Warren Fairley, International Vice President-Southeast Section
Contact
Amy Wiser, Director of Communications
317-847-0745
awiser@boilermakers.org
Boilermakers announce Vice President leadership change
Fairley to retire, Simmons to fill vacancy
Kansas City, Kan. (Nov. 21, 2022)— The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers has announced the intention of Warren Fairley, International Vice President-Southeast Section, to retire effective February 1, 2023.
In light of this announcement, the union’s International Executive Council unanimously voted to elect Tim Simmons to fill the vacancy. Simmons currently serves as Executive Director of Construction Sector Operations, Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the International President
“Warren Fairley has served our Brotherhood as an exemplary Boilermaker brother and leader,” said International President Newton B. Jones. “At every turn, he has had our organization at the forefront of his attention and has been counted upon as a trusted leader, union brother and friend.
“It has been a privilege to work with him, and he has certainly made an indelible impact on our union and the greater labor movement during his tenure.”
Fairley began his union Boilermaker career in 1990 as a member of Local 693 at Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In 1996, Local 693 elected him as business manager. Upon completion of his term in 1999, he was appointed as an International Rep. In 2003 he was made Assistant to the International President and Assistant Director of the Shipbuilding and Marine Services Division. One month later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of that division, and in 2005 became Executive Assistant to the International President and Director of the Shipbuilding and Marine Services Division.
In 2007, Fairley was elected International Vice President-At-Large for the Industrial Sector, a position he held until 2010 when he was elected to the office of International Vice President for the Southeast Section.
“It has been the absolute privilege of a lifetime to serve my brothers and sisters and our union,” IVP Fairley said. “The opportunities afforded to me as a part of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers have been so far beyond anything I could have expected in my career.
Fairley says he looks forward in retirement to “having an opportunity to serve God and my family in a better way.”
He noted that throughout his career, he has found that the relationships he was able to cultivate to be among his most valuable accomplishments.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed building relationships to further opportunities for Boilermaker members,” he said. “The relationships we’ve built have made it easier to encourage contractors and owners to do the right thing on behalf of union Boilermakers.”
Fairley chaired four Consolidated Conventions and served as a vice president on the AFL-CIO Executive Board and in leadership capacities with the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers Union of IndustriALL Global Union.
“While Brother Fairley leaves a tremendous legacy and has set the bar high, I can think of no better candidate than Tim Simmons to fill the vacancy,” said International President Jones. “He has demonstrated time and again his dedication to our union and our future. I am confident Brother Simmons will carry our vision into the future.”
Tim Simmons began his Boilermaker career on a boiler outage working out of Local 108 in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1999. He was elected as an officer of Local 108 in 2005 and appointed as dispatcher in 2008. He later was elected secretary-treasurer and appointed as business agent in 2014. In 2017, he joined staff as a Director of National Recruitment Services, and later was appointed as Director of Construction Division Services and Assistant to the International President.
“It’s just an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the members,” Simmons said. “It has been an amazing journey, and I am blessed to be able to serve Boilermaker members in another role.
“I care about the members, and I want to make sure they are taken care of, can work as much as possible, maintain health insurance, provide for their families and retire with dignity.”
Simmons was sworn in subsequent to the October International Executive Council vote in order to begin transition and transfer into the role immediately upon Fairley’s retirement.
“This is an exciting time for our union and our future. We owe Brother Fairley a debt of gratitude for his dedication, and we look forward to future success with Brother Simmons as a part of our proven leadership team,” said International President Jones.
###
Established in 1880, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers is a diverse union representing workers throughout the United States and Canada who are employed in industrial construction, maintenance and repair; ship building; manufacturing; railroads; cement; mining and related industries. More information can be found at www.boilermakers.org.
