IP Newton B. Jones, center, presents a clock to commemorate IVP Jim Pressley’s 50 years of service during the LEAP conference last year. At left is Bridget Martin, Director of Political Affairs.
Boilermaker leader held many positions
JAMES A. PRESSLEY, International Vice President-at-Large for the Industrial Sector and the Boilermakers’ Chief of Staff, retired effective Feb. 1, following 50 years of distinguished service to the Brotherhood.
Pressley began his Boilermaker career in 1962 at the age of 19, when he joined Local 900 (Barberton, Ohio), a boiler manufacturing lodge. Working as a machine operator for Babcock & Wilcox, he helped fabricate ship propulsion systems for the U.S. Navy and commercial clients.
Pressley went on to serve the lodge as a steward, committeeman, chairman of the Benefits and Job Evaluation Committee, and president.
From 1994 until 2006, Pressley served as International Rep for the Great Lakes Section. He was appointed Assistant to the Director of the Research and Collective Bargaining Services Department in 2005 and promoted to Director of Collective Bargaining Services and Assistant to the International President in 2006.
Pressley recalls challenges, rewards
SOMETIMES UNION LEADERSHIP is a trial-by-fire experience. That was the case for Jim Pressley in 1987, when he filled the unexpected vacancy of president of Local 900 just two weeks before contract negotiations were set to start. “We worked without a contract for 16 months,” he recalled. “We implemented an in-plant strategy [staying on the job while conducting solidarity measures] and ultimately prevailed.”
In early 2007, he received the additional appointment of Executive Director of the Cement, Lime, Gypsum, and Allied Workers Division (CLGAW). Later that year, he was appointed Director of the newly-formed Industrial Sector Services Department (ISSD), which incorporated his previous responsibilities as the Director of Research and Collective Bargaining Services. He also assumed the additional duties of Executive Director of the Stove, Furnace, Energy, and Allied Appliance Workers’ (SFEAW) Division.
In 2008, he was appointed Director of Administrative Affairs for the International President and Executive Director of Industrial Sector Operations, which incorporated the roles of Director for CLGAW and SFEAW.
In 2010, the International Executive Council elected Pressley International Vice President-at-Large for Industrial Sector Operations. He was reelected to that position by delegates to the Thirty-Second Consolidated Convention in 2011 by acclamation. Later that year, he was appointed Chief of Staff.
Other positions held by Pressley included Union Trustee-At-Large for the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust and member of the IBB Scholarship Committee.
“Jim’s service to this union has been invaluable,” said International President Newton B. Jones. “The IEC and I have called upon him repeatedly to assume new and changing duties as we realigned the structure of the Brotherhood for better representation and efficiency.
“At every level of leadership, from local lodge steward to IVP of Industrial Sector Operations, he has represented the best interests of our members with absolute integrity and commitment to the membership. His contributions to this organization are immeasurable.”
