Boilermaker Union News and Updates

  • Canadian tripartite conference tackles drug use and workplace harassment
    Owners, contractors and members were happy to be back in person at the 2022 Boilermaker Industry Tripartite Conference in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Aug. 9-11. The Canadian conference offered a wide range of topics including opioid use, indigenous recruiting, harassment in the workplace, the rise in small modular nuclear reactors and more. Provincial ministers Monte McNaughton and Arlene Dunn addressed the tripartite, and there were breakout sessions on carbon capture, SMRs and safety.  — Oct 13
  • Three Boilermakers named Tradeswomen Heroes
    Three women join the growing ranks of Boilermakers recognized by North America’s Building Trades Unions as Tradeswomen Heroes. Kayla Vander Molen, L-146 (Calgary, Alberta) was recognized this past May; Angel Greer, L-549 (Pittsburg, California) in June; and Rennae Ross, L-549 in August. — Oct 11
  • Employers war on unions is nothing new
    During World War I, the government’s labor board, while recognizing the rights of workers to strike, convinced employers and employees to halt the practice of striking until the war ended. But when the war was over, strikes became frequent and hostility between labor unions and employers ran high. Employers used tactics to stop strikes and break unions, with their goal to end worker power altogether. With yellow-dog contracts, company “unions” and court injunctions, they were successful for a time quashing collective worker power. — Oct 5
  • L-13 John Bland attends Delaware Building Trades round-table discussion
    L-13 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) BM-ST John Bland met with labor and energy officials to discuss renewable identification numbers, renewable fuel standards and the need for change, as well as future work in hydrogen hubs. L. to r. — Sep 29
  • BNAP heads to Skills USA
    Several union leaders attended an April Skills USA competition in Houston, Texas, to get the word out about the Boilermaker National Apprentice Program. The post-secondary competition hosted young men and women from across Texas to vie for prizes using a wide variety of skills, including welding fabrication and team welding. Skills USA is fertile ground to seed information about BNAP’s four-year program, where apprentices earn money working while they gain skills needed to work as a Boilermaker. — Sep 27