Union Meeting

Our next membership meeting will take place on June 13, 2025 at 8PM at the IBEW Hall, located at 1300 W Thomas St, Bay City, Michigan  48706

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​Please make every effort to attend your monthly membership meeting!
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Retired member, Marcellas Neumann

Retired member, Marcellas Neumann passed away on May 3, 2025 after a long battle with cancer. To find out more information, please click on the attached link. Keep his family in your thoughts during this difficult time. 
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 after.io/marcellas-william-neumann-1

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Apprenticeship Program

Beginning May 1, 2025 the Great Lakes Apprentice Program will begin taking applications online. Please visit the apprentice section of this website, and make sure you meet all the requirements. Then click on the link following the requirements or come back to this section and click the link or scan the code. 
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www.glabap.com


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High School Welding Invitational

We hosted the competition on Friday, May 2, 2025. There were 14 schools in attendance and the students did a great job.
Retirees Lew Harris, Mike Steffes and Damon Fowler helped with the weld test portion of the competition, and we would like to thank them for sharing their knowledge. 
We had judges and observers from many companies and contractors here and we would like to thank the following: Bill Bass, Jim Burns, Marc Ivey, Marty Malek, Chris Lanzon, Adam Saur, Chris Wicks, and Ryan Willoughby.
The high school students that attended the competition got to meet Mark Wertz - the National Apprentice Coordinator, Kevin Stewart – Boilermakers Recruiter, and Carey Kowalski – GLABAP Co-Coordinator. These gentlemen spoke to the students about the Boilermaker industry.
Thank you to all the companies and contractors that donated items for the students to win.
A big thank you goes to Jamie Ratliff for the donation collection and working to make sure the shop and everything was ready for the event. 
Thank you to Local 169 Apprentice Coordinator, Mike Card for overseeing the whole process.

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*ATTENTION All Members*

​It has come to my attention that some of our younger members do not have checking accounts and cannot submit checks to reserve seating at our upcoming 130th anniversary dinner dance. In order to accommodate all members, and ensure that this event is a great success, I am advising all members that wish to attend, to contact Lynn at the Union Hall. Simply inform Lynn and let us know if you will be bringing a plus one. No check required. Those who have submitted a check will receive them back upon arrival. I also encourage ANY member that is interested in attending solo to do so. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an awesome evening with your fellow Boilermakers. 130 years is a big deal. Let’s honor this occasion, you will be glad you did!
 
 
Robert D. Hutsell
Business Manager/ Secretary Treasurer
Boilermakers Local 169
Established 1895 

Boilermakers Local 169-130 Year Dinner Dance Celebration

​Get ready to celebrate Local 169’s 130th anniversary! Our annual dinner dance will be held on June 28th at the Atheneum in downtown Detroit. This event is always a great time. The event will begin at 6:00 pm and end at 12:00. With an open bar, live music, and great food, this is an easy decision. Complimentary beer steins and shot glasses will be available for members to enjoy a “boilermaker” and take home at the end of the night. 130 years is a huge milestone for our organization, I hope you will ALL take advantage of this opportunity to show your Boilermaker Pride and celebrate this historic accomplishment. Rooms are available at the discounted rate of $239.00 with valet parking available at a discounted rate of $20.00. Use the word Boilermaker for the discount when making your reservation, the phone number to call is (313) 962-2323. Please send a $50.00 check to reserve your spot at this event. Significant others are welcome to attend. Your check will be returned upon arrival. This is necessary to establish a proper head count for food and beverage totals.
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Area 3 Retirees Luncheon

The lunch was on April 16 and Ivan Ayers showed up. He was recently in the hospital and is recovering well. He is a young 95 years old and everyone was happy to see him. 

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Local Competition

There were 3 graduate apprentices that competed to go to the Great Lakes Competition in June. All 3 did a great job, but there can only be one winner and that was Grant Genaw.  He is a great candidate to represent Local 169. We wish him the best of luck and hope he will be victorious against the other Great Lakes Locals.

​2025 Monthly Union Dues

The monthly dues will stay the same for the 2025 year. The current cost is $55.85, the hall accepts checks, money orders, cash and credit cards. 
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2025 Spring Graduates
Great Job!

Area 2 Labor Day Parade and Picnic

Area 1 Labor Day Parade and Picnic

Area 1 Picnic 

Area 1 picnic was July 27, 2024. It was a great time for all, especially kids. The pictures were provided by Jared Pedrys, a big thank you goes to Jared. We would like to also thank Jamie and Jake Ratliff for the organizing of the picnic and Doug Webster for Bringing his smoker and smoking some delicious meats for everyone!

Attention all members that use Rite Aid Pharmacies

All rite aid pharmacies will be closing in the next few months through the state of Michigan and Ohio. Please click on the attachment to learn more about what pharmacies participate and will help in the relocating of your prescriptions. 

Letter to members rite aid closing in MI. and Ohio
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Great Lakes Apprentice Competition

​Congratulations to Shelby Bartee who recently competed in the Great Lakes Area, regional apprentice competition. While Shelby did not place in the competition, we are very proud of her efforts and her dedication to her craft and her Local. Shelby is the first woman from Local 169 to compete in the contest and did very well. Way to go!
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High School Welding Invitational

​On May 17, 2024 we had the 19th High School Welding Competition, we had 18 schools in attendance. High School juniors and seniors are welcome to compete. this year the winners were;
1. First place and team champions were from Wexford – Missauke Tech. 
2. First place for the written score                                                                             test was from Saint Clair Tech. 
                                                                         Everyone did a great job, and we                                                                                  can't wait to do this again next                                                                                      year!

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Important Industry News

As our industry continues to evolve during this transitional time, recent actions point to what appears to be the next expansion of Boilermaker construction. Recent developments at the Pallisades Nuclear Plant and the Department of Energy’s 6-billion-dollar investment to reduce Americas carbon footprint brings promise and much needed manhours to our Local and our Brotherhood. Please click the link below to learn more about the job opportunities created by President Biden to “ Transform Americas Industrial Sector.”
 
Bob Hutsell BM/ST

https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-15-billion-conditional-commitment-holtec-palisades
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https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-6-billion-transform-americas-industrial-sector


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2024 Dinner Dance

2024 Apprentice Spring Graduates

Labor Day Parade/Picnic Area 2 

​Labor Day Parade and Picnic Monday, September 4, 2023

After a two-year hiatus, the Annual Detroit Building Trades Labor Day Parade resumed. Thank you to everyone that made it out to march and stand up for our work and all unions. Everyone came to the hall following the parade and enjoyed lunch and spending time with other boilermakers and their families. 
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​Congratulations Evan Mahoney

Evan Mahoney took second place in the Great Lakes Area Apprentice Competition in June and advanced to the National Apprentice Competition. This past week he has been in Milwaukee testing for the National Competition. He along with teammate Nick from Milwaukee Local 107 took first place in the team competition. Great Job Evan!

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Congratulations to the Fall 2023 Graduate Apprentices.

2023 Picnic Pictures

Area 1 pictures are brought to you by Josh Abalos. Thank you so much for the pictures. If anyone has more, please email them to [email protected]
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2023 Scholarship Golf Outing

Thanks to all who participated in our local golf outing with a foursome or hole sponsorship. The money raised goes to benefit our members' children through our Boilermakers Local 169 Scholarship contest. A special thank you to Don Fajardo for his efforts towards making the outing a success, as well as Chelsea, Debbie, Heather, and Lynn.
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Evan Mahoney took Runner-Up in the Great Lakes Apprentice Competition

​Congratulations to Evan Mahoney who took runner-up in the Great Lakes Area Apprenticeship Competition in Local 237, Connecticut. Evan’s second place finish qualifies him for the National Apprenticeship Competition which will be held in Local 107, Wisconsin. Brother Mahoney represented local 169 well at the competition and we are confident that he will do the same at the National Competition. Way to go Evan!

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18th High School Welding Invitational

On Friday, May 19, 2023 we hosted our 18th High School Welding Invitational. There were 44 kids from 15 schools that competed. They all did a great job and represented their schools honorably. We tested them on welding and general knowledge. Our winners are;
Best written Test Score- Joshua Rose (Ida High School)
Best Team Score - Flat Rock High School
1st Place Overall Score - Caleb Cialkowski (Flat Rock High School)
2nd Place Overall Score - John Wallace (Flat Rock High School)
3rd Place Overall Score - Scott Buxton (Ida High School)
Congratulations to all the winners. Everyone did a great job!

​2023 Spring Graduating Apprentices

Congratulations to all area 8th period apprentices that become journeymen on March 1, 2023

2023 Annual Dinner Dance

A great time was had by all that attended the dinner dance in Mount Pleasant. 


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Labor Day 2022   Area 1

Boilermakers Local 169 Charity Golf Outing 

THANK YOU!
 
On behalf of the officers and members of Boilermakers Local 169, I would like to personally thank you for your generous donation to our Annual Charity Golf Outing.   With your help, we raised over $7000.00!
 
Thanks again for your continued support of the Boilermakers Local 169 Scholarship Fund.
 
Fraternally,
Robert D. Hutsell, Business Manager
Boilermakers Local 169

​2022 John F. Ericsson NACBE Safety Award

​ICYMI: This year's John F. Erickson NACBE safety award winner is L-169 (Detroit). Congrats also to L-13 (Philadelphia), L-455 (Muscle Shoals, Alabama) and L-92 (Los Angeles) for earning top safety honors in their sections.
 A big congratulations goes to all members of Local 169. Safety is our #1 priority and Local 169, proves that time and again.

2022 Dinner Dance
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A Great time was had by all who attended our recent dinner dance. It has been a long time since we've been able to gather for such events. I encourage all members to take advantage of these opportunities in the future. Hopefully, the downturn of the pandemic will afford us opportunities to gather for picnics, parades and other activities. 
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2022 Dinner Dance at the Atheneum in Detroit.mp4

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Michigan Redistricting Maps

Michigan Congressional
Chestnut
​ - https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/279/23
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​Michigan State Senate
Linden 
- https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/281/23
 
Michigan State House
​Hickory 
- https://michigan.mydistricting.com/legdistricting/comments/plan/280/23

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Local 169 Film

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​The following are links provided by Amy Wiser from the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers of the short films that were made at Local 169 Training Center

https://vimeo.com/593481265

https://vimeo.com/593464823

Congratulations to the 2022 Graduate Apprentices!