the Boilermaker Reporter

Local 1 • Chicago

John Skermont, BM-ST of Local 1, Chicago, reports presentation of membership pins to the following:

• 35 YEARS — Timothy Craddock, Robert M. Kosola, James Shue; and
• 30 YEARS — John M. Riordan.

Local 433 • Tampa, Fla.

James Barnes Jr., BM-ST of Local 433, Tampa, Fla., reports presentation of membership pins to the following:

APPRENTICE COORDINATORS and instructors from the Great Lakes Area received training Sept. 12-14 on the new On-Line Interactive Learning Management System (LMS) and the updated Related Studies Lessons. The Boilermaker National Apprenticeship Program (BNAP) is developing the system in conjunction with Kelly Press to upgrade and standardize apprentice instruction.

Donation helps needy families

THE PIKE COUNTY Children’s Christmas Fund, a charity long-supported by Local 105 (Piketon, Ohio), received a $500 donation from the lodge recently. In 2011, the fund served more than 1,000 children and over 400 families, providing food, clothing, and toys. In the photo to the right, retired L-105 member Rick Holland presents the gift to Tina Long, a Christmas Fund committee member, and Phyllis Amlin, Christmas Fund co-chair.

“All-of-the-above” remains best energy strategy

EARLY IN HIS first White House term, President Barack Obama took a public position for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy. That strategy asserted that every energy source should be part of America’s portfolio, including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewables.

SERVING AS A judge for the 25th annual Boilermaker National Apprenticeship Competition this year carried a special significance for Ken Null, a retired Local 549 (Pittsburg, Calif.) member and former Babcock & Wilcox project manager. Null, who resides in Redding, Calif., was one of the 12 judges who participated in the very first apprenticeship competition, held in Kansas City, Kan., in 1988.

IN LATE OCTOBER, Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast...

Unions vow to fight on

IN WHAT IS broadly seen as a defining moment in Organized Labor’s struggle against anti-union forces, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed two right-to-work bills into law Dec. 11, making Michigan the 24th state to enact RTW legislation.

Phillips 66 project raises heavy Canadian crude capacity 200 percent

MEMBERS OF LOCAL 363 (East St. Louis) and sister locals played a major role in a $3.8 billion, three-year expansion of the Phillips 66 Wood River oil refinery in Roxana, Ill. Referred to as CORE (Coker and Refinery Expansion), the project was completed and started up in November 2011.

Leadership course attended by 124 since Oct. 2011

AS THE WORK picture in Canada continues to grow, the need for qualified supervisors is expanding proportionally, says Grant Jacobs, Canadian Director of National Training. Over the past several years, National Training has been working with local lodge training coordinators to offer field supervisor leadership training across the country. Since Oct. 2011, 124 members have attended.

Jackson Stephens, 7, has L-105 connections

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Jackson Stephens, the daughter of Local 105 (Piketon, Ohio) member Greg Stephens and granddaughter of L-105 BM-ST Van Stephens, rode away with the youth title in the Tennessee Walking Horse Association’s World Grand Championship held in Shelbyville, Ky., Aug. 30.