SMART Local 165 represents sheet metal workers in Argentine, KS. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
SMART Local 165 runs its own dispatch and out-of-work list — call the hall to confirm hours, books and what to bring. Gulfstream is a private recruiter and does not control hall referral.
SMART Local 165 has not published a current journeyman wage sheet we can source, so no contract rate is shown for this local. For reference only, the reporting-wide average for sheet metal workers locals is $43.65/hr ($61.86 total package) — a benchmark, not this local's rate. Confirm the current rate with the hall's business office. We publish the local's own rate, package and effective date as soon as it is available.
SMART Local 165 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (785) 806-1574 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in. Contact details are imported from the UA, SMART and IBEW public directories. Gulfstream is a private recruiting firm, is not affiliated with the local, and does not control hall dispatch.
SMART Local 165 represents skilled sheet metal workers based out of Argentine, Kansas, serving a critical role in the regional construction and industrial infrastructure. This union local manages a diverse workforce capable of handling complex architectural sheet metal, commercial HVAC systems, and industrial ventilation projects. As the demand for energy-efficient climate control and high-specification ductwork grows across the Kansas City metropolitan fringe and surrounding eastern counties, Local 165 ensures that labor standards remain high through rigorous training and safety protocols. Their presence in the Argentine area facilitates a reliable labor pool for large-scale developments and essential maintenance across the region.
The market served by Local 165 is characterized by a mix of heavy industrial applications, commercial retail centers, and institutional facilities like schools and healthcare centers. Sheet metal workers here are essential to the building envelope, providing expertise in roofing, siding, and sophisticated air distribution systems. Because the trade requires precise fabrication and installation skills, the local maintains a strong emphasis on the technical proficiency of its members. Contractors looking to benchmark labor costs or tradespeople seeking to understand the local landscape will find that Local 165 represents a stabilized, high-skill environment focused on long-term career viability and structural integrity in the built environment.
SMART Local 165 operates under a negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement that defines specific hourly wages for journeyman sheet metal workers alongside a comprehensive fringe benefit package. While current exact wage figures are not publicly disclosed by the union office, pay scales are strictly enforced to ensure parity across the jurisdiction. Apprentices begin at a set percentage of the journeyman rate, typically ranging from 40% to 50% for entry-level candidates and increasing at specific intervals as they complete classroom and on-the-job training milestones. To obtain the current taxable wage and total package breakdown, which includes contributions to pension and healthcare, interested parties should contact the Argentine business office directly to request the latest wage schedule applicable to the building trades or residential agreements.
The jurisdiction for SMART Local 165 covers a significant portion of eastern Kansas, centered around the Argentine and Greater Kansas City area. This chartered territory includes several surrounding counties where Local 165 holds exclusive rights to provide sheet metal labor for signatory projects. The jurisdiction covers all aspects of the trade, including the fabrication and installation of HVAC ductwork, architectural metal, stainless steel equipment for food service, and industrial blow-pipe systems. Travel requirements for members depend on the specific site location within these counties, and dispatch is managed through the local’s referral hall to ensure that signatory contractors are staffed according to the specific needs of their active project backlog.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 165 is comprised of several specialized tiers, ranging from large-scale mechanical primes to boutique architectural fabrication shops. Many of these firms operate their own fabrication facilities where sheet metal is plasma-cut and formed before being shipped to field sites for installation. The hiring environment is driven by the volume of commercial permits and industrial expansions in the Kansas corridor. Signatory partners rely on the union to provide workers who are pre-certified in various welding processes and safety standards, reducing the overhead associated with individual recruitment and training. This symbiotic relationship ensures that both the labor force and the contractors remain competitive in a demanding regional market.
The program covers a wide range of technical skills including blueprint reading, CAD/BIM modeling, advanced mathematics, and manual fabrication. Apprentices also receive extensive training in welding (TIG, MIG, and Stick) and the safe operation of shop machinery like shears, breaks, and plasma tables. This ensures every graduate is prepared for both field installation and shop fabrication environments.
Local 165 manages a dispatch system that assigns members to projects throughout its multi-county jurisdiction in eastern Kansas. While the headquarters is in Argentine, members are expected to travel to various job sites. The union’s referral rules ensure that work is distributed fairly based on the member's position on the out-of-work list and their specific certifications.
Experienced tradespeople coming from non-union backgrounds may be eligible for 'organized' status. The Local 165 business agent will evaluate the individual's documented work history and perform a skills assessment to determine if they can be placed as a journeyman or if they need to complete a shortened probationary period or specific supplemental training modules.
Yes, Local 165 offers access to national SMART certifications including Fire Life Safety (FLS) for damper inspections, TABB certification for air and water balance, and various AWS welding certifications. These credentials allow members to work on highly regulated projects, such as hospitals and government facilities, where specialized verification of skill is a project requirement.
SMART Local 165 is seated in Argentine, Kansas (KS). We hold published wage sheets for 6 locals across Kansas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Argentine and the rest of Kansas, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 165. Our office is in South Corona, California and we place union-scale tradespeople and field leadership nationwide.
Gulfstream Strategic Placements, 4160 Temescal Canyon Road, Suite 401, Corona, CA 92883. Phone (951) 208-7780. Email hello@gulfstreamsp.com. Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific.View our verified Google Business Profile
Journeyman scales as last published by each local. Rates change every contract cycle — confirm with the hall.
SMART Local 165 is headquartered in Argentine, KS and dispatches sheet metal workers manpower throughout its chartered jurisdiction. Work performed inside that territory falls under the local's collective bargaining agreement and wage schedule, even when the contractor is based elsewhere and travels in.
Most locals require applicants to be at least 18, legally able to work in the U.S., hold a high school diploma or GED, pass a basic math/aptitude assessment and a drug screen, and be physically able to perform sheet metal workers work. Some Local 165 programs give preference to applicants inside the jurisdiction or to veterans. Eligibility rules are set by the local's Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), so confirm the current criteria with the hall before applying.
Apprenticeship applications go through the SMART Local 165 JATC, not through a contractor or a recruiter. Applications typically open in defined intake windows each year: you submit the application with proof of age, education, and residency, sit for an aptitude test, and then interview. Ranked applicants are placed on an eligibility list and indentured as signatory contractors call for apprentices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements does not process apprenticeship applications — contact the Local 165 training center directly.
Sheet Metal Workers apprenticeships generally run four to five years — roughly 8,000–10,000 hours of on-the-job training plus several hundred classroom hours per year. Apprentices earn a paycheck the entire time, stepping up through the wage periods until they turn out as journeymen at 100% of scale.
Signatory contractors hire through the local's hiring hall, so working under the SMART Local 165 agreement generally means being a member or being organized in through the local's process. Journeymen from other locals can travel in by signing the out-of-work book, subject to the local's referral rules and manpower needs. Non-union sheet metal workers professionals are usually placed with open-shop contractors instead — we recruit for both.
Wage rates vary widely by local and market. Use the Union Pay Scale Explorer to sort every UA and SMART local by hourly wage, total package, and annualized pay so you can benchmark Local 165 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 165 hall is at 203 E Market Overbrook KS 66524, serving Argentine, KS and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (785) 806-1574.
SMART Local 165 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (785) 806-1574 to confirm dispatch hours, required documents (union card, certifications, ID) and current list standing before traveling in — Gulfstream does not control hall dispatch.
SMART Local 165 can be reached at (785) 806-1574. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.