Despite Florida's status as a "right-to-work" state, which can disadvantage organized labor, one Jacksonville union is proving that workers can still come out on top. SMART Local 435, part of Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, has successfully organized PreCast Florida, a concrete manufacturing company, under a fabrication contract.

The union victory was announced by Local 435 Business Manager Lance Fout, who emphasized that "all workers should have representation and benefits." The campaign to organize PreCast Florida grew out of the local's existing relationship with Southern State Duct Masters, a unionized sheet metal contractor that has thrived since signing with Local 435 in 2022.

Southern State's success story caught the attention of company owner Ashley Moore's brother and sister-in-law, who recently purchased a struggling concrete precast business and rebranded it as PreCast Florida. Despite the change in ownership and name, the company continued to grapple with high turnover and recruitment challenges, mainly due to a lack of competitive benefits for employees.

Seeking a solution, Moore suggested that PreCast Florida reach out to Local 435. Union representatives met with both management and workers at the company to explain the advantages of unionization. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with employees expressing shock at the benefits they stood to gain by joining the union.

Local 435 then crafted a collective bargaining agreement for PreCast Florida that included key provisions like healthcare, a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation and holidays, and a wage increase to offset the cost of union dues. The company signed on with the local on June 1, officially bringing its workers into the union fold.

The impact of unionization is already being felt at PreCast Florida, according to Fout. "They're ready to start making doctor's appointments," he said, referencing the new access to affordable healthcare for workers at the shop.

PreCast Florida's unionized employees produce a range of concrete products, from light poles and picnic tables to construction castings and ornamental structures. Their work showcases the same level of skill and craftsmanship as their union brothers and sisters in the sheet metal industry.

In fact, the unionization of PreCast Florida is creating a positive ripple effect across both companies. Fout noted that Local 435 members at Southern State Duct Masters are now fabricating some of the metal forms used by PreCast workers to mold their concrete products, resulting in more work hours for union members at both shops.

While the concrete manufacturing industry may be outside the traditional scope of the sheet metal workers' union, Fout said the campaign demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of organized labor. "We've got a good relationship with the employer, a strong contract, and the employees are happy," he concluded.