the international parent traces its origins to 1888.

The union's core offering is a 5-year apprenticeship program that combines paid on-the-job training with classroom and lab instruction, alongside continuous journeyman training, collectively bargained healthcare and retirement benefits, and the Local 33 Annuity Fund. Specialized offerings include the award-winning Cleveland JATC Powered Access Training program (IPAF-recognized) and an Associate Degree Pathway through partnerships with Columbus State Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, and Owens Community College. Member services are supported by a Union Fusion portal and a peer-affinity partnership with Cross Country Mortgage.

Local 33 is a nonprofit membership organization funded primarily through recurring member dues, with marginal revenue from a $25 apprentice application fee. Its go-to-market is community-led: recruitment occurs via apprenticeship programs, community events, and word-of-mouth within the construction trades, while labor is placed with signatory contractors (SMACNA-affiliated firms) such as T.H. Martin, Inc., VM Systems, and M&M Heating and Cooling. The union also pursues an active government affairs and regulatory enforcement agenda, including prevailing wage enforcement actions.

Name

Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33

Legal name

Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 33

Website

https://smwlu33.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33 is a SMART-affiliated labor union headquartered in Parma, Ohio, representing sheet metal workers across Northern Ohio, most of West Virginia, and select Michigan and Pennsylvania counties through a 5-year apprenticeship, journeyman training, and collectively bargained benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sheet Metal Fabrication & Light-Gauge Metalwork Training (EDAOADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE), Labor Hire & Specialist Workforce Services (Operators, Trades, Technical Staffing) (IMAKAKAL)

Keywords

• Labor union representation
• Sheet metal apprenticeship
• Collective bargaining services
• Workforce skills training
• Construction trade training

Headquarters

HQ city

Parma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 generates revenue through membership dues paid by union members. The union provides collective bargaining, training programs, healthcare benefits, and retirement benefits in exchange for dues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33 is a chartered labor union that represents sheet metal workers across Northern Ohio, most of West Virginia, two Michigan counties, and one Pennsylvania county. Its core offering is union membership that combines a 5-year earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship program, journeyman continuing education, collective bargaining representation, healthcare benefits negotiation, and retirement plan administration through six training centers and nine district offices.

Product overview

Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33 is a labor union offering union membership as its primary service, combined with a comprehensive portfolio of training and member support programs. The core offering includes a 5-year apprenticeship program and journeyman training at six world-class training centers across Ohio and West Virginia. The union provides collective bargaining representation, healthcare benefits negotiation, and retirement planning through the Local 33 Annuity Fund. Additional services include an associate degree pathway program in partnership with Ohio colleges, member portal access via Union Fusion, and affinity partnerships such as Cross Country Mortgage. The Cleveland training center has achieved international recognition for powered access training. The organization operates nine district offices and maintains a text messaging service (SMART Army) for member communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 5-Year Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Program 5-year earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom and lab instruction for aspiring sheet metal workers; produces dual construction and industrial skilled journeymen with no student loan debt.
• Journeyperson Continuing Education Continuing education and skill advancement programs for journeyman sheet metal workers using the union's training centers to stay current with technology and work practices.
• Cleveland JATC Powered Access (Aerial Lift) Training Specialized scissor and boom lift (powered access) training recognized by IPAF, making members employable for automotive, hospital, plant, and commercial building projects requiring aerial lift licensing.
• Associate Degree Pathway Program Articulation agreement with the Ohio Board of Regents enabling apprentices to earn up to 60% of credits toward an associate's degree from accredited Ohio colleges.
• Collective Bargaining Representation Union representation negotiating wages, benefits, and working conditions for members with clearly listed rights in collective bargaining agreements.
• Union-Negotiated Healthcare Benefits Union-negotiated healthcare coverage providing quality healthcare options for members through collective bargaining, administered in partnership with BeneSys.
• Local 33 Annuity Fund (Retirement Plan) Retirement savings fund for Local 33 members, with trustees who manage the default option to align with current member demographics.
• Union Fusion Member Portal Online member portal for union registration, sign-in, dues payment, and access to member resources at smw33.unionfusion.net.

Quantifiable outcome

• Earn up to 60% of credits toward associate's degree through apprenticeship
• +2 more outcomes

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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• W.A.G.S. 4 KidsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2018Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 partners with Working Animals Giving Service for Kids, a northeastern Ohio charity that provides service animals to children with autism and disabilities. The union collects donations for this organization throughout the year. Dogs are trained at Grafton Correctional Institution.
• Cross Country MortgageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive member benefit partnership offering up to $2,198 in total mortgage savings for members purchasing or refinancing homes. Local 33 receives affiliate marketing through crosscountrymortgage.com/affinity/SMWLU33/.
• BeneSyscoreOthersBenefits administration partner managing union member healthcare and benefits programs. BeneSys logo appears on the union website indicating ongoing partnership.
• T.H. Martin, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland-area signatory contractor, family owned business founded in 1985. President Tom Martin served as SMACNA Cleveland President since 2014 and was named 2018 SMACNA Contractor of the Year. T.H. Martin provides mechanical services and employs union members.
• Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational contractor association with local Cleveland chapter that co-hosts events with Local 33. The association represents signatory contractors who employ union sheet metal workers and collaborates on training and workforce development.
• Columbus State Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner allowing apprentices to earn college credits toward associate degrees through the apprenticeship program. Agreement with Ohio Board of Regents enables apprentices to earn up to 60% of credits needed for graduation.
• Cuyahoga Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner with pre-apprenticeship program that tours the Local 33 Training Center. Enables apprentices to earn college credits toward degrees through the apprenticeship program.
• Owens Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner enabling apprentices to earn college credits toward associate degrees through the apprenticeship program as part of Ohio Board of Regents agreement.
• International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)coreOthersParent international union representing 136,000 members nationally. Formed in 2008 through merger of Sheet Metal Workers International Association and United Transportation Union. Provides national pension fund, scholarship programs, and international job bank.
• The Builders Association (Youngstown)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocation where Youngstown District accepts apprentice applications. Partners with Local 33 for apprenticeship program administration.
• VM SystemsminorOthersLocal contractor that donated materials and labor for Soul City Boxing Club HVAC project. Signatory contractor partner with Local 33.
• M&M Heating and CoolingminorOthersLocal contractor that donated materials and labor for Soul City Boxing Club HVAC project. Signatory contractor partner with Local 33.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART): Parent international union representing 136,000 members across sheet metal, air, rail, and transportation. Comparable as the umbrella organization governing Local 33's benefits, training standards, and national bargaining framework.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): Open-shop construction trade association that actively promotes non-union contractors and training. Comparable as the principal competitive counterweight to Local 33 in the same territory for both members and signatory contractors.

Direct peers

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): Building-trades union with parallel apprenticeship, journeyman training, and collective-bargaining model for electricians. Highly comparable as a skilled-trades union operating on membership dues with multi-state training-center infrastructure.
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America: Major construction trade union with similar apprenticeship, dues, and training-center model. Operates overlapping construction-industry recruitment and apprenticeship programs across the same geographies as Local 33.
• United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Techs (UA): Skilled-trade union serving mechanical and HVAC-adjacent workers with an apprenticeship model and training-center network that directly overlaps with Local 33's mechanical/HVAC sheet metal focus.
• International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers: Construction trade union with the same dues-funded apprenticeship and training-center model. Operates in the same commercial construction and industrial project types that employ Local 33 signatory contractors.
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT): Building-trades union with parallel apprenticeship, journeyman-upgrade, and collective-bargaining structure. Competes with Local 33 for the same construction-craft labor pool in overlapping Midwest markets.
• SMART Local 12 (Philadelphia): Fellow SMART local representing sheet metal workers in the Philadelphia region. Closest direct peer - identical apprenticeship, dues, and collective-bargaining model under the same international union charter.

Emerging players

• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): Nonprofit that develops standardized construction-craft curricula and credentials. Directly comparable as the open-shop alternative to union apprenticeship programs that Local 33 competes against for apprentice and contractor market share.
• Lincoln Tech: For-profit trade school offering HVAC, welding, and mechanical training programs. Comparable as a tuition-based alternative pathway into the same trades Local 33 recruits into, though without the earn-while-you-learn structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user56063971
• Xx.com/SheetMetal33
• Facebookfacebook.com/SheetMetalWorkersLocal33ToledoDistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sheet Metal Worker's Local 33