A Massachusetts commercial HVAC contractor has entered into a new labor partnership with SMART Local 17, expanding union representation for workers while creating a new workforce relationship for the growing business.
All Air Sheet Metal Inc., which operates in partnership with Ultra Services Inc., signed with the Boston-based SMART local on May 26 after months of discussions between company leadership and union representatives. The agreement followed years of efforts by Local 17 to establish a relationship with the contractor.
The latest organizing effort began Oct. 7, 2025, when Local 17 organizer Paul Conners visited All Air’s office in Billerica, Massachusetts.
Owner Geoff Farinha was not available during the initial visit, but Conners left his contact information with an employee. Farinha followed up the next day, leading to a meeting at the Local 17 union hall on Oct. 27.
The discussions focused on the contractor’s operations, the union and potential opportunities for collaboration. Continued communication over the following months eventually resulted in the May agreement.
The relationship also developed through personal connections between Conners and Farinha, who discovered they had experienced similar health challenges. According to the union, that shared experience helped build trust as discussions continued.
All Air Sheet Metal has operated since 1992 and provides commercial HVAC services. Under the new agreement, SMART Local 17 will support the contractor as it continues to grow and compete in the Massachusetts market.
For employees, union representation provides access to collective bargaining and the wages, benefits and employment opportunities established through the agreement.
The signing also marked a milestone for Conners, who had joined Local 17 as an organizer only a month before his initial visit to All Air. The contractor became the first shop he organized.
Conners credited Local 17 representatives Pat Donlan, John Cody and Steve Kovatsi with helping guide the organizing process and complete the agreement.
Skilled labor availability remains a significant consideration for mechanical contractors competing for commercial construction work. Partnerships between contractors and labor organizations can provide access to trained workers while establishing structured approaches to wages, benefits and workforce development.
For All Air Sheet Metal, the agreement adds a union workforce partnership as the business continues its operations in Massachusetts. For SMART Local 17, the signing expands its network of signatory contractors and creates another pathway for workers to participate in union training and collective bargaining.
Source: Smart.
