Jimmy Farmer, Craft Labor Manager
Southern Company
Southern Company’s long-term energy plans mean big opportunities for union craft labor, with Boilermakers set to play a pivotal role in upcoming projects in the South.
“I’ve always admired the Boilermaker trade,” said Jimmy Farmer, Craft Labor Manager for Southern Company. “You’re the most versatile out there. There’s not a lot the Boilermakers can’t do.”
The utility, which serves millions of customers across the Southeast and beyond, is maintaining a diverse energy mix that includes natural gas, nuclear, coal and renewables. While coal plants were once slated for retirement, Farmer said the company is now extending their lifespans, creating new maintenance and repair work.
The company also recently completed the massive expansion of Plant Vogtle in Georgia, adding two nuclear reactors after years of delays. While additional nuclear development is unlikely soon, Farmer said Southern Company plans five new combined-cycle gas units in the next five years, with more projects expected in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
“There’s going to be a lot of opportunities for the trades,” Farmer said. “We’re going to need a lot of people—a lot of Boilermakers—to do a lot of work through 2033 and beyond.”
Farmer underscored that the success of these projects depends on labor’s commitment to safety and quality. He recalled his own growth in balancing productivity with safety in his younger years.
“We need everyone just as interested in finding the solution as they are in finding the problem,” he said. “We have to figure out how to get the work done and get it done safely.”
Drug testing remains part of that commitment, with Southern Company conducting more than 26,000 tests annually. Still, Farmer noted, that testing should support real safety. “How and when we drug test is more important than how much we drug test,” he said.
On quality, Farmer cautioned against relying solely on testing welds in controlled booths. “Even a welder who passes a test doesn’t mean they can do it in the field,” he said. “We don’t want little problems to become big problems. Whether it’s safety or quality, our procedures and policies should help us improve performance.”
Farmer also pointed to positive developments in labor relations. Two plants, Scherer and Yates, recently transitioned to union after decades of being maintained by nonunion contractors.
“Boilermakers played a big role in making that happen,” he said. “We’ve never seen the Boilermakers so engaged.”