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Bill Finn Business Manager 4315 Preston HWY Suite 102 Louisville, KY 40213 |
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History of the IBEW Local Union 369This history report is a work in progress and is by no means complete. It is a topic of the 12 week Labor History Class offered at the Apprenticeship. Please take an opportunity to read and e-mail comments or items to add. Fraternally, Paul Bell.
(Comment made when signing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers into new labor organization.)
History of IBEW Local 369 Prologue This brief history of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 369, Louisville, Kentucky, is a rough sketch at best dating back to our humble beginnings March 2, 1903, our original charter date through December 10, 1910, our second charter or reaffiliation date to our present status as the largest IBEW Local in the State of Kentucky. With a limited amount of information available on IBEW Local 369 from March 2, 1903, through December 10, 1910, we've discovered that this project was like trying to construct a giant jig-saw puzzle only to find several of the pieces have been lost creating an incomplete picutre of Local 369's history. Hopefully, these missing pieces will inspire others to research this topic so that we may discover the true history of our Local. If so, you now have begun to be involved. A small step, but a step nonetheless. From the man who organized and chartered IBEW Local 369 to the handful of workers that made up the first bargaining unit, a step was taken by each: steps that have turned into a journey. A journey that started with one grew into a handful, which would ultimately lead us to a membership of approximately 3,000. Here is our story....... History of IBEW Local 369 Information from the archive department of the IBEW says that Local Union 369 was originally chartered on March 2, 1903. However, further information indicates the Local ceased reporting in July 1908, causing it to become defunct in August 1908. The Local was re-chartered or re-affiliated on December 10, 1910 with 15 members. To fully understand the history of IBEW Local 369 we will find that we must also look at the history of the IBEW Prior to IBEW Local 369 being organized and chartered on March 2, 1903, the IBEW made several attempts at organizing electrical workers in the Louisville area: IBEW L.U. 28 - April 16, 1885 thru March 3, 1896, IBEW L.U. 25 - January 20, 1899 thru April 1899, IBEW L.U. 107 - February 24, 1900 thru December 1902, IBEW L.U. 123 - April 28, 1900 thru ?, IBEW L.U. 112 - July 20, 1901 thru May 29, 1930, IBEW L.U. 369 - March 2, 1903 thru 2003. We can only speculate the fate of some of these Locals short existence. As early as the 1900's the open-shop campaign had begun and contractors along with employer associations managed to bread many unions. Sometimes it was the fault of Local Union Officers poor accounting practices which caused their demise. Whatever their fate, IBEW Local 369 survived. thanks in part to IBEW Local Union 112. IBEW Local 112 was an outside Local and one of the strongest labor organizations in Louisville in 1903. Local 112 had 175 members in good standing and 25 additional members working outside the city limits. Some of their employers at the time were Louisville Electric Lighting Co., Louisville Home Telephone Co. and Cumberland Telephone Co. In February 1903 IBEW Local 112 appoints its first Business Agent, Edward Boyle whose primary duty at the time was to get passed stringent ordinances which would regulate the placing of transformers and electric wires. A strong effort would be made to have Electric Light Companies remove all transformers with high voltage wires from buildings and residences and to place them on outside utility poles to prevent electrocution and accidental fires March 1903 Business Agent Edward Boyle meets to organize the Inside Wireman into Local Union 369. The membership would include workmen who wire buildings, fixtures and does conduit work. The April 1903 Electrical Worker (Journal) lists the Officers of Local 369 as: President - John Dieble, Recording Secretary - John W. Issacs and Financial Secretary - D. Butterfield. IBEW Local 369 was headquartered at 4th and Green (Liberty). September 1905, Louisville is host city to the IBEW 9th Biennial Convention. The total membership of the IBEw at this time was reported to be 31,600 with 475 Local Unions chartered. The Galt House in Louisville would be set up as temporary IBEW Headquarters where the Constitutional Committee would meet for several weeks prior to the convention to discuss major revisions in the constitution. This committee was appointed after the 8th IBEW Convention of 1903 becuase of the many complaints that were made against the IBEW Constitution. Eight men from various parts of the country formed teh committee. (Lineman apparently dominated this committee) H.L. Worthington - San Francisco, CA., L.U. 151 - Chairman Peter W. Collins - Boston, MA., L.U. 103 - Secretary George Burns - Detroit, MI., L.U. 17 A. Stanley Nathanson - New York City, NY., L.U. 20 Lee Stephens - Fort Worth, TX., L.U. 56 Charles Ford - Schenectady, NY., L.U. 287 James P. Noonan - St. Louis, MO., L.U. 2 C.L. Hamilton - Memphis, TN., L.U. 192 The current IBEW Officers at this time were: Grand President - F.J. McNulty Grand Secretary - H.W. Sherman Grand Treasurer - F.J. Sheehan (7) District Vice Presidents - composing the Executive Board: 1st - F.J. Sweek, NY 2nd - E.T. Mallory, Boston 3rd - E.P. Allman, Pittsburgh 4th - Dale Smith, Memphis 5th - F. O'Connell, St. Louis 6th - J.P. Connor, Dallas 7th - M.J. Sullivan, San Francisco September 18, 1905 was the opening of the convention which would be attended by 350 delegates and lasted a total of 10 days. IBEW Local 112 was the host Local. The convention was held at Germania Hall which was located at 107 W. Jefferson. Grand president F.J. McNulty called the ninth biennial convention to order. Fred H. Weaver, President of IBEW Local 112 and an employee of Home Telephone Company introduced the Mayor of Louisville, Charles F. Grainger, who gave the opening speech to the delegation and presented the IBEW with a key to the city. The 1905 convention would also mark the beginnings of a division in the IBEW that would lead to a succession movement, later referred to as the Reid-Murphy split. An unexpected dissention among the delegation errupted during the convention over issues concerning inside-outside jurisdiction, splitting the delegation into two factions. Inside and outside workers were split on key resolutions and cast block votes that would dead-lock the convention. Not wanting a divided convention a harmony committee was formed. The Committee was made up of inside and outside workers wanting to resolve the differences between the two groups. Secretary of the 1905 conventions constitutional committee, Peter Collins, an inside wireman led the group. The harmony committee was able to reach a suitable compromise between the two factions and a new constitution would be ratified. Peter Collins would also be elected as Grand Secretary of the IBEW replacing veteran lineman H.W. Sherman. F.J. McNulty was re-elected Grand President making the top two positions held by inside wireman, for the first time in IBEW history. Convention Highlights President F.J. McNulty appoints credentials and rules committee for the 1905 Convention. Credentials: George W. Olwell - Chairman, George King, Joseph McCauley, Sam Stout, G.G. Macy, J.E. Brown and Stephen Fay. Rules: G.A. Kelly - Chairman, J. Ferguson, Thomas Wheeler, J.E. Wolf, Duncan McDonald, R.L. Riley and J. Cullen. Grand President F.J. McNulty addresses the delegation and recommends an amendment to the constitution to prevent strikes unless a member of the International Executive Board was present. Also McNulty promoted closer relationships between the employer and employee thru conciliation and arbitration rather than strikes. Death benefits increase from $100 to $150 so that after funeral expenses something would be left for the family. Recommendation was made to place more organizers in the field to establish more locals. The IBEW had 7 full time organizers who received $125 a month plus expenses. Color line was drawn; IBEW restricts membership based on race. Stringent examinations of applicants for admission to locals revised so that test would not prevent applicants from joining. (At this time competition between the inside and outside locals was growing. Inside Workers fought for high initiation fees and tough exams because of its highly skilled workforce and control of the industry. While Outside Workers fought to establish minimal initiation fees, a universal traveling card and an end to examinations.) Recommended change in the IBEW headquarters to Springfield Illinois. (This would be the fourth relocation for IBEW headquarters. From the first convention to the fifth the IBEW was headquartered in St. Louis Missouri, from the fifth to the seventh convention the IBEW was headquartered in Rochester New York and from the seventh to the ninth the IBEW was headquartered in Washington D.C.) Adoption of District Councils, which would form a body between the Local Unions and the International were presented to the delegation. (This would reorganize the leadership structure of the IBEW, dropping the number of vice-presidents from 7 to 3 but electing a 7 member executive board to represent various geographical districts.) Recommendation made that the convention be moved from every 2 years to every four years. Recommendations were made to change classifications to two basic groups inside and outside thus reducing the number of locals and simplifying constitutional and jurisdictional problems. (Prior to the convention there were approximately two dozen different classifications; lineman, trimmers, underground cable men, cable splicer, servicemen, trouble men, switchboard men, attendants, repairmen, construction men, workers in central lighting and power stations, hangers of streamers between buildings, makers of fire and burglar alarms, dynamo constructors, inside wiremen, armature winders, crane men, switchboard and rheostat makers, assemblers, fixture hangers, operators at isolated plants, annunciators, electric heating and apparatus men, makers of all automatic controlling services, electric decorators and sign makers.) 1905 Convention Election Results Grand President - F.J. McNulty Grand Secretary - Peter Collins Grand Treasurer - F. Sullivan Grand Vice Presidents: 1st - J.J. Reid 2nd - James P. Noonan 3rd - M.J. Sullivan Jurisdictional differences may have fueled the split, but the convention was not split strictly among craft lines. Some smaller mixed locals depended on the larger outside locals for help. It was also based on geographical regions and industrial base. The compromise reached by the harmony committee at the convention would be short lived and the IBEW would find itself in a series of struggles. (Independent Inside Locals & Telephone Company's. Bell Telephone Strike 1906 starts dispute between J.J. Reid and F.J. McNulty.) In 1907, a bitter internal struggle erupted internally within the IBEW between Grand Secretary Peter Collins (Wireman) and Grand Treasurer Frank Sullivan (Lineman). This costly experience would result in the secession of a large percentage of the brotherhood. It would become known as the Reid-Murphy split, named after the two officers elected by the seceding faction. (A number of problems caused the split; such as the long-brewing dissension between wiremen and linemen, stimulated by disappointed office seekers and by a former Grand Treasurer Frank Sullivan removal from office in 1907 because of irregularities. In addition, employer forces appeared to want the fast-growing union to be destroyed. So they fostered the struggle that divided our Brotherhood for six long years.) A large number of local union representatives attended a special convention called by the dissenting forces in 1908. They refused to recognize President McNulty and Secretary Collins. Instead, they elected J.J. Reid as President and J.W. Murphy as Secretary. The Reid faction secured an injunction to prevent disbursement of union funds. (August 1908 IBEW Local 369 becomes defunct. The Electrical Worker (Journal) of November 1909 has a financial statement showing receipts being paid to J.J. Reid and J.W. Murphy. Local 369 was part of the Reid-Murphy Faction.) The McNulty group secured another injunction to forestall seizure of the International Office and operated on loans from local unions and individuals. AFL President Samuel Gompers unsuccessfully attempted to reconcile the groups, and then subsequently recognized the McNulty-Collins faction as the legitimate Brotherhood. December 9, 1910 - IBEW 369 re-chartered or re-affiliated. Two conventions were held in 1911. Photos in the IBEW Archives show that the Reid-Murphy Convention was much larger than the McNulty-Collins Convention. The Reid-Murphy group controlled three-fourths of the organized electrical workers in the US and Canada. Finally, a court decision in February 1912 declared the 1908 convention illegal and its actions void; union funds were restored to the AFL-recognized group. That 1912 court decision marked the turning point of the rebellion. Once more in possession of its funds, and with AFL backing, the McNulty administration gradually won back its membership. By 1914 the locals who constituted the Reid faction were readmitted. Those who left the Brotherhood with Reid and Murphy received credit for whatever standing they would have enjoyed had they never left. They also received 12 months' credit in the payment of death benefits. IBEW Local 369 Facts The first IBEW listing in the Louisville City directories was in 1900. The location was Reebs Hall, 516 5th. Street. This location was also called Reebs HJ Saloon/Union Hall. John Diebel was listed as the Secretary. The first Listing for Local 369 was at 4th and Green (liberty). They meet every Friday. The listed officers were; President - John Diebel, Secretary - John W. Issacs and Financial Secretary - D. Butterfield. The first business office for Local 369 was located on Armory Place but the meetings were not held at this site. The local moved to 4315 Preston Highway on June 21, 1970. The documentation for our union meetings date back to 1930. The first meetings were held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month at the Labor Temple at 127 W. Market St. Here is a list of other meeting sites: Labor Temple (Market) - 1930 (Both 369 and 112 had meetings at the Labor Temple) Tyler Hotel - 1934 to 1940 Musicians Hall (2nd. Street) 1941 Labor Temple (Broadway) 1942 to 1957 Swiss Hall 1958 to 1968 Carpenters Hall - 1969 to 1970 Preston Highway - 1971 to Present Our Documents show that Local 369 did not have a Business Agent until 1931. His name was Herbert H. Hudson and he served from 1931-1957 for a term of 26 years. Here are our other Business Agents. Joseph C. Williamson 1957-1959 GeorgeF.Wode 1959-1967 JosephA.Pompei 1967-1969 Louis K. Reasor 1969-1977 LawrenceD.Clark 1977-1983 Charles D. Kimberlin 1983-1995 Terry A. Luckett 1995-2000 Stephen M. Silliman 2000-Present The first wage rates record shows 1960 at $3.85 per straight time hour with no money in pensions. In 1965 Three (3) cents per hour was added to the pension fund and in 1973 it went up to 40 cents with the hourly rate at $9.38. Our current rate is $24.75 with $3.71 per hour in pension. There was a huge expansion at the Preston Highway location in 2002-2003 and it now houses the LEJATC along with a new meeting hall, new offices, and state of the art gym, for a total square footage of 45,600. IBEW Local 369 now represents approximately 3000 members in Kentucky and Indiana. Inside electrical construction jurisdiction cover 68 counties in Kentucky and 7 in Southern Indiana. Outside Utility Construction jurisdiction covers 112 Kentucky counties. Over 40 separate contracts cover our members in the classifications of Electricians, Linemen, Security, Broadcast Technicians, Production, Manufacturing, Instrument Technicians, Clerical and Panel Wireman and many more. The Louisville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (LEJATC) is dedicated to the training of apprentices and journeymen to supply IBEW Local Union 369 with a skilled and qualified workforce to meet the needs of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The end result of this training is the customer receiving a high quality job that is on time, within budget, and right the first time. Beginnings After the ratification of the charter on the ninth of December 1910, the new IBEW Local 369 was as expected a bit unorganized. During our infancy the efforts to grow were like a tree growing among the rocks. Slow and determined to find its path. Organizing efforts were constant with international organizers visiting frequently. Letters to the editor of the "Journal" in 1917 speak of these visits, along with the working conditions of that time. "Forty-five cents per hour with time and one half for overtime, double time Sunday and holidays. The first of September a raise to fifty cents per hour." In 1918 the world goes to war and many members "join the colors" as it was referred. We began to create influence on the local industry by having one member appointed city electrical inspector and another appointed assistant inspector. "Local 369 is coming into its own" as, reported in May 1919. "The park agreement has been signed. Maintenance man $175 per month. Deviceman $35 a week. At the Courier Journal the maintenance rate of $36 per week of 8 hours. Dynamo tenders $27 week of 8 hours, 48 hours week time and one and a half overtime. Construction agreement of seventy-five cents per hour, 44 hour week with time and a half overtime, double time Sundays and holidays. Bland Electric was organized which had been unfair for 4 or 5 years. In 1919 things were booming. There were isolated signs of trouble. A strike was called against the Clark Electric Co. There were twenty-five shopmen and forty machinist employed. This firm had a government signed agreement for 8 hours at sixty-eight cents per hour with 11/2 for overtime. Then the notice was posted "Beginning next week this firm will work nine hours straight time". During this 3-week strike one machinist and one electrician returned to work. October 1919, 3 wiremen were fined $50 each for returning to work at Marine Electric Co. "If they have stayed out we could have had the shop tied up, because non-members would not have gone to work there." But our own members broke the strike. The strike was called off at Clark Electric Co. Members received a 50-hour workweek. In the November 1920 Journal optimism abounds. The campaign for our own labor temple begins. Stock is being sold rapidly and is progressing to everyone's satisfaction. However the seeds of delusions of grandeur are beginning to sprout. This is evident in the following quote "Their men are not efficient and can not compete with the card man, because he is superior" This attitude will persist through the next 80+ years and will erode the market share to less than 17 percent at the beginning of the next century. Depression and New Deal February 1930 Journal refers to an article written by a brother from Local 259 called "When We are Getting Ours". Brother Robert Barry amended this plan a little and offered it in his letter to the editor. In old brotherhood fashion he lays out a plan to help those members who are less fortunate than ourselves. By taking 40 Journeyman that work all year out of 70 members paying 5 percent on a dollar or $3.35 weekly would equal $134, times 52 weeks = $6,968 in one year. It was proposed to pay $15 to each kit man. For example 15 men loose 16 weeks each 15 x 16 $240 x 15 (number of men) = $3,600 total benefits paid. Receipts $6,968 Benefits $3,600 Balance per year $3,368 This innovative thinking was basic in employment insurance. There is no record that this idea was ever implemented. In 1934 all city electrical inspectors were members of Local 369. The business manager Herbert H. Hudson is appointed to the Louisville Electrical Board of Control. April of 1936, the work situation becomes brighter. Churchill Downs is finishing a large renovation in which all were on the project were union. Work is picking up. Marine Electric has the task of working a new installation at Fort Knox to house 3 billion dollars in gold bullion. In the 1940's many of our members are called away to fight in WWII. But an equal amount of members remain stateside. The government believes that their greater service to the country would be to perform their craft for the war effort. At this time dozens of women become members in the marine division of Local 369. They work for E-J Electric Installation Co. at the Jeffersonville Boat Works. By 1944 these ladies have installed the complicated electrical systems on 8 sub-marine chasers and 44 landing ship tanks (LST). Without the LST we could not have invaded Europe. These ladies were awarded the Army-Navy E Award for their excellent performance. Post War and Modern Era In May 1950, it is reported that the February monthly meeting had 500 members in attendance. This was due to the initiation of 54 new members. This was the largest group ever in the history of Local 369. Some of these attendees were fathers to greet their sons as new apprentices. Others were there to see graduation certificates presented to the first class of apprentices of the local union. In closing that meeting International Vice-President Gordon Freeman talked about first meeting the current business manager Hubby Hudson. "Back in those years going was rough times", during this encounter it was noticed that Hubby Hudson was wearing shoes with the sole worn through on them. "He stuck it out and finally came out on top." For some of you younger members this may appear as a joke but to the membership of this local we recognize and appreciate the integrity or guts, that were involved in establishing our standing throughout this country The middle 50's brought full employment and many travelers into our jurisdiction due to the construction of the GE Appliance Park. Local 369 furnished approximately 1,500 journeymen wiremen to maintain a payroll of some 500 to Kelso-Burnett Electric Co. and Associates. 2,209,130 feet of rigid conduit 85,648 feet of fiber conduit 119,760 feet of floor duct 2,414,538 feet of raceway installed or 547 miles 18,174,457 of conductors installed or 3,442 miles During this period we began a practice that haunts us to this day. This was the "white ticket" or permit help that was used at this time. These people were not allowed to be members, but were allowed to work next to journeymen wiremen and receive the same on the job training as our indentured apprentices. In time our oversight of not making these people members of the Local would prove detrimental. We had trained our own assassins. In 1961, Local 369 celebrated its 50th Anniversary at Freedom Hall. It was a gala affair with International President Gordon Freeman and 4th District Vice President HR Blankenship, local union officials and over 1300 members, wives and guests. Tex Beneke and his orchestra provided the entertainment and a large floor show was performed to the delight of the audience. The highlight of the night was the presentation of a 50-year pin to Brother Louis Misback a Charter member of Local 369. But the 60's were a time that work would prove as uncertain as that time itself. But the local continued to grow. We had 56 signatory contractors, 9 radio, sound, and television companies, 7 sign shops, 6 motor repair shops, 21 manufactures, and 5 special services businesses. We were not without problems, and dissention on local union level reached a crescendo in May 1969 when someone bombed the Union Hall at Armory Place. No one was injured, and damage was limited to the front entrance and hallway. By the end of the decade Urban Renewal was going to force the members to move from its Armory Place location. In June of 1970 Local 369 moved to its present location. During the ribbon cutting ceremonies business manager Louis Reesor called all new officers, old officers and retired members to stand around as the ribbon was cut. Reesor said. "You are the ones who have helped make this dream possible and we want you to be a part of it". A member was quoted "The lovely structure truly displays what labor can do when they work together as a team" As the 70's came and went. Many changes took place. The Vietnam War ended, mostly due to political activism, and activism was prevalent with this new generation of electricians and apprentices. Many new members were vets and needed a new beginning. They felt a need to be involved and this coincided well with other members. This energy provided the catalyst to the needs of the local union. The union hall was a flurry of activity. Fish Fry's, family picnics, softball teams, basketball teams, golf league, and an athletic committee that began a regional softball tournament that continues today. The only place we were not proactive was in retaining market share. As the economy and work situation declined in the late 70's we still controlled the majority of industrial work. We had lost the commercial market for the most part, and with the decline of the industrial work unemployment rose. As the 80's began the situation would only get worse. Regan began his assault on organized labor, His dream of a "service society" further added to the problem. During this period there was an exodus of many members to maintenance positions. At time when activism was truly needed, it was being crushed by economic and political climate of the Regan Administration. There was great enthusiasm about the Marble Hill Project. Many members thought this would be the answer to our unemployment situation. This did not pan out. When the members returned from this industrial project the void that was left in the commercial market was quickly filled by the very people we had trained under the "white ticket" days of the 50's and 60's. The industrial base of the jurisdiction was also declining. Many industrial icons of the century such as International Harvester, American Standard and Brown & Williamson were closing their doors or moving. Ford Motor Co. would continue to hire our members for periodic shut downs, as would General Electric. But overall, the Regan administration had done its job well to limit our markets. Along with our tunnel vision we lost ground that may take generations to regain. As the 90's began, there was a glimmer of hope. A new political administration that historically would be more favorable to organized labor and the fact that the International was mandating that every local union organize all electrical workers. This daunting challenge would be assigned to Terry Luckett and a number of assistants. In the past local unions met these efforts with great resistance. This attitude was the same as it was in the 50's and 60's when we would not let the "white tickets" in as members "because we were superior due to our training and our productivity." All along the truth of the matter was the old mentality believed that members would loose their jobs. While in reality there was not a job to loose. The non-union electrician is already doing your job. This could not be a loss but a gain. After organizing new members this old mentality began to fade. It was discovered that these new members desired the same things as everyone, decent working conditions, a fare wage, and a voice. Organizing efforts continued and the membership grew by leaps and bounds. As the decade drew to a close the work situation improved to the point that hundreds of travelers were working in the jurisdiction. The amalgamation of Bowling Green and Lexington locals added members and additional area to the jurisdiction. With this increase in members, a proposal was made by business manager Terry Luckett to build a new facility at the present location. This facility would incorporate the old building as the center of the new structure. This preserving an important link to the past. The new building would be at one side of the existing structure and the training center at the other side. This is symbolic of our past, present and future. During this period the LEJATC implemented, with great success, the radical idea of day school. In the summer of 2002 the new facility was dedicated. Our retired membership could not believe we had progressed this far. After all we owe this all to them. They have left us the stewardship of an organization that they had worked so hard to preserve. Not to mention the members who have perished in pursuit of all the things that we take for granted today. This legacy will be passed again, to another generation. Will they have the dedication to preserve it? History will tell. Epilogue It is our responsibility to each other, our children, our families and every working person to continue this effort. In 1967 in an article to the Kentucky Labor News the following was written, "The union stands where it is today because strong men and women, intelligent men and women, loyal men and women created a union protected and preserved it. They cared about what happened to them and to their children and they clung to the organization that gave them protection." Each era writes its own history. IBEW's heritage has been passed on vibrant and strong. Where it goes from here depends on our members. The responsibility is now upon us, let us carry it well! |
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"There can be no doubt but with the general application of electricity for so many purposes and
its possibilities yet unknown, the electrical worker will exert a vast influence upon the industrial
problems of the future" -Samuel Gompers- 