Thirty-four Boilermakers attend the 66th Boilermakers Summer Institute basic session at School for Workers.
Fifty-four Boilermakers attended the 66th Boilermakers Summer Institute basic and advanced sessions in Madison, Wisconsin. The program, presented through the University of Wisconsin, provides new and aspiring union leaders with both information and skills necessary to strengthen their representation of members. Sessions are led by School for Workers professors and International staff.
The basic session, which took place Aug. 10-15, covered the Brotherhood structure and services, introduction to the National Labor Relations Act, labor and globalization, arbitration cases, stewards and representation, grievance writing, safety and health, introduction to collective bargaining, public relations for negotiations, building strength through diversity, building membership involvement, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The advanced session was held Aug. 24-29 and covered effective leadership styles, advanced labor law for bargaining, grievance handling, grievance meeting scenarios, labor and economic inequality, researching your employers, strategic use of unfair labor practices, contract language writing and interpretation, advanced collective bargaining skills, and advanced training for union power
Thirty-five attendees at the 2025 basic session were: Matthew Motak, L-5 (New York City); Brad Mickatavage, L-13 (Philadelphia); Joseph Thornson, Michael Thayres, Leslie Squire, Emily Andrewson and Timothy Kyle, L-19 (Philadelphia); James Holland, L-92 (Los Angeles); Todd Murphy, L-580 (Halifax, Nova Scotia); Adam Desautels and Lincoln Chagnon, L-614 (New London, Connecticut); Max Bowers, L-647 (Minneapolis); DaQuell Smith and Benjamin Jeter, L-684 (Norfolk, Virginia); Martina Taite, Dennis Willis and Terrence Nellum, L-693 (Pascagoula, Mississippi); Kayla Borths, Leric Hess Sr. and Susan Otto, L-696 (Marinette, Wisconsin); Logan James, Sean Calvert and Dave Montaro, L-900 (Barberton, Ohio); James Mallett and Noe Santos L-1247 (Chicago); Charles Drew, L-1509 (Cudahy, Wisconsin); Dalton Campbell and Chris Barth, L-D455 (Selma, Missouri); Digital and Social Media Specialist Westen Smith; Executive Assistant to the International Secretary-Treasurer/Director of Human Resources, Rhonda Befort; Internal Auditor Bill O'Brien; International Reps: David Gaillard, Fran Richardson, Tracey Eixenberger and Tim Tolley.
Nineteen attendees at the 2025 advanced session were: Antonio Sherman and Alexander Stanton, L-19 (Philadelphia); Robert Gonzalez, L-92 (Los Angeles); Robert Hodge, L-104 (Seattle); Gary Harpster, Johnny Connors, Tyler Todd, and Kealiikaleikanani Auyong, L-344 (Ridgecrest, California); Jesus Perez and Dominic Lucero, L-549 (Pittsburg, California); Dayon James and Anthony Oquendo, L-1247 (Chicago); Benjamin Simmons, L-D455 (Selma, Missouri); Director-Cement Lodge Services, Steve Adair; International Reps: David Gaillard, Fran Richardson and Tim Tolley; Research Assistant-ISO Debbie Goodwin; and Research and Collective Bargaining Services Assistant, Brenna Holt.
