International President Warren Fairley announced the reboot of a department that will provide resources to local lodges preparing for collective bargaining and other organizing initiatives. The Research and Collective Bargaining Services Department is being relaunched under the direction of Don Hamric, Assistant Director of Industrial Sector Operations.
“Back in the day, you could tell who the Boilermakers were because we were just better,” Fairley said, referencing the training and resources previously provided through the department. “We’re going to get back to that.”
Hamric said the department will advise on the most current collective bargaining trends and will focus on better equipping International Reps to provide “top-notch support” to rank-and-file members. The department will also aid in negotiating new contracts as the union organizes new facilities.
“Most importantly, we need to be developing the best at-the-table strategies to maximize the wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment for all Boilermakers,” Hamric said.
The department relaunch was identified by the Boilermakers’ new leadership team as they re-focus priorities on initiatives that benefit Boilermaker members.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening within the organization right now, and reigniting this department is, for me, just one of them,” said Hamric. “Rank-and-file members deserve the best representation the Boilermakers can offer, and that is exactly what will be expected from this department—and nothing less.”
