Highlights of Convention Day 2
Convention re-elects International officers
DELEGATES TO THE 32nd Consolidated Convention voiced their approval of the current International Executive Council and the International Secretary-Treasurer Tuesday morning by unanimously electing them to five more years in office. The candidates had stood together for office as the Proven Leadership Team and run unopposed.
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International President Newton B. Jones, International Secretary-Treasurer William T. Creeden, and International Vice Presidents Lawrence J. McManamon (Great Lakes), Joseph Maloney (Western Canada), Edward Power (Eastern Canada), J. Tom Baca (Western States), Warren Fairley (Southeast), James Pressley (Industrial Sector), and David Haggerty (Northeast) were nominated by Local 1 (Chicago) BM-ST John Skermont and seconded by Local 359 (Vancouver, British Columbia) BM-ST Phil Halley and District 57 BM-ES Edward Vance (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka gave a rousing speech on the political climate and the need for workers to act together to bring about change. “This is our time. This is our moment. This is the time for the working class to stand up and demand dignity and a fair share of what we produce,” he said.
Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer spoke about the strong military and economic cooperation between the United States and Canada, and expressed the belief that workers should be free to work in either country. “We think regulatory reform should include the ability of workers with the tickets and skills to be able to work in both of our countries when there are jobs that need to be done and workers who need a job.”
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis praised the Boilermakers union and recalled with sadness the death of Boilermaker Legislative Director Abe Breehey, who passed away in April of this year.
The Law Committee continued its report. Three proposed changes to the Constitution generated discussion. Two resolutions submitted by Local Lodge 146 were debated and then defeated. A third change, proposed by the Law Committee, generated discussion and was ultimately withdrawn by the Law Committee, who asked the Convention’s approval to rework the language and resubmit the resolution on Wednesday.
