SMART Local 219 represents sheet metal workers in Rockford, IL. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
SMART Local 219 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 219 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 219 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (815) 874-6641 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 219 represents the professional sheet metal workers and air balancer technicians serving the Rockford, Illinois metropolitan area and the surrounding northern counties. As a charter of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local provides the skilled labor force necessary for complex architectural sheet metal, industrial ventilation, and commercial HVAC systems. The Rockford market serves as a critical hub for regional manufacturing and healthcare infrastructure, necessitating a highly trained workforce capable of meeting strict building codes and performance standards. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this region as a strategic intersection for skilled trades in the Midwest.
The membership of Local 219 is comprised of journey-level craftspeople who have completed rigorous training in fabrication, installation, and maintenance. By maintaining a deep bench of qualified sheet metal workers, the local supports a variety of projects ranging from high-precision laboratory exhaust systems to large-scale retail ductwork installations. For signatory contractors, the local offers a predictable labor pipeline that mitigates the risks associated with the regional skilled labor shortage. For the individual tradesperson, membership provides access to collective bargaining power, ensuring that compensation packages remain competitive within the northern Illinois economic corridor while maintaining high standards for workplace safety and craftsmanship.
Journeyman wages at SMART Local 219 are established through collective bargaining agreements between the union and regional contractor associations. While specific hourly rates are not publicly broadcasted, they consist of a base taxable wage plus a comprehensive fringe benefit package. Apprentices typically begin their careers at a set percentage of the journeyman rate—often starting around 40% to 50%—and receive incremental raises every six to twelve months as they progress through the five-year program. These increases are contingent upon successful completion of classroom hours and documented on-the-job training. To obtain the most current wage scale and total package breakdown for the current contract year, applicants or contractors should contact the Local 219 business office in Rockford directly for the latest wage circular.
The chartered jurisdiction of SMART Local 219 covers the northern Illinois territory centered around Rockford, extending through several key counties bordering the Wisconsin state line. This geographic area includes major industrial zones, commercial centers, and residential developments where sheet metal work is regulated by union standards. The jurisdiction encompasses all phases of the trade, including the fabrication of ductwork in signatory shops and the field installation of HVAC systems, architectural metal roofing, and stainless steel kitchen equipment. Members dispatched within this territory are subject to the specific travel and subsistence rules outlined in the Local 219 Master Agreement, which governs how labor is moved across county lines to meet project demands.
The signatory contractor landscape for Local 219 is characterized by a mix of long-standing family-owned sheet metal shops and larger mechanical primes that operate across the Illinois-Wisconsin border. These firms specialize in diverse market sectors, including specialized healthcare ventilation, public school modernizations, and industrial dust collection systems for the region's manufacturing plants. Hiring activity in this market is often tied to large-scale institutional projects and the recurring maintenance needs of Rockford’s industrial base. Signatory contractors benefit from a centralized dispatch system, allowing them to scale their workforce rapidly in response to seasonal peaks or large contract awards while maintaining consistent quality standards across all job sites.
Members of Local 219 work on a wide array of projects, including the installation of high-efficiency HVAC systems in hospitals, custom metal fabrication for food processing plants, and architectural metal for municipal buildings. They are also heavily involved in the maintenance and retrofitting of existing industrial facilities to meet modern environmental and air quality standards.
No prior experience is required for the apprenticeship program. The JATC is designed to take individuals with a strong work ethic and mechanical aptitude and train them through a combination of classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training. However, any previous experience in construction or welding can be beneficial during the interview and ranking process.
Local 219 utilizes a referral list system where members out of work can register their availability. Signatory contractors contact the union hall when they need additional manpower, and the local refers qualified members to those contractors. This system ensures that labor is distributed fairly and that contractors receive workers with the specific skills required for their projects.
Yes, welding is a core component of the sheet metal trade. The Local 219 training program includes instruction in various welding processes such as MIG, TIG, and Stick welding. Apprentices and journeymen have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications through the AWS or the International Training Institute, which are essential for industrial and structural sheet metal applications.
SMART Local 219 is seated in Rockford, Illinois (IL). We hold published wage sheets for 26 locals across Illinois — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Rockford and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 219. 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 219 is headquartered in Rockford, IL 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 219 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 219 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 219 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 219 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 219 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 219 hall is at 3316 Publishers Drive Rockford IL 61109, serving Rockford, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (815) 874-6641.
SMART Local 219 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (815) 874-6641 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 219 can be reached at (815) 874-6641. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.