(L to r) TSSA President Mick Carney, TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes and IVP-Great Lakes Larry McManamon share the stage at TSSA’s annual conference. IVP McManamon presented TSSA with a one-of-a-kind art piece crafted by the Boilermakers History Preservation Department.
A Boilermaker delegation participated in the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association’s Annual Conference this past May in Sheffield, United Kingdom, as TSSA celebrated its milestone 125th anniversary.
“You should all be proud of the legacy TSSA has left over 125 years. TSSA has, no doubt, left an indelible impact on the greater labor movement and on many individual lives,” said Communications Director Amy Wiser, delivering remarks on behalf of International President Newton B. Jones and the Boilermakers union. “For more than a century, your union has fought for proper wages, safety, fairness and dignity on the job, as well as the overall well-being of workers.”
Boilermakers emphasized the strategic partnership agreement signed in January 2020 by TSSA General Secretary Manual Cortes and International President Jones and pointed out that despite geographic, cultural and governmental differences between TSSA and IBB, the unions have much in common.
“The goal of this partnership agreement was—and remains—to enhance our unions’ common strengths by sharing respective organizing and education programs, as well as exchanging resources and creating a greater voice at an international level,” said Wiser.
“We are united in our mission to help our members work safely, earn fair wages and be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. We are united in our mission to bring people, voices and power together for a stronger labor movement. We are united in our mission to advocate for all working people, everywhere.”
In honor of the unions’ partnership, IVP-Great Lakes Lawrence McManamon presented GS Cortes and TSSA President Mick Carney with a one-of-a-kind art piece designed and crafted by the Boilermaker History Preservation Department.
In addition to participating in a delegation session, the Boilermakers union was invited to a discussion with TSSA’s Disabilities Working Group. The TSSA affiliate group was eager to learn more about IBB, and members were especially interested in the Canadian Boilermakers’ mental wellness program created by National Director of Health and Safety, Jason McInnis. TSSA outlined the work it does to advocate for workers who live with disabilities and raise awareness of disabilities—especially conditions considered “hidden” disabilities such as anxiety and dyslexia.
“This was a fantastic example of how the Boilermakers can learn from from TSSA,” said Wiser. “There is much we can learn from one another.”
Read more about the TSSA and the Boilermakers’ strategic partnership agreement.
