Gary Powers has been appointed as Director of Compliance and Training by International President Tim Simmons in an effort aimed at ensuring local lodges and their representatives have adequate knowledge and support to comply with Office of Labor-Management Standards requirements, the Boilermakers’ Constitution, and standard practices. Powers stated that the department aims to directly assist lodges in adhering to government reporting standards and bylaws while equipping leaders with essential training and resources.
As part of the initiative, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) hosted several training sessions for International Representatives and lodge leaders. These sessions, held at various locations including the IBB headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, and online, were conducted by Dr. John Lund, a respected figure with credentials from the University of Wisconsin School for Workers.
Scott Widdicombe, BM-ST for Local 242 located in Spokane, Washington, attended one of the virtual sessions. He described the OLMS training as transformative. “There are things I just didn’t know I should be doing or shouldn’t be doing,” he shared.
According to Powers, past practices of transmitting information through successive generations of lodge leaders have sometimes led to misinformation. Powers and Widdicombe both stressed the importance of clerical staff participating in training sessions as they handle many everyday duties.
Powers and the IBB’s Auditing Department are conducting in-person audits to gain insights into how lodges operate. These audits review financial records, meeting minutes, and lodge bylaws to ensure alignment with the Boilermakers Constitution. Feedback from these audits, according to Powers, has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re viewed as opportunities to work collaboratively with local lodge leaders to improve practices and implement efficient processes where needed. Steps are being made to offer templates to facilitate consistent financial reporting.
“This is not meant to be authoritarian,” Powers asserted, highlighting the constructive nature of the audits. After audits, reports with suggestions for improvements are provided. In cases of severe findings, changes are strongly recommended. The goal is to help lodge leaders comply with laws and follow constitutional and best practices.
“Everyone’s been very open to this,” Powers noted, “They’re not pushing back, and most say they wish we’d had this when they first became lodge leaders.”
Widdicombe echoed these sentiments. “I thought I was doing everything right, and now I know what I have to do and what I can’t do,” he said, expressing a renewed perspective on his role and responsibilities within Local 242.
