Spring 2016

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

With the spring outage season upon us, I encourage every member to make your safety and the safety of those around you your number one priority.  Journeymen must ensure that those with less experience  are being taught the proper safety techniques that have safeguarded our membership over the last 120 years. Oftentimes, it is the small, simple things that can cause a safety incident.  Wiring off wedges and porta-powers is one simple way to avoid possible injuries.  Every Boilermaker can identify dozens of small things that must be done every day to prevent accidents.  Please do your part to protect yourself and those around you.

As bigger jobs increase in manpower, we must continue to staff the short duration jobs.  Our contractors and owners depend on the Boilermakers to keep their jobs manned and their plants operational.  I will make every effort to ensure the needs of the membership, owners, and signatory contractors is being met.  
As I mentioned at our most recent union meeting, I am initiating a training program to help qualified Journeymen Boilermakers obtain their Michigan State Boiler Installers & Repairers license.  In addition, we will be assisting qualified apprentices in obtaining certification training for small boilers, including instrumentation, burner repair, and operation and other desirable skills related to small boiler installation. Please contact the hall if you are interested.

While we cannot control the forces around us that would close coal fired power plants that provide much of our livelihood, we can make every effort to obtain the skills and training required to make us the best choice for our owners and contractors.

Last, for those members who have not been able to attend the mandatory MOST training classes due to your work schedule, we will make this training available this summer, as the workload is anticipated to decrease.

Fraternally,
Bob Hutsell
Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer