John Flynn Retires as President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; Jim Boland Sworn in as New President

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John J. Flynn, President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers announced his retirement today at the winter meeting of the Union's Executive Council.

Flynn, who had served as President since 1999, expressed his thanks to his fellow Board members and the members of the Council for the opportunity to have served "this great Union" for so many years. He expressed his confidence in the leadership and abilities of the International's Executive Board to not only weather the current economic downturn but to "come through it stronger than ever."  Flynn promised to continue to support and "be available to serve the Union in any capacity" in his retirement.  

Immediately following his announcement, Flynn swore in Secretary-Treasurer James Boland as President, who then appointed Executive Vice President Henry Kramer as Secretary-Treasurer, and IU Trade Jurisdiction Director Tim Driscoll as Executive Vice President.  Executive Vice Presidents Ken Lambert and Gerard Scarano congratulated their fellow officers on their new positions.

Boland said, "It has been a privilege to serve with John and to be able to count on him as a friend. Our Union is stronger today because of his vision and dedication."

A member of Local 3 California, Boland is a former Local Officer and worked as a bricklayer, and stone and marble mason.  A member of the International's Executive Board since 1995, Boland was appointed as Secretary-Treasurer in 1999 and subsequently elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2005.

BAC represents roughly 100,000 skilled masonry-trowel trades craftworkers in the United States and Canada. It is the oldest continuous construction union in North America.

SOURCE International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers