“The approach was to focus on the public interest aspect—the benefit to the industry through enhanced safety for workers, the community and the public,”
L. to r., L-647 recording secretary Scott Hollerud, Joel Johnson of OneMinnesota Government Affairs, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and National Coordinator of State Legislative Affairs-M.O.R.E. WIF, Martin Williams, celebrate after HF 10 is signed into law.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law May 2 that will increase worker and community safety by ensuring the state’s refinery work is manned by a properly skilled and trained workforce. The bill, HF 10, requires a percentage of third-party contractor oil refinery workers to be graduates of (or apprentices in) qualifying registered apprenticeship programs, which include the Boilermakers’ apprenticeship and training programs.
The measure calls for 30% such workers on refinery jobs by January 1, 2024, increasing to 45% by 2025 and 60% by 2026.
“We will not cut corners when it comes to workplace safety in Minnesota,” Governor Walz said in a statement. “We are adding safeguards and improving training standards, so that workers can return home safe.”
Martin Williams, National Coordinator of State Legislative Affairs-M.O.R.E. Work Investment Fund, said Boilermakers Local 647 (Ramsey, Minnesota) and other building trade unions advocated for the bill for several years.
“The approach was to focus on the public interest aspect—the benefit to the industry through enhanced safety for workers, the community and the public,” he said. “The message was about how this benefits workers in the aggregate. Everyone worked together pulling their weight on the issue.”
One of the bill’s sponsors, Representative Dave Lislegard, is a former steelworker, and testified about his own experiences and the critical importance of proper training and skillsets on worksites.
“Refineries are not just the typical work environment,” he said. “[This bill] puts a baseline of training in place to minimize the risk.”
Companies that fail to comply with the new labor standards could be fined between $5,000 and $10,000 per violation.
“The safety of our communities and our workers is our highest priority, and this legislation is critical to making sure that those who are working in high hazard environments have the best training possible to prevent the risk of accidents,” said Senator Judy Seeberger, the bill’s other sponsor.
The new law also opens the door to more work for Boilermakers in Minnesota and potentially thousands of additional man-hours.
“It’s more opportunity for the members and a brighter outlook for Local 647,” Williams said. “Additionally, we hope that the expanded opportunity for members—what we work for and why we do the job we do—will also mean there are more chances for people to look at the Boilermaker trade as a career.”
“It’s going to solidify some work opportunity in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area,” added L-647 BM-ST Luke Voigt. “There’s such a push to get rid of coal plants, work opportunities been slimming. This will help a ton.”
