Ep. 7: Rich McClees Reflects on Legendary Career, Sheet Metal Industry

 

Rich McClees

This episode, we step back for a moment from the news of the day and talk with a long-time SMART member, apprenticeship instructor and international leader who helped build our union into what it is today. Outgoing SMART General Secretary-Treasurer Rich McClees sat down with us just before his retirement in 2019 to discuss changes he has seen in the industry, where SMART has been as a union, where we are going, and how we can get there.

With more than 40 years in the sheet metal industry under his belt, Rich has more knowledge about how SMART works and how our union has adapted and evolved to meet new challenges than just about anyone. He also has a stellar reputation in the industry and a legendary work ethic. From his start at Local 206 in San Diego, to his more than two decades as an elected local leader and apprenticeship instructor, to his tenure as SMART general secretary-treasurer, Rich has built a lot of things, led a lot of projects and made a lot of things better for those coming after him.

In addition, listen for the open mic segment with General President Joseph Sellers at the end of this episode. He responds to questions from members on topics they called or emailed us about. This episode’s question revolves around the Trump Administration’s response to COVID-19.

 

Talking SMART is a member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network — working people's voices, broadcasting worldwide 24 hours a day.

RELATED RESOURCES:

• www.SMART206.org
  Website of SMART SM Local 206 in San Diego, Calif.
  
• Richard McClees: Labor Leader of the Year
  Sept. 2004 speech by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• McClees Honored at 100-year Anniversary
  Sept. 2019
  www.smart-union.org  
• Local 206 Honors McClees Family at Centennial
  Summer 2019 Members’ Journal
• SMART Constitution
  Revised and amended by the authority of the 2ND SMART General Convention held in Las Vegas, Nev, August 12–16, 2019.