The Metal Trades Department: What We Do

The Metal Trades Department functions through local Metal Trades Councils, which are self governing, delegate bodies chartered by the MTD at the request of three or more affiliated unions. Each affiliated Local is entitled to up to six delegates. Each council's voting strength is proportionate to its per capita membership. Metal Trades Councils coordinate organizing and collective bargaining in particular plants, establishments or localities.

MTD Local Councils are responsible for negotiating and administering their agreements and processing of grievances that arise. A Metal Trades Council designates committees called for in any agreement; drafts proposals for negotiating agreements and generally makes the bargaining agreement work through its Council officers, representatives, stewards and chief stewards.

Local Councils meet at least once a month. They are financed by a monthly per capita tax paid by each of their affiliated local unions based on the number of members they represent through the local Metal Trades Council.

Metal Trades Councils speak for the majority of production and maintenance workers in atomic energy plants. They represent thousands of workers in the non-ferrous mining industry, in the petro-chemical industry, and in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry on all coasts and in a variety of other industrial plants.

Metal Trades Councils hold collective bargaining rights and signed agreements for the workers of all crafts and trades in all U.S. Navy Shipyards. They hold bargaining rights for workers in a variety of other federal installations operated by the Bureau of Standards, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Army.

What are the Metal Trades Department District Councils?

The MTD has chartered Metal Trades District Councils for both the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts.

The Pacific Coast Metal Trades District Council is composed of local Metal Trades Councils and their affiliated local unions operating along the entire Pacific Coast, with membership employed in shipbuilding and repair. It holds a master collective bargaining agreement covering the shipbuilding and repair industry on the Pacific Coast.

The District Council holds biennial conventions through which it charts its course for the ensuing years.

The East Coast District Metal Trades Council and the Federal Employees West Coast District Metal Trades Council are composed of local Metal Trades Councils and their affiliated local unions representing employees in the various Navy, Army and other federal installations on the East and West Coasts. They serve as a coordinating aid for these councils and their affiliated unions in their relations with the various federal agencies and in promoting their legislative goals. The East Coast District Council holds annual conventions, while the West Coast District Council holds biennial conventions.

The MTD's strength is reflected not only through its councils but in the combined strenght of the 20 International Unions which compose it. These unions have a total membership of over 5 million members. The strength of their combined staffs and their facilities can be called into play in connection with MTD organizing drives and to assist Metal Trades Councils in collective bargaining and organizing activities.Legislative staffs of affiliated international unions along with the AFL-CIO Legislative Department assist the MTD in promoting and supportin legislation beneficial to the workers MTD represents and in opposing harmful measures.