Local 83 was organized in 1892 as an affiliate of the Tin, Sheet Iron and Cornice Worker's International Association. In 1903 this international organization merged with the Sheet Metal Workers National Alliance, creating the Amalgamated Sheet Metal Worker's International Alliance. The Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, Local 83 was chartered on April 1, 1920 by the Amalgamated Sheet-Metal Workers International Alliance and then by the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association on July 22, 1924. At that time, their jurisdiction spanned through Saratoga, Albany and Rensselaer Counties of New York. Schenectady County was added to their jurisdiction by 1930. The current jurisdiction covers the counties of: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington. Comprised of a group of highly skilled sheet metal workers, this union serves as both an educational institution that trains future sheet metal workers through a five year apprentice program and as a forum for grievances suffered by members. As the local legislative body for all sheet metal workers in upstate New York, this organization is responsible for negotiating the length of workdays, the number of vacation days, the average pay and the overtime rate. It organizes strikes when conditions at a job site are deemed unsafe or unfair, supports families of those who are on strike and fines those who break strike lines. This organization also determines which jobs fall under the job description of sheet metal workers. To achieve this, Local 83 coordinates with other labor unions that perform similar tasks such as the Boiler Makers Union or the Air Condition and Heating Union.
From the description of Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, Local 83 records, 1892-1989. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122570962
