A Brief History of Local Union No. 104

With their charter issued on May 7, 1903, at the dawn of their heritage and tradition in the sheet metal industry in the Bay Area and throughout northern California, the founders of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104 gathered together to “…unite and associate together as far practical all workmen of the trade represented in this organization for the purpose of securing a united and harmonious action on any and all things for the good of the trade...”

  1. 1900

  2. c1900

  3. 1903

  4. 1906

  5. 1908

  6. c1908

  7. 1910

  8. 1950

  9. 1980

  10. 1985

  11. c1998

  12. 1998

1900

Here’s a photo from the early 1900’s of Local 104 members working on cornice work. To this day, we still perform cornice work throughout historical districts of San Francisco.

c1900

In the early 1900’s, here’s a photo of Local 104 members in the San Jose area (historically known as Local 309) having their annual summer picnic.

1903

An official scanned document of our charter to the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (now known as SMART) from 1903 solidifying us as our own Local Union.

1906

A Labor Day march a few months following the April 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. This shot taken was of Local Union members near Van Ness Avenue and Market Street.

1908

A Local 309 (now Local 104) shop photo taken in the early 1900’s in San Jose, California.

c1908

A Local 309 (now Local 104) shop photo taken in the early 1900’s in San Jose, California.

1910

A photo of our historical hall at 224 Guerrero Street in San Francisco. Built in 1906 after the earthquake, this was the main hall of Local Union No. 104 until we moved in 1980 to 1939 Market Street. The eagle atop of the building is now currently located inside of the 1939 Market Street Hall..

1950

A photo from the early 1950’s of Scott Company’s shop located in Oakland, California. Hundreds of Local 104 members worked in the sheet metal shop over decades while it was open.

1980

During the 1980 Local 104 General Strike, Business Manager Bob Mammini set up a call center with strike captains at our Union hall.

1985

Here’s a photo from the mid-1980’s when the Associated Builders and Contractors Association had their General Convention at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. All of the Building Trades crafts left jobsites throughout the city to protest. Over 5,000 construction workers took to the street to protest.

c1998

Retired Business Manager Bruce Word in the late 1990’s as a Business Representative phone banking for local elected candidates running for office at a local Teamsters hall.

1998

Taken in 1998, this photo shows the top of the roof on San Francisco’s City Hall, which members of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104 did the architectural metal work on.

Trade History

In order to chart the history of Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association Local Union No. 104, a brief history of our trade is first in order. The origins of our trade, and therefore our union, arise in the medieval Armorers’ Guild in Europe and primarily Britain, who were responsible for producing the swords and suits of armor for the knights of the middle ages. Our craft eventually evolved as part of the English merchant guilds in the twelfth century. These guilds included both shop owner and trades people. However, as international and local trade expanded, there eventually grew an economic rift in the merchant guild memberships between the merchants and the crafts people.

The early craft guilds were formed as fraternal bodies to look after the social needs and interests of their members. But, they also fought to secure a monopoly for their particular trade and protect the members practicing it from outside competition by exercising control over all who worked in the trade. This organizing enabled the crafts to establish themselves as both a social and political force.


Coppersmiths, Braziers, and Tin Plate Workers.

Some of the first recorded mentions of the coppersmiths and braziers come from the 1422 records of the Blacksmiths Company of the City of London. In the 15th century, what we know today as Locals, originated then as parish brotherhoods. It was common at this time for workers in the same trade in the same area to organize this way—much the same as today.

Brief History of Local 104

The formation of a Labor Union today appears easy to accomplish, but in days gone by this was not so. In fact, there were many struggles and personal hardships.

The Employer, as a rule in those unenlightened days, considered the buying of a working man’s labor for a day as the first lien on his existence, and somehow conveyed this thought to the man that he was indeed privileged to work for any wage—as long as it was at a low rate of pay.

With this in mind, and as near as can be determined, it was in the year 1885 that the Sheet Metal Workers of San Francisco first felt the twinges of unionism attacking them. They realized that to gain any substantial benefits for themselves they must organize into a unit, concert their action, and stand as one body. The first sheet metal workers to organize in San Francisco formed their union on April 28, 1885. This group of concerted workers eventually evolved to affiliate and be granted charter with the Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers’ International Alliance on May 7, 1903.

The data gathered to research and give an accurate history of Local Union 104 was taken from nearly 100 years of general membership meeting minute books (numbering volumes) containing over 10,000 pages, and a small souvenir book published in 1910. All these volumes, except the souvenir book, were written in longhand that sometimes resembled code. These volumes tell not only the history of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104, but all the history of the labor movement in San Francisco, the State of California, the west, and the nation for that matter.

Organization meant better wages, fewer hours, more education, and more money in the working man’s pocket. To the Employer, it meant less profit until they adjusted their prices in making their bids meet the raise, and some in their shortsightedness thought it meant extermination and they prepared to struggle for existence.

Resolution

With their charter issued on May 7, 1903, at the dawn of their heritage and tradition in the sheet metal industry in the Bay Area and throughout northern California, the founders of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104 gathered together to “...unite and associate together as far practical all workmen of the trade represented in this organization for the purpose of securing a united and harmonious action on any and all things for the good of the trade....”

As near as can be ascertained, it was in the year 1885 that the Sheet Metal Workers of San Francisco first felt the leaven of unionism permeating them individually, and they realized that to gain any substantial benefit for themselves they must organize into a unit, concert their action, and stand together as one man. Their first meeting place was in the little wooden building at about Sixth and Mission streets, and the original members numbered about twenty. Their work was well done. They served a cause the gentle Galilean would have been glad to honor. They were good and faithful servants.

Local No. 104, mindful of the fact that its strength alone for future good or ill lay in eternal vigilance and organization, formed the first District Council of Sheet Metal Workers in America. The organization of this Council was a giant stride on the pathway of success, as the present demonstrates. The Council began the use of the Label, and the same has been continued with great success, getting results for the members of the craft that otherwise would never have been effected.

In 1910, it was recorded that Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104 had been sitting on the different Councils and from the verbal testimony of the older members was in fact the Local Union that first sent out the call for the formation of a Building Trades Council.

On that fateful day in 1906 when the ground beneath San Francisco began to shake, what was their surprise when they awoke on that memorable morning to find that in one sense of the word they were utterly disbanded, with the loss of everything they possessed. The majority of the members remained in the stricken city, but so scattered about that it was impossible to locate them for the time being.

However, within one week from the time a new replacement union hall was started on Guerrero Street in San Francisco—it was completed, every part of it being erected by sheet metal workers, and you may be assured that it was something to be proud of when you take into consideration the facilities at hand, also the fact that it was the first union headquarters, as well as the first fireproof building, erected after the earthquake and fire.

This is where the unselfish principles of the members of the union were shown to the best advantage, when you stop to consider the time, place, and conditions; the majority of the brothers lost everything they possessed, but did not lose the pride in their union or the confidence in the members of the committee to whom they had given the task of building their future home for them. And, it was nothing more or less than a home, as it gave to the Sheet Metal Workers the prestige they had never enjoyed before and placed them in a position to enjoy good conditions—such as hours, wages, and the respect of their employers as well as the public at large; also standing as a monument to the indefatigable efforts of the Ways and Means Committee and the membership of Local No. 104, who demonstrated that the Sheet Metal Workers are a class of men that not only crave respect, but demand it.

In many of the great industries of our city, the toilers of which are arrayed in various organizations, none presents a more formidable front than the local craft of Sheet Metal Workers. The rebuilding of San Francisco was one of the wonders of the age, but more so when the fact is known that every nail and rivet driven home was by Union Labor hands.

Shortly after Local 104 moved in 1980 from their Guerrero Street location to the present day office on Market, the San Francisco Landmarks Board designated Local 104’s old hall on Guerrero Street as Landmark Number 150—the oldest hall built exclusively to house a trade union in California.

With much great hardship and at times sacrifice to their own well-being, the founders realized (much like today) “that to gain any substantial benefits for themselves, they must organize into a unit, concert their action, and stand as one body.” As part of Local 104’s recent past, the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association internally organized the many geographically dictated locals into one greater regional local in the 1980s, to thereby “present a more solid block in bidding within our own market.” The locals involved at the time were Local 75, North Bay/Redwood Empire; Local 104, San Francisco; Local 216, East Bay; Local 272, San Mateo; and Local 309, South Bay. By that time, Local 497 in far northern California had already merged with Local 75, and Local 304 in Santa Cruz had merged with Local 309. Today, Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 104 spans along the 17 coastal counties covering from the Oregon border to the southern boundary of Monterey county. Its ranks currently count over 6,000 sheet metal workers as proud members

Knowing that in today’s world of rapidly changing technologies you can’t afford to be left behind, Local 104 leads the way in qualifying their members in the latest upcoming technologies, such as Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing; HEPA Filters for clean rooms, computer layout, leakage testing, service work, and all other technologies inclusive to Local 104’s products and services. A leader in training and education, apprentices now are able to qualify their years of training toward their Associate’s degrees.

Born of a great tradition, after 100 years of proud existence Local 104 is a leader in their field today and continues laying the groundwork for their role of leadership tomorrow.

Mergers

Kelly Barber, Business Manager Local 75 North Bay

I went to (the state of) Washington to a Business Agents’ Conference up there. We got up there and they asked me if I was still going to retire. And I said, “Yup, I was going to give it up.” Then that was the first time I heard of doing away with Local 75 (North Bay) and putting part of it in Oakland and part of it in San Francisco. When I found that out I said if it’s going to mean giving up the union, I won’t retire. I’ll stay on. But, anyway, I didn’t. It was all set up where it was going to be set up. So, we gave up the union and everything in it. I could have gone to Oakland as a Business Agent, but I didn’t want to do that. I don’t know where any of the memorabilia is because Chuck Artman finished up and took everything.


Irvin Ellenberger, Business Manager Local 272 San Mateo

When the merger came along, of course, I was upset. Nobody likes to have that happen. In 1981, I had two episodes of what was diagnosed as arrhythmia, which is irregular heartbeat. I was miserable with it, and the doctor told me I was going to have to take those pills for the rest of my life. Well, I made up my mind when I saw the merger coming, before it actually happened. The merger took place on January 1, 1982. I told my wife sometime in December, I guess, that I was not going to run for re-election, and she was very happy about that, and that’s when I started getting better—immediately. I had no idea the stress of that job was causing my heart problems. So, I got better and served as Business Agent until the summer of ’82, at which time I retired. And, I tell people, anybody who will listen, that if it were not for the Sheet Metal Workers Union Pension we certainly would not be living as well as we are living now.


Jim Hill, Business Manager Local 309 San Jose

In 1985, we went to a Business Agents’ convention and General President Carlough was merging Locals right-and-left. We knew the handwriting was on the wall because Local 75 had been merged into Local 104 around 1973, and Locals 216 and 272 were merged into Local 104. So, we know it was just a matter of time for the whole Bay Area. It just made sense. Then, in 1985, Carlough made the announcement in the San Francisco Business Agents’ Conference that Local 162, Sacramento, would be merged into Local 104. Then, what he did was he met with us at a Business Agents’ convention down in Santa Barbara, Bob Mammini and myself, and he said that he wanted to put us two together—to merge. So, that’s the way it went. We expected it; we knew it was going to happen. We had a good Local in 309. It was a good contract, good relationship. We had a fairly large Local as far as jurisdiction. Anyway, the 104 and 309 merger was January 1986. I was put in as Financial Secretary/Treasurer for Local 104 and had to move my office up into San Francisco. So, I stayed until 1994. Local 162 out of Sacramento was never merged.


Robert A. Mammini, Business Manager Local 104

I was a Business Manager that came in on a merger that had already taken place with Eureka and the North Bay. The ones with Oakland, 216, and San Mateo Local 272 was in 1982. The one in 1986 was with 309.
In 1981 the International sent out an International Representative from the east coast to look into the three local unions. Their concern was that we were leapfrogging. Leapfrogging in that if you got ten cents more this year, then in the next area you’d get 15 cents more next year. But, that was something that was pretty typical as well on the east coast, and all the rest of the country. What they didn’t like, which they felt was hurting the union sheet metal industry in the Bay Area, was that the International looked at the Bay Area as one market place. And, they were right because it was. They had a problem thinking that if 216 had this set of rules, like the two-man rule and travel time and zone pay and holidays, and 104 had another set of rules and 272 had another set of rules, that it wasn’t a solid block in bidding and non-union could creep into those cracks. They were right.
So, they said, “We’re going to take a look at a merger.”
As a matter of fact, when I was Recording Secretary in 1971 or 1972, they had sent in someone else to come in and look at a merger between the same three locals. They gave us the impression that it was a done deal. For one reason or another there was a change of mind and we didn’t see it happen. But, in 1981, when they sent in Ruben Reed, who was the International Rep at the time, he came in and spent a couple of days in 216, and a couple of days in 104, and a couple of days in 272. When he came in he did say, “When I get on the plane going back to Washington D.C. to report to Edward Carlough, I will have a recommendation, and there will be a merger. Forgetting what took place seven years ago, where it never happened, there will be a merger.”
I remember that I was the one to take him back to the airport, and I used every skill that I though that I had, and every persuasion method that I thought I had, to get from him what information I could get about the merger. Being a professional that he was, a southern gentleman from the east (and I guess that’s why Carlough picked him), because he wouldn’t give me the time of day. The only hint that I had was that when I drove him to the airport, and I was like well how does it look and whatever, I got mums the word…the only hint was that when I dropped him off with his bags, he just looked at me and said, “You run a damn good local.”
And, I said, “Shit, I wonder if he said that to the other two guys.”
With that I said, “I know I have a good Local.” I didn’t know if I ran it all that well compared to those guys. But, I quite frankly thought there would be a problem with 272, actually 216, but 272 for sure because he was definitely my senior. He had been a Business Manager for maybe 25 years to my 5. So there’s a lot of background there. But, when all was said and done, the Merger Directive came out and Bob Mammini was the Business Manager, Irv Ellenberger (Local 272) could be a Rep, and Bill Maddox (Local 216) could be a Rep. They would have to go into the election six months later.
That was one of the things when Carlough made up his mind that when there was going to be a merger, he did let me know that he was extremely concerned that there was only six months to go before the election, because he did the numbers. And, the numbers went something like this…216 and 104 were equal in numbers, 272 was about 2/3 our numbers. But, if Irv Ellenberger (Local 272) and Bill Maddox (Local 216) worked some kind of a deal out, just by the numbers game—even if every single member of 104 voted for me, which is never the case, but even if every single member…I was still a loser because I couldn’t compete with the numbers.
If 50% of 216 voted for their guy, and not me, and 50% of 272 voted for their guy and not me—I was out. Carlough said that I only had six month, and he was concerned about that because he didn’t want to lose me. But, I told him that when I took over this job they gave me ten months, and I did okay with that. Six months is tight, but I think I can do okay.
Right up to the day of nominations, and of course I had my guys ready to nominate, I had no idea what there would be…although Irv Ellenberger told me he was going to retire but I didn’t know if his number two guy, Cliff, was going to run, and Oakland Bill Maddox, I didn’t know what he had in mind. I didn’t know how good the merger was or wasn’t going because there was still a lot of problems with contracts and what-have-you. But, the day of nominations, past presidents for the two locals came up and said that they had to talk to me. With all these rumors about nominations and what’s going on, I just kind of told them, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
So finally I said okay, what the hell do they want now. So, I said come on in. I was standing on the top of the stairs but not in the office. So I said come on in, thinking I was going to hear all of this crap. And Ernie Gavea said, “You know Bob, in six months you did a helluva job, and although we’re very proud of 216 you did a helluva job with the merger. And, as the former president of Local 216, I would love to be the one to nominate you for the Business Manager. And, Charlie Hammond said, “And as former president of 272, I want to be the first to second the nomination.”
“Jesus! I’m sorry it took so long to get to you fellas.”
Then once they gave the nomination and a second, if there was anybody out there who had a thought—it was over, wiped out.
With 309, it took a little longer, but by that point the numbers were there. With 309 it was a suggestion by me to Carlough. In all fairness, 309 had one helluva Local. They had programs, they had a training facility that was state-of-the-art, second to no one. They had a lot of money in their treasury; they owed no bills. But, Carlough still insisted that there was still one market place and he wasn’t going to make any exception. He wanted to wait a little bit longer with 309 because he wanted to see how this other one was working out. But, once he decided, I said to him at a meeting with Jim Hill where he said that there was a merger and there was no talking so forget about it, I said, “The Local has grown to the point where I can’t handle both positions of Business Manager dealing with all the new contracts and dealing with all the negotiations, and dealing with going from a half a dozen reps to fourteen, training coordinators, different programs, you’ve got to split the office to where the Financial Secretary/Treasurer is one office. It is only fair and it would make an easier transition if it were their guy (Jim Hill, Local 309 San Jose) went from being a rep to the number two guy. That is how Jim Hill became the Local 104 Financial Secretary/Treasurer. He was happy for it and I was happy for it. Jim Hill did a great job as Financial Secretary/Treasurer. He could’ve given me hell, especially in the number two spot. But, he was a real asset.

Join the Union

Are you interested in starting a rewarding career with Sheet Metal Workers Local 104? Whether you have experience in the industry or are new to construction, we welcome you to join our membership. We offer comprehensive training, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects. If you're ready to build a successful future with a supportive community, consider becoming a part of Sheet Metal Workers Local 104.