SMART Local 78 represents railroad mechanical workers in Little Rock, AR. Below: wage scale context, jurisdiction, apprenticeship routes, and the signatory contractors that hire from this hall.
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SMART Local 78 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 78 has not published a current journeyman wage sheet we can source, so no contract rate is shown for this local. 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 78 has not published a current wage sheet to the public rate sources we track, so the figure above is the reporting-wide railroad mechanical workers average, not this hall's own scale. Members dispatched out of this hall work commercial construction and mechanical service and retrofit work for signatory contractors throughout the Little Rock, AR area, and local scale in the Little Rock market is normally set by the hall's current collective bargaining agreement — confirm it with the business office before quoting.
Gulfstream recruits railroad mechanical workers talent for commercial mechanical, plumbing, piping, sheet metal and building automation contractors in and around Little Rock. We are a private recruiting firm — we do not dispatch, set, or negotiate Local 78 rates. For current Little Rock scale, dispatch standing, or apprenticeship intake, contact the hall directly.
SMART Local 78 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall — call (330) 614-8161 to confirm dispatch procedure, 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 78 represents the skilled sheet metal workers across a expansive jurisdiction centered in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a chartered affiliate of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, this local provides the specialized labor force necessary for the state's commercial, industrial, and institutional construction sectors. Members are trained in the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of HVAC ductwork, architectural sheet metal, and industrial ventilation systems. The presence of Local 78 ensures that large-scale mechanical projects in the region meet rigorous standards for airflow efficiency and structural integrity, supporting the infrastructure needs of Arkansas's growing urban centers and manufacturing hubs.
The Little Rock market serves as the anchor for Local 78 operations, where the union maintains its Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) facilities. This local is instrumental in supplying qualified journeymen to signatory contractors who handle complex metal work that non-union shops often cannot scale for. From high-rise ventilation to precision specialty fabrication, the membership provides a level of technical expertise backed by standardized training. For contractors and tradespeople alike, understanding the specific labor dynamics of the Arkansas sheet metal trade is essential for accurate project estimating and career planning within the south-central United States construction landscape, where Local 78 remains the primary labor partner for union-scale mechanical firms.
Based on the figures effective October 2022, the Journeyman hourly rate for SMART Local 78 is $33.10. It is important to note that the supplied data indicates a total package matching the hourly wage, which is atypical for union agreements; users should contact the business office to verify the specific breakdown of employer-paid fringes including health and pension contributions that may sit atop the base rate. Apprentices typically begin at a percentage of the journeyman scale, often starting 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. This progression ensures that as the apprentice gains competency in fabrication and blueprint reading, their compensation reflects their increasing value to the signatory contractor and the job site.
The jurisdiction of SMART Local 78 covers a significant portion of Arkansas, including the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The charter includes the installation and fabrication of all light, mid, and heavy-gauge metal products. This encompasses HVAC duct systems, kitchen equipment, siding, decking, and specialized industrial blow pipe systems. Members are dispatched to job sites ranging from municipal government buildings and hospitals to large manufacturing plants. Contractors operating within this territory must adhere to the terms of the Local 78 collective bargaining agreement, which dictates travel pay, subsistence, and shift differentials for work performed outside of the immediate Little Rock dispatch zone.
The signatory landscape for SMART Local 78 is comprised of diverse mechanical firms ranging from large regional primes to specialized architectural sheet metal shops. These contractors rely on the union to provide a scalable workforce that can handle the fluctuations of major commercial developments and industrial shutdowns. The mix includes full-service mechanical contractors who self-perform ductwork alongside their piping divisions, as well as dedicated sheet metal fabricators who operate high-tech shops in the Little Rock area. Hiring typically follows the project cycle, with significant demand coming from the healthcare, education, and industrial sectors throughout central Arkansas, requiring a workforce capable of both shop fabrication and field installation.
Members have access to training for AWS welding certifications, fire damper inspection, and TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing) certification. These credentials allow sheet metal workers to perform specialized tasks on high-spec projects, such as laboratories and healthcare facilities, where precision airflow and safety standards are mandated by building codes and engineering specifications.
Yes, the jurisdiction includes architectural metal components such as metal roofing, wall panels, flashing, and decorative trim. While many associate the union primarily with HVAC ductwork, the training program includes significant instruction in the bending, soldering, and installation of various architectural metals used in modern commercial facades and historical renovations.
While Local 78 is centered in Little Rock, its jurisdiction is broad. Members may be required to travel to job sites across various Arkansas counties. Furthermore, through the SMART international network, members in good standing may occasionally travel to other locals' jurisdictions during peak labor demand periods, provided they follow the proper traveler protocols and dispatch rules.
Apprentices start at a set percentage of the $33.10 journeyman rate. As they progress through the five-year program, their percentage increases annually or semi-annually upon successful completion of work hours and school modules. This ensures that pay stays commensurate with the worker's growing skill set in fabrication, welding, and field installation.
SMART Local 78 is seated in Little Rock, Arkansas (AR). We hold published wage sheets for 5 locals across Arkansas — compare nearby scales before you take a call.
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We are a mechanical, plumbing and electrical construction recruiting firm serving Little Rock and the rest of Arkansas, including contractors signatory to SMART Local 78. 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 78 is headquartered in Little Rock, AR and dispatches railroad mechanical 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 railroad mechanical workers work. Some Local 78 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 78 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 78 training center directly.
Railroad Mechanical 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 78 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 railroad mechanical 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 78 against neighboring jurisdictions and other railroad mechanical workers markets.
The SMART Local 78 hall is at 8201 Merriwood Court Sherwood AR 72120, serving Little Rock, AR and the surrounding jurisdiction. Hall phone: (330) 614-8161.
SMART Local 78 runs its own referral procedure and books are signed at the hall. Call the hall at (330) 614-8161 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 78 can be reached at (330) 614-8161. Contact details are imported from the union's public directory listing — confirm hours with the hall.