SMART Local 268 represents sheet metal workers in Southern, IL. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
SMART Local 268 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 268 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 268 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (618) 397-1443 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 268 represents skilled sheet metal workers across a broad territory in Southern Illinois, maintaining a central presence in the Metro East region and surrounding rural counties. As an affiliate of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local manages the labor supply for architectural sheet metal, HVAC installation, and industrial fabrication. The membership is composed of journeypersons and apprentices who support the region's diverse infrastructure, from commercial retail developments to heavy industrial facilities located along the Mississippi River corridor. Gulfstream Strategic Placements has monitored this specific labor market since 2014 to assist tradespeople and contractors in navigating the local's specialized workforce dynamics.
The Southern Illinois market served by Local 268 is unique due to its mix of high-density logistics hubs and specialized manufacturing plants. Because the jurisdiction borders major metropolitan centers, the local plays a critical role in ensuring that regional signatory contractors have access to a pool of workers trained in the latest safety protocols and technical standards. Members focus on the fabrication and installation of complex ductwork systems, roofing components, and specialty metal systems. For contractors, partnering with Local 268 provides a structured framework for labor costs and quality control, while members benefit from collective bargaining power that secures comprehensive healthcare and retirement protections through multi-employer trust funds.
Journeyman wages for SMART Local 268 are established through collective bargaining agreements and vary based on the specific classification of work performed. Because specific current rates were not provided for this summary, individuals should contact the Local 268 business office in Caseyville to obtain the most recent wage and fringe benefit schedule. Apprentices typically start at a percentage of the journeyman rate, often beginning around 40% to 50% and receiving incremental raises every six to twelve months as they complete required classroom hours and on-the-job training milestones. The total package includes the hourly base rate plus significant employer contributions toward fringe benefits, creating a total compensation figure that exceeds the taxable hourly wage.
The territorial jurisdiction for Local 268 covers a significant portion of Southern Illinois, encompassing counties such as St. Clair, Madison, and Monroe. This area requires members to be mobile, as job sites may range from suburban commercial projects to remote industrial maintenance sites. The local's charter governs all sheet metal work within these boundaries, including the shop fabrication of materials and the subsequent field installation. Dispatching is handled through the local's hiring hall, ensuring that signatory contractors receive workers with the specific certifications required for their projects. Travel pay or zone rates may apply depending on the distance from the jurisdictional hubs, as defined in the standing labor agreement.
The contractor landscape for SMART Local 268 consists of a diverse mix of signatory employers ranging from small architectural metal shops to large-scale mechanical primes. These firms handle a variety of work, including large institutional projects like hospitals and schools, as well as essential maintenance for the region's industrial sector. Hiring typically follows the ebbs and flows of the regional construction cycle, with peaks often driven by large-scale infrastructure investments or refinery outages. Since 2014, Gulfstream Strategic Placements has observed that the strength of this market relies on the collaborative relationship between the union and its signatory partners to maintain high productivity standards.
Members are trained in the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of all types of sheet metal products. This includes HVAC ductwork, commercial roofing, siding, and gutters, as well as specialized industrial components like kitchen equipment and hospital air filtration systems. They work with various materials including galvanized steel, copper, and stainless steel, utilizing both manual tools and advanced CNC machinery.
The apprenticeship program generally spans five years, combining thousands of hours of paid on-the-job training with structured classroom instruction. Apprentices learn drafting, layout, welding, and safety protocols while working alongside experienced journeypersons. This comprehensive path ensures that by the time an individual reaches journeyman status, they are fully proficient in all aspects of the sheet metal trade.
Transfers and travelers are managed according to the SMART International Constitution and the specific terms of the Local 268 bylaws. Members from other locals looking to work in Southern Illinois must typically check in with the business manager and provide a travel letter. Permanent transfers usually require a period of residency and approval by the local's membership or executive board.
Yes, the training center provides certifications for specialized skills such as TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing), Fire Life Safety, and various welding certifications (AWS). These credentials allow members to work on highly regulated projects and help signatory contractors meet specific project specifications required by developers and government entities in the Southern Illinois market.
SMART Local 268 is seated in Southern, 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 Southern and the rest of Illinois, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 268. 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 268 is headquartered in Southern, 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 268 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 268 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 268 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 268 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 268 against neighboring jurisdictions and other sheet metal workers markets.
The SMART Local 268 hall is at 2727 North 89th Street Caseyville IL 62232, serving Southern, IL and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (618) 397-1443.
SMART Local 268 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (618) 397-1443 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 268 can be reached at (618) 397-1443. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.