Throughout the week, delegates considered 236 resolutions to amend articles to the Boilermakers constitution. Several resolutions prompted lively and respectful debate among delegates, resulting in over two dozen changes to the constitution.
Among the proposed amendments that passed, the Law Committee and the International President submitted several changes limiting the sole authority of the president, instead assigning those decisions to the entire International Executive Council. In addition to original proposed amendments brought forth through the Law Committee, the bulk of them were submitted to Headquarters before Convention convened.
A proposed amendment requiring International Reps to be elected rather than appointed faced opposition, as did a resolution that would have required International Vice Presidents to be elected by the regions they serve. Supporters argued that members should have the right to elect the IVP responsible for their jurisdiction. Opponents countered that the International Executive Council addresses matters affecting the entire Brotherhood, regardless of jurisdiction. They also warned that the proposal could enable the largest locals to consistently elect an IVP from their own ranks and ultimately weaken the unity and solidarity of the union.
Following are summaries of amendments to the Boilermaker Constitution that were adopted by the delegates.
· Amendment to Article 2.10.3: This article determines per diem for Convention committees and now requires approval of the International Executive Council in addition to the International President.
· Amendment to Article 2.13: This amendment moves the election of officers from eighth order of Convention business to fifth order of Convention business.
· Article 4.6 and 4.6.1: This amendment states that no delegates who are age 70 ½ or older shall be eligible to be nominated or elected to an International Officer position.
· Article 4.6.2: This amendment deletes the article in its entirety. It eliminates severance pay for International Officers upon retirement or death while in office.
· Article 4.7.2: This amendment states no International Officer, appointed International Representative or employee of the International shall receive compensation from Bank of Labor for service on its Board of Directors.
· Article 5.2.3: Delegates approved a new amendment to the IBB Constitution, which states: “All International travel designated for union business, outside the United States and Canada, must be pre-approved by the Executive Council.”
· Article 5.3: This amendment shifts authority from the International President to the Executive Council to make changes concerning District or Local Lodge trade or work jurisdiction, and their geographical jurisdiction.
· Article 5.4.1: This amendment removes sole authority of the International President to consolidate lodges and gives that authority to the International Executive Council.
· Article 5.6: The amendment ends the requirement to automatically disband lodges that have fewer than 35 members.
· Article 5.8: The amendment increases required International Executive Council meetings from semi-annually to quarterly and allows for additional meetings to be called by a majority of the Executive Council.
· Article 6: This amendment changes a portion of the article to read: “There shall be an International Board of Trustees consisting of the International Executive Council and the International Secretary-Treasurer, hereinafter called ‘Board of Trustees’.” Before adoption, the Board of Trustees only consisted of the President, Secretary-Treasurer and one other IEC member. The new amendment requires the Board of Trustees to consist of the entire IEC and the International Secretary-Treasurer.
· Article 6.6 and 6.7: These amendments delete both articles related to the Board of Trustees in their entirety. Article 6.6 covers Term of Office and Filling Vacancies, and 6.7 covers Termination of Responsibility.
· Article 7.3: This amendment freezes the salary of the International President for the duration of the Constitution, unless amended at a future Consolidated Convention of the Brotherhood. Therefore, in accordance with Articles 8.2 and 9.4, the salaries of the International Vice Presidents and the International Secretary-Treasurer are adjusted and frozen as well.
· Article 7.4: This amendment increases the per diem for International Reps from $75 to $125 a day.
· Article 9.4: This amendment removes the sole authority of the International President over the International Secretary-Treasurer and gives supervisory authority to the International Executive Council instead.
· Article 12.2.1: The amendment updates the per capita tax rate to reflect the change from $34.95 to its current rate of $38.95.
· Article 12.2.2: The amendment allows the International Executive Council to reduce or waive all annual per capita adjustments when circumstances warrant.
· Article 12.2.3.: This amendment allows the International Executive Council to waive all or part of the contingency increase when circumstances warrant.
· Amendment to Article 16.2: This amendment covers strike benefits. It increases the strike benefit from $325 to $375 effective August 1, 2026, for each member in good standing.
· Amendment to add subsection to Article 17.1: The amendment covers disciplinary procedures, trials and appeals. Add the additional subsection 17.1.21: “Sexual harassment of any union member or officer.”
· Amendment to Article 21.3.2: The amendment on Industrial Sector Operations Division Dues updates dues to the current rate moving from $6 to $6.50, effective January 1, 2026.
· Amendment adds a new division to the Industrial Sector: “Within the Industrial Sector Operations there shall be a Manufacturing, Blacksmith, Forgers, Stove and Metal Workers Division comprised solely of those members who have an employment relationship with the manufacturing industry in the United States and Canada.”
· Amendment to move the current 21.6.2 to 21.7. Amend to: “Manufacturing, Blacksmith, Forgers, and Metal Workers division dues shall be equal to the monthly ISO assessment dues, as stated in Article 21.3.2. The Lodge shall transmit to the International Secretary-Treasurer a monthly Per Capita Tax plus the Division dues set forth above.”
· Amendment to Article 28.2: This article updates dues to the current rate for Construction Sector members changing from $50.85 to $54.85.
· Amendment to Article 31.1.2: This amends the automatic acceptance of an application for transfer of membership. Add to Line 11: “There shall be no deviation from the foregoing requirements without prior approval of the International President.”
· Amendment to Article 33: This article concerns salary adjustments of International Reps and staff. Article 33 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with: “Effective August 1, 2026, and on each August 1 thereafter, International Representatives and staff shall receive a wage increase of not more than five percent (5%) unless the Executive Council determines the overall condition of the Brotherhood consolidated funds do not warrant same. In that situation the Executive Council may approve a lesser amount as it deems appropriate.” This amendment caps the pay increase at 5% and gives the International Executive Council the authority to approve a lesser amount as it deems necessary.
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