The Trade
What is a “Sheet Metal Worker”?
The Sheet Metal and HVAC trade encompasses the skilled fabrication, installation, and maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as other metal structures and components. Our trade involves working with metal to create ducts, vents, and fittings, ensuring these systems operate efficiently and effectively. The membership of Local 104 includes highly trained professionals such as fabricators, installers, and technicians who are proficient in using advanced tools and techniques like laser cutting and computer-aided design. Our trade is vital for modern infrastructure, providing comfort and environmental control in residential, commercial, and industrial environments.
Our Crafts
The Union Difference
Collective Bargaining
The heart and soul of our labor union. Collective bargaining is our cooperative strength to come together as workers through the Union to negotiate fair working conditions and to set industry standards. Through the negotiating process, we develop a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for employees and employers to adhere to.
Representation
Our Union representatives work on your behalf to defend your interests as a Union member. Union representatives enforce the collective bargaining agreement and communicate Union policy with the membership.
Jobsite Safety
Too often on non-union jobsites, OSHA violations are rampant and corners are cut so that developers can make additional profits at the expense of worker safety. Through our apprenticeship program and jobsite safety culture, we promote the highest standards when it comes to worker safety. We all have families to get home to at the end of the day, and we want to ensure workers make it home safely.
Livable Wages
In the most prosperous state in the United States, we have seen a vast expansion of economic wealth come into California. Our Union’s responsibility is to ensure we maintain livable wages in a soaring economy so that we can maintain our status as part of the middle class.
Health Benefits
Our state-of-the-art training centers throughout California offer Journeyperson upgrade classes free to members who want to continue honing their craft for the skills that will be needed in our industry in the future.
Workforce Standards
Our state-of-the-art training centers throughout California offer Journeyperson upgrade classes free to members who want to continue honing their craft for the skills that will be needed in our industry in the future.
Vacation Pay
In addition to your base wage, you accrue vacation pay that goes into a separate account that you can access at any time through our Federal Credit Union.
Retirement
Our Local 104 pension plans and 401(a) give you well-deserved respite at the end of a hard-working career.
Employers
Our diverse range of employers who are signed to our Collective Bargaining Agreement have agreed to pay you prevailing rate no matter what project you are working on.
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...”
Union Labels
Approximately 20% of our total hours worked within Local 104’s jurisdiction are performed in shops throughout our 49 counties fabricating ductwork and architectural sheet metal projects. Known as “Work Preservation,” our membership and employers alike have committed through our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) to having Union Labels placed on sheet metal products upon their completion to help us preserve our shop fabrication.
There are different color labels for the counties governed by the different CBA’s. In addition, the International has a Yellow and Blue label. When you are installing in the field, every piece of round duct, rectangular duct and flashing, should have a Pride of 104 Label affixed to it. If the label color does not correspond to the color on the map where you are installing, then please call the nearest dispatch office within 24 hours and leave a message for the business representative of the jobsite address where there are no labels or different color labels affixed to the materials being installed.
In addition to fabrication, Work Preservation applies to Detailing (approximately 10% of a job’s total hours) and TABB (approximately 10% of a job’s total hours) as well, so please look for a detailer stamp on the drawing you are working from.
| Color of Label | Area of Fabrication |
|---|---|
| Red, White and Blue | Bay Area Building Trades CBA |
| Green | Sacramento Area CBA |
| Red | Stockton Area CBA |
| White | Modesto Area CBA |
| Black | Fresno Area CBA |
| Orange | Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties CBA |
| Black and Gold | Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Area CBA |
| Yellow | International Shop Fabrication to be placed on duct and architectural sheet metal when such products are shipped out of our jurisdiction |
| Blue | International Production Label |
| Light Blue | Local 104 Production Label |
3 Steps to the Union Label:
It starts off with the member in the shop making sure to place a label on every piece of fabricated item, both HVAC, architectural sheet metals, and/or any specialty item.
When you are on a jobsite, actively look for the 104 label to ensure that your brothers and sisters have fabricated the products you are installing.
If there isn’t a label, let the steward on the job know, or call your local dispatch office and notify them of the name and address of the project.