(Northeast)

The Northeast committee chose to name the Award “The John Harrington Award.”

While in session in July of 1987, the Northeast Area adopted the testing procedure that had been used in the Southeast and Nine Western States becoming the third area to recognize the top apprentices from each local.  The host local that conducted the first testing was Local 237, Hartford, Connecticut.

Each apprentice competing in the competitions was given a trip to the Northeast Area summer meeting, a plaque, and a gold ring with the Boilermaker emblem.  The winner received the same plus a check for $1,000.00, a large plaque designating the winner and a trip to the International Headquarters in Kansas City, Kansas to visit with the officers and staff. 

John Harrington started in the Boilermaker Trade in the 1930’s as a helper/trainee, loftsman/shipfitter.  When John obtained mechanic’s status and became a member of the I.U.M.S.W.A.CIO, he was working for 87 ½ cents per hour.

John worked for the various shipyards in the New York area and transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard just prior to World War II as a loftsman and remained there until 1947.  While employed in the Navy Yards he participated in the construction and repair of many of the U.S. Navy’s most famous ships.  To name a few: The Battleship Missouri, The Iowa, The North Carolina, The Cruiser Memphis, The Bennington, The Bonne Homme Richard, The Oriskany, The Franklin D. Roosevelt, and The Ben Franklin.

During the years at the Navy Yards, John took on the duties of the instructor in the mechanic training program and became supervisor/director of the same.  Many times the training program had in excess of 600 people (male and female.)  In addition to the training of mechanics, John prepared and directed programs for training Junior Navel Officers in basic elements of ship construction and repair.

When John returned to the private shipyards, he discovered all but a few had reverted to the non-union status with deplorable working conditions.  After meeting with Boilermaker International Vice-President Bill Prendergast and Jim Morrisey, Organizer for the International Longshoremen’s Union, he was enlisted as an “Inside Man” in an effort to organize the small marine repair companies.

John’s efforts in the organizing of the Marine industry were very successful initially, but then declined as the ship repair industry shifted away from the New York Metropolitan area.

At the start of the Korean War, John returned to the Navy Yard and resumed his duties as before, working as a supervisor and re-establishing the mechanic training programs.

In 1951, John became a member of Boilermakers Local 43 and was shortly appointed an elected trustee of Local 43.  In 1953, by arrangement with then Business Manager Harry Nacy, of District 2 and President Curran, of Local 43 started working in field construction.  In 1956, at the request of International Vice-President Pendergast, John engaged in the re-organizing of Local 200, Staten Island, which was then a part of District 2 and transferred his membership from Local 43 to Local 200.  Shortly after the transfer John was elected President of Local 200 and remained a member of Local 200 until Local 5 was established.

In 1962, John was one of the principal advocates for eliminating the district concept of the six scattered locals with conflicting jurisdictions and the establishing of one local with jurisdiction over all.

The International Executive Council restructured District 2 and established Local 5 where John was elected Recording Secretary and served until 1980.

In 1960, John received a Teaching Certificate from the New York City Board of Education.  He organized and taught night classes in “Blueprint Reading for the Boilermakers at Thomas Edison Trade School for two years until the classes were moved to Local 5’s Union Hall, where he continued for two more years.

While working in Newburgh in 1967, John set up classes for the members of Local 5 who lived in upstate New York who has been unable to attend classes in the city.

John chaired Local 5’s Scholarship Committee from 1963 to 1977 and was the moving force that increased the Award from a $2,000.00 to a $4,500.00 Award annually.

In 1969, John was selected the first Northeast Area Apprenticeship Coordinator and was appointed by the National Apprenticeship Board in April of 1983 to serve as a committee member on the development of the New Boilermakers Apprenticeship Program 5:  Classroom/Shop Training.

John retired in 1985 at the age of 75 and remained active in church work until he passed away in May of 1996.

2007 Northeast Area Representatives:

2007 John Harrington Award Winner:
John C. Williamson, Local 154

2007 John Harrington Award Second Place:
David L. Cook, Local 197

Recipients of the John Harrington Award

Back to Awards Page

Home | Process | Partners | Skills | Awards | Locations | Contact Us

Boilermakers National Apprenticeship Program
© Copyright 2007

Site Designed By:
CCexpress Web Creations