Aidan Vanhoof

Unionized Deptford metalworkers are striking for higher wages amid contract negotiations

Striking metalworkers hold up signs on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, reading, “Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on Strike.” (Aidan Vanhoof)

By Aidan Vanhoof

Oct. 2, 2025

DEPTFORD, N.J.—Metalworkers waved signs and chanted slogans outside South Jersey Metal, or SJM, in Deptford on Thursday, protesting diminishing wages amidst higher costs of living. 

Workers’ employment contracts expired on Sept. 30 after three years, leading to now stalled negotiations for higher wages and better working conditions, union officials said.

Sheet Metal Workers Local 19, a tri-state area labor union, organized this strike.

“We’re out here demonstrating for workers rights and higher wages,” said Bryan Blum, Union Business Agent for Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 and a striking SJM metalworker.

According to some workers, current wages hardly afford food and basic utilities. They’re seeking a $3 wage increase each year over the next three years, meaning a $9 total by 2028.

“[We want to be paid] to where the guys can keep a loaf of bread on the table… and have dignity in life and be able to retire,” said Blum.

Larry Meekins, a striking metal polisher at SJM, works for $20 an hour—$5 above New Jersey’s minimum wage. 

“I don’t know what they offered, but it wasn’t high enough for our union leaders to want to even present it to us,” said Meekins. 

Craig Tucker (far left), Larry Meekins (far right), as well as two other metalworkers who declined to be named, hold up signs on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, reading, “Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on Strike.” (Aidan Vanhoof)

They’ve been striking since Wednesday, Oct. 1; they mean to strike until a deal is made.

“That’s the thing about strikes. You never know how long it’s going to go on… we could be here for another week, a couple of weeks, months… God only knows,” said Craig Tucker, a striking sheet metal worker at SJM. 

Despite protesting, Blum made one thing clear: the relationship between workers and management is positive and respectful; only, they’ve reached an impasse. 

“We’re at an impasse right now in negotiations, and we’ll get past it… It’s just a disagreement on a few things… and we try to meet somewhere in the middle,” said Blum.

According to Blum, some workers have been at South Jersey Steel for upwards of 40 years. In that time, they’ve only been on strike a few times, having been treated well by SJM management. 

According to Meekins, it’s been 19 years since their most recent strike in 2006. At the time, they were aligned with a different union, Local 194. 

Union representatives will meet with SJM management at 11:00 a.m. on October 2nd to negotiate further.

Deptford sheet metal company, South Jersey Metal, photographed Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (Aidan Vanhoof)

The mayor, as well as retirees from Local 107 Teamsters, met the strikers to provide them food and coffee, according to a post on Sheet Metal Workers Local 19’s Facebook page. 

Despite its localization, comments on the Facebook post announcing the strike tout it, among others like the labor protests at Valley Forge Casino, as one link in a greater regional workers’ rights movement. 

SJM’s management was contacted but did not respond.