International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers

The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB) is a trade union in the United States and Canada. It is for boilermakers and related occupations, and is affiliated with both the AFL–CIO and CLC.

The Boilermakers union has a four-year apprenticeship training program before becoming a Journeyman. Boilermakers primarily work in nuclear and fossil power plants. However they also work in shipyards, refineries and chemical plants. The work involves welding, rigging and fabricating. All work done is governed by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) or MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration).

Formation
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers was founded on September 1, 1893. On that day, at a meeting in Chicago, Illinois, representatives from the International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders, which had been organized on October 1, 1880, and the National Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, which had been formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 1888, resolved to consolidate their organizations. It was further agreed that the new organization, to be known as the Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders of America, would make its headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas.

Affiliation with AFL
Two and a half years later, on the ninth of June 1896, the Brotherhood affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.

Helpers Division
In subsequent years, the Brotherhood continued to grow, and in 1902, the Helpers division was formed. Because helpers were barred from sitting in the lodge room with mechanics, this new division had its own local unions and was entirely separate from the Boiler Makers. This would change a decade later when the Helpers Division would be consolidated with the Mechanics Division.

Name change
In March 1906, at a special Convention in Kansas City, the name of the Union was changed to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America in order to incorporate the newest division. Also at this time, the term "Boiler Makers" was condensed into one word, "Boilermakers."

Affiliation with AFL–CIO
The Boilermakers affiliated with the Building Trades Department of the American Federation of Labor in February 1931. At the turn of the century, total membership stood at about 8,500, but by 1944, due in part to dramatic increases in the shipbuilding, railroad, and fabrication shop industries during World War II, the Boilermakers numbered over 350,000.

First merger
In 1954, the Boilermakers merged their organization with the International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop Forgers and Helpers. The International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths had been organized in 1889 and added Helpers to both their membership and their name in 1901.

Second merger and name change
A 1919 merger with the Brotherhood of Drop Forgers created the union that, on June 29, 1953, merged with the Boilermakers to create the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. A year later, a new International seal was adopted to include all crafts.

Health and Welfare Fund
On October 1, 1954, the Boilermaker National Health and Welfare Fund was established, on November 9, 1959, the Boilermakers National Joint Apprenticeship Fund began, and the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust became effective October 1, 1960.

Construction Division
Delegates to the 1977 convention voted to establish a Construction Division at International Headquarters for the purpose of servicing those members with employment in, or related to, the construction industry.

Third merger
On March 15, 1984, the delegates to the Special Merger Convention of the United Cement, Lime, Gypsum and Allied Workers International Union voted to merge with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. The merger of the CLGAW, formed in 1936, and its 10,000 members who dominate the building products and supplies industry, and the Boilermakers forged an organization with a greater ability to provide services to its members.

Fourth merger
On October 1, 1994, a merger was consummated with the Stove, Furnace and Allied Appliance Workers' International Union—a skilled trade union that was organized in 1891. The Stove Workers, with 5,800 members, became a division of the International Brotherhood known as the Stove, Furnace, Energy and Allied Appliance Workers Division. The word energy was inserted to give special recognition to coal miners within that division. The division had its members employed primarily in the manufacturing of stoves and various types of appliances.

Fifth merger
During the same period, merger talks were also being carried out with an independent union known as the Western Energy Workers. This one-local union, formed in 1978 with members employed in the coal strip-mining, signed a merger agreement with the Boilermakers effective December 1, 1994.

Sixth merger
In October 1996, a merger agreement was made with the Metal Polishers', Buffers', Platers' and Allied Workers' International Union. This union was also an old line, skilled trade union that was organized in 1892. This merger brought 4,000 new members to the Brotherhood. These members are employed primarily in plating and polishing shops within the United States and Canada.

International president
Warren Fairley is the International President of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. He was unanimously elected to the office by the organization's International Vice Presidents in July 2023. Fairley is a 32-year member of Local 693 (Pascagoula, Mississippi). Prior to a brief retirement, he served as International Vice President for the Boilermakers' Southeast section. He began his career in 1990 working in the rigging department of Ingalls Shipbuilding and was elected L-693 business manager in 1996. He became an International Rep at the completion of his term, and in 2003, he was made Assistant to the International President and Assistant Director of the Shipbuilding Division. One month later, he was promoted to Deputy Director of that division, and in 2005, became Executive Assistant to the International President and Director of the Shipbuilding & Marine Services Division. In 2007, Fairley was elected International Vice President-At-Large for the Industrial Sector, a position he held until October 2010 when he was elected to the office of International Vice President for the Southeast Section. Fairley has served as an International Vice President on the AFL-CIO's Executive Council since 2018.

Removal of prior president
Former International President Newton B. Jones was removed from office June of 2023 for multiple issues including misuse of funds. After internal disciplinary charges were filed against Jones alleging serious misuse of funds, an internal hearing in accordance with the union's Constitution was held, resulting in a decision to remove Jones from membership and his role as president, in addition to other actions. Jones attempted to stop the process in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, and three hearings were held on the matter. On August 15, 2023, Judge Eric F. Melgren issued his summary judgement decision from the bench in favor of the International Vice Presidents who had sought to uphold the decision relating to the internal charges against Jones. Judge Melgren found that the original internal action was proper and conducted in accordance with the union's Constitution.

First Female Executive
On August 23, 2023, The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers announced that Kathy Stapp was unanimously elected by the organization’s International Executive Council to serve as the union’s International Secretary-Treasurer. Stapp is the first woman to ever hold this executive office, one of the union’s highest offices. Stapp, who most recently served as Director of Human Resources and Benefits Programs and as Administrative Assistant to the International Secretary-Treasurer, began her career with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in 1994. She originally worked as a “floater,” covering the switchboard and mail room, eventually working her way into the Accounting Department. After taking a hiatus in 1999 to raise a family, she rejoined the Boilermakers’ staff in 2008 in the International Secretary-Treasurer’s office. Over the years, her responsibilities evolved and she was promoted into more challenging roles as her experience grew. Stapp is a member of Boilermakers Local 627 (located in Phoenix). She earned her bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a minor in English, from Kansas State University and the University of San Diego.

Presidents

 * 1893: Lee Johnson
 * 1897: John McNeil
 * 1905: George F. Dunn
 * 1908: Joseph A. Franklin
 * 1944: Charles J. MacGowan
 * 1954: William A. Calvin
 * 1962: Russell K. Berg
 * 1970: Harold J. Buoy
 * 1983: Charles W. Jones
 * 2003: Newton B. Jones
 * 2023: Warren Fairley

Secretary-Treasurers

 * 1893: William J. Gilthorpe
 * 1914: Frank Reinmeyer
 * 1920: Joseph Flynn
 * 1926: Charles F. Scott
 * 1936: William E. Walter
 * 1945: William J. Buckley
 * 1958: Homer E. Patton
 * 1973: Charles F. Moran
 * 1986: Don Whan
 * 1989: Jerry Willburn
 * 2005: William T. Creeden
 * 2023: Kathy Stapp

Archives

 * International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers of America, Local 104 (Seattle, Washington) Records, 1937–1961. 7 cubic feet.
 * Joseph Clancy Papers. 1921–1972. 1.5 linear feet, includes oversize. Contains records from Clancy's service as a secretary of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths, Local 104, in Seattle, Washington from 1941–1958.
 * A.F. O'Neill Papers. 1942–1947. 2 linear feet. Contains records from O'Neill's service as business manager of International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, Local 104, Seattle from 1942–1947.
 * Walter H. Rasmussen. 1946–1967. 5" linear. Contains records from Rasmussen's service as an officer of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths, Local 104 in Seattle from 1946–1967.
 * Evan M. Weston Papers. 1919–1970. 3.22 cubic feet, 2 sound cassettes, 3 phonodiscs: 78 rpm.