It is a rare and valuable thing when a leader at any level has the chance to hear frankly and directly from the members they are called and charged to serve.
A few months ago, I had the honor and privilege to walk in the banner parade with almost 100 Boilermaker sisters as part of our union’s delegation at the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference. I consider myself fortunate to have been among other Boilermaker allies, marching in support of our sisters, and I am grateful to have experienced firsthand the powerful pride, the untiring enthusiasm of these women.
As I walked alongside them, I had a wonderful opportunity to talk with them, hear their stories—what led them to a career in the Boilermakers—and learn about their families, their ideas, their challenges and their concerns for the future. Many spoke openly about their hopes, their needs and their worries for our union—some unique to the experience of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, and some universal to all who call ourselves Boilermakers.
This should not be the case, but it is a rare and valuable thing when a leader at any level has the chance to hear frankly and directly from the members they are called and charged to serve—whether that’s from Amanda from Local 37 in New Orleans or Bryan from Local 158 in Peoria, Illinois, or Sandiso from Local 146 in Calgary, Alberta.
In fact, the primary responsibility of leadership is the duty of service to the members who are, themselves, the Boilermakers union; to look out for members’ best interest today and build a solid structure for our organization’s thriving future.
Over these past months, I have made this a priority: Whenever it is possible, I want to visit with and listen to working Boilermakers and retirees. I want to see what you make, visit your union hall, find out what’s bothering you, gather your ideas, dispel myths and answer your questions.
As I have done this so far, what I’ve learned is that no matter where we come from, what industry we work in or how long we’ve been on the tools—no matter our differences—we, as Boilermakers, all want the same things. We want jobs that provide good wages. We want benefits that take care of us and our families. We want to be treated fairly. We want to retire with dignity. We want to come home safe from our jobs every day.
Our work together as a union is how we achieve those things.
And so, I commit that I will continue to listen to you—so that together we can grow stronger, united in solidarity; together, we can build our union through a robust recruitment strategy; together we can more aggressively organize to fight against unfairness and fight for what is right and good.
Together, we can “shout a little louder,” as our sisters chanted in the parade march, and make our mighty Boilermaker name known loud and clear.
Together, we can build a better future.
