About Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union
Since 1927, the Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union has proudly represented skilled workers in shipbuilding, fabrication, and industrial trades across British Columbia. Rooted in strength, solidarity, and fairness, our union advocates for safe workplaces, fair wages, and the rights of our members. Learn about our history, mission, and the values that drive us to build a better future for workers and their families.
History
The Marine Workers have a long and proud history, dating back to 1927 when we broke away from the International Boilermakers. Our union along with Local 191 in Victoria voted to leave the International and form a new union, the Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders’ Union of Canada’ Local 1.
The newly established local in Vancouver wasted little time in affiliating with the All Canadian Congress of Labour founded the same year. The local received its charter from the Congress in 1928.
During the war years the Marine Workers was the largest trade union in Canada with a membership of over twenty five thousand members.
The Sisterhood at the canteen. Five shop stewards with the Marine Workers and Boilermakers Union share a happy moment during lunch at Burrard Dry Dock, 1942.
In 1944 the Marine Workers along with a number of other shipbuilding unions got together and formed the Shipyard General Workers Federation in order to bring forward one strong voice to government on behalf of organized labour on the west coast. The Federation is charted directly to the Canadian Labour Congress and has proven to be a strong lobbying vehicle for the industry.
At the end of the Second World War we once again made a name change with the amalgamation of various related shipbuilding locals including Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders Local 1, the Dock and Shipyard Workers Union and the Shipwrights and Caulkers Industrial Union Local 1 to be named the Marine Workers and Boilermakers Industrial Union Local 1.
The Marine Workers currently hold certifications with twenty-seven companies on the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. While most people associate our union with shipbuilding we also are involved with a number of other industries such as boiler shops, steel fabrication shops, on site mill and petro chemical plant repair, pressure vessel shops, manufacturing plants, a cement paving stone plant and of course deep-sea vessel repair.
Executives
For any questions please contact us and we will direct your concerns to the appropriate representative.
- President – Harold Swinton
- 1st Vice President – Cole Duncan
- 2nd Vice President – Erin Derepentigny
- Secretary Treasurer – Lyall Freeman
- Recording Secretary – Skyler Martin
- Executive Board – Zane Kalynchuk
- Executive Board – Aaron McEvoy
- Executive Board – Jeremy Wright
- Executive Board – Vacant