Joseph J. Nigro retired as general president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) effective April 30.
Nigro, a career sheet metal worker from Local 17 in Boston, served as president for four years. In a letter to union leaders across the United States and Canada, he explained that, “I have committed my heart and mind to accomplishing the goals we have set, but my health has taken me in a direction I did not anticipate. Unfortunately, I have been unable to recover to a level I expect of myself as your General President—the level of effort the members deserve.”
Nigro and Mike Futhey, former president of the United Transportation Union, merged the UTU and the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) into SMART in 2011. It wasn’t always an easy merger, but the two presidents came together to form one stronger, bigger and more effective union.
Nigro served on the Finance, Organizing, Industrial Union Council, Pharmaceutical Benefits Management and Article XX Appeals committees of the AFL-CIO Executive Council.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council thanks Joseph Nigro for his service and wishes him a long, healthy and well-earned retirement.