James W. White, Jr.

Director of Organizing Sheet Metal Workers International Association

James “Jim” White has been a member of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association for over 27 years. He started his apprenticeship on June 21, 1982 as a member of Local 19 in Harrisburg, PA. He completed his Local 19 apprenticeship in 1986 after taking additional welding classes to advance his own personal marketability in the industry.

After graduating as a journeyperson Jim never stopped furthering his education. He pursued and received a certification in OSHA-10 and 40 hour classes, Fork lift training, Hepa Filter Installation, Instructor Training for Clean Room Protocol, HVAC Inspectors Class, Foreman’s and Supervisory Training, EPA recovery Technician 1 and 2, and his most recent HVAC Fire Life Safety Level 1 Technician certification.

In 1989, he was appointed to become an organizer for Local 19 and held that position until January 1, 2000 when he was appointed be General President Sullivan to become an International Organizer.

During his years as an organizer, training and education were always at the forefront of his career. Jim took every class offered, including classes dealing with topics and programs such as Labor Law, Labor History, MOVE, MEMO, COMET, Strategic Campaigns, Communications, Leadership, Labor and the Economy, Contemporary Labor and Society, Grievance and Arbitration handling, Mutual Gains Bargaining, SCORE starting a business, Top Down Organizing and Closing the Deal.

Jim Was appointed to serve as Assistant Director of Organizing on May 1, 2007 by General President Sullivan. In November 2007, with the retirement of then Director of Organizing Mike Small, Jim was appointed Director of Organizing by President Sullivan.

He is known for his use of critical thinking and observation skills applied in an unbiased way to organizing campaigns. Jim developed a reputation for excellence in conducting assignments by using his knowledge of the industry and business to provide an effective transition that allowed both labor and management’s ability to come together in a collective bargaining relationship.

Jim and his wife Jill have two children, Jordan and Jamie. He is extremely proud of being an organizer and member of his International. Jim continues to take courses to better his education. He has taken various courses at the George Meany Institute for Labor Studies, Penn State and Temple University. He also sits on the boards of various groups, enhancing the labor movement’s role in his community. These positions include Vice President of Community Services for Working Families of Berks County; board member for Community Services of Organized Labor of Lancaster, and the board of Tri-County Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Inc.

Jim says, “I always look forward to the challenge of my position I want to make a difference in our International so we are stronger going into the next 100 years than we were in the last 100 years.”

James W. White, Jr.

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