Labor Education News

Tyler Brown discusses Boilermaker educational initiatives at the Harvard Trade Union Program anniversary event.

HTUP graduates mark 70th anniversary

THE HARVARD TRADE Union Program (HTUP) celebrated its 70th year of operation in 2012 with a gathering of former students on the university campus in Boston. About 50 graduates from around the world participated, including Boilermaker staff members Tyler Brown (D-ISO/AAIP) and Gary Powers (A/D-ISO).

Brown spoke to the gathering about the role labor education plays in the Boilermakers union and stressed that unions must continue to support such programs as HTUP, the National Labor College, the University of Wisconsin Extension’s School for Workers, and other labor studies programs at various universities.

The Brotherhood’s late President Emeritus, Charles W. Jones, was one of the first Boilermakers to attend HTUP, in 1946, paying his own way through the G.I. Bill.

Cecile Conroy, Director of Legislative Affairs, and Kevin Forsyth, BM-ST of Cement District Lodge D11 (Western Canada), were the latest Boilermakers to graduate from HTUP, completing the six-week course in February 2013. Lance Yearley, National Director of the Quality Control Council of Canada (a collaborative effort between the Boilermakers and the UA focused on non-destructive testing) completed the class as well.

School for Workers continues tradition

LOCAL LODGES CONTINUE to take advantage of the excellent educational opportunities available through the School for Workers (SFW). Also known as the Summer Institutes, SFW offers week-long sessions divided into Basic and Advanced classes. The sessions cover a wide-range of topics involving collective bargaining, grievance handling, building the union, membership mobilization, safety and health, communications, and other topics.

Attending the 2012 Basic class were Anthony Fields and Dwayne Lancaster, L-684 (Norfolk, Va.); Nancy Jordan, L-344 (Ridgecrest, Calif.); Kevin Battle, L-45 (Richmond, Va.); Charles Deinlein, L-S50 (Baltimore); Don Pearsall L-D414 (Prior, Okla.); Jason Harpe, L-D23 (Clinchfield, Ga.); Mike Janson and Dalas Santavy, L-128 (Toronto, Ontario); Bob Wheeler, L-84 (Paola, Kan.); Chris Boyle, L-1600 (St. Charles, Ill.); Jack Bowers, Craig Brozoski, and Brett Stewart, L-1509 (Cudahy, Wis.); Mark Keffeler, L-242 (Spokane, Wash.); and Angel Benitez and Alvis Delfosse, L-449 (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.).

Attending the 2012 Advanced class were Jacob Furst and John Hoggatt, L-344 (Ridgecrest, Calif.); Dave Kaczrowski, Craig Sprang, and Joe Vreeke and L-443 (Manitowoc, Wis.); Ron Carlburg and Jerry Marple, L-D93 (Humbolt, Kan.); Vernon Jackson, L-S50 (Baltimore); Peter Jackson, L-661 (Florence, N.J.); Fernando Arroyo, Roberto Flores, Michael Hernandez, Eli Matthews, Jose Rios, and James Young, L-1247 (Chicago); Robert Godinez II, Organizer; and Kerry Hooten and Edward Wondolowski, L-S7 (Belleville, Ill.).

The Summer Institutes will be held earlier than usual this year, Basic June 9-14, and Advanced June 16-21.

ISO conference set for July

THE 2013 INDUSTRIAL Sector Operations conference will be held July 23-25 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The conference is the largest Boilermaker information-sharing and educational event of the year.

Past events have been well attended. Union leaders from around the world have addressed the conference, and participants have attended numerous break-out sessions covering topics of vital interest to local lodges and the membership.

For additional information, watch for updates on the International website and other notifications.