IBEW hired a full-time director of skill improvement in what year

1891

A first convention was called in St Louis on November 21, 1891.

So on November 28, 1891, the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was founded in St Louis, Missouri, representing 286 members employed in the electrical industry.

Upon the foundation of our national organization in St Louis on November 28, 1891 it was re-chartered as IBEW Local No.

The AFL granted a charter on December 7, 1891, which gave the NBEW sweeping jurisdiction over electrical workers in every branch of the trade and industry.

The Constitution adopted in 1891 vested considerable executive power in the officers, but such power was exercised rarely in the early years of the Brotherhood.

1891---National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers founded (Nov.

1892

When the Second Convention met in Chicago in 1892, the Brotherhood had 43 locals chartered; nearly 2,000 members; and $646.10 in the treasury.

1893

The first Journal, called The Electrical Worker, was issued on January 15, 1893.

The country was plunging into a severe economic depression at the time of the Third Convention, held in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1893.

1893---First Journal published (Jan.

1894

In 1894 Secretary-Treasurer Kelly reported a loss for the year of $468.50, which was covered by loans from various members and locals.

1895

When the Fourth Convention opened in Washington, D.C., in 1895, only 12 delegates answered the roll call; the treasury showed a deficit of $1,016.

1896

On July 10, 1896, while working as head lineman of a crew repairing storm damage, Brother Miller suffered an electrical shock and fell from a power pole, striking his head.

1896---First woman organizer appointed.

1897

The Fifth Convention, held in Detroit in 1897, proved that the courage of people who persevere despite great odds had not been in vain.

1899

The first local to be organized in Canada was Local Union 93 of Ottawa, Ontario, on December 20, 1899.

On December 20, 1899, the Canadian arm of the NBEW set roots down in Ottawa, and at the sixth convention in 1899 the name was changed from the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The Sixth Convention, meeting in Pittsburgh in 1899, changed the name of our union from National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

In 1899 Thomas Wheeler became Grand President of the new International, while Harry W. Sherman continued as Secretary.

1899---NBEW becomes an international union when jurisdiction is extended to include Canada; name changed to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

1901

In 1901 when the Seventh Convention met in St Louis, the Grand Secretary reported that unconstitutional strikes were so numerous that year as many as 40 at one time that he was unable to keep an accurate record.

1903

Accordingly, at the Eighth Convention, held in 1903 at Salt Lake City, Utah, the members elected F. J. McNulty as Grand President and voted him a full-time salary so he might dedicate his time solely to the interests of the union.

1907

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 removed from office in 1907 because of irregularities.

1908

In 1908 when the IBEW was in pretty fair condition with paid officers, a treasury balance and a strong organization a bitter internal struggle erupted.

A large number of local union representatives attended a special convention called by the dissenting forces in 1908.

1911

Two conventions were held in 1911.

1912

Brother P. W. Collins, who stood with Brother McNulty during the days of secession, resigned on July 15, 1912.

1912---Court decision upheld McNulty-Collins as officers of the legitimate IBEW.

1913

These two Locals elected to merge in May 21, 1913, to form a unified Local Union.

The 12th Convention of our Brotherhood, held in Boston in 1913, included nearly all of the local unions which had seceded.

At the 1913 Convention President McNulty presided with a new partner.

1913---Delegates return to a united Convention.

Since 1913, Local 48 has increased the standard and quality of living for thousands of electrical workers, helping them achieve decent wages, improved working conditions, and the right to organize.

1916

As early as 1916, a small group of electrical contractors met regularly to discuss matters pertaining to the electrical contracting industry.

1918

Shortly after the armistice of November 11, 1918, the open-shop movement in the United States, the infamous, misnamed American Plan was adopted; and every piece of antiunion propaganda and trick in the book were pulled against us and our fellow union members in the AFL.

One of the amendments passed in 1918 established a separate Telephone Operators Department.

A constitutional amendment adopted in 1918 declared all Convention actions final, except when the Convention itself votes to refer a matter to the membership for consideration.

1919

A joint committee from the IBEW and the Conference Club met in March 1919 to consider this proposal.

The Conference Club persuaded the National Association of Electrical Contractors and Dealers (later renamed National Electrical Contractors Association [NECA]) to become the signatory employer organization, an action affirmed by NAECD's July 1919 convention.

A strong, magnetic leader, Frank McNulty served in this office until 1919.

In 1919 the presidency of the Brotherhood changed.

The 15th Convention was held in New Orleans in 1919.

1919---Telephone Operators Department established.

1920

The fund went into effect on January 1, 1920, and was financed by collecting 14 cents per month from each member and by appropriating half of all initiation fees.

1922

1922---Electrical Workers' Benefit Association founded.

1929

In January 1929 the International Office moved into the IBEW's own building at 1200 - 15th Street, N.W. That year the 20th Convention, held in Miami, Florida, adopted a retirement plan for Brotherhood officers and representatives.

President Noonan died in December 1929; the International Executive Council (IEC) appointed Vice President H. H. Broach to fill the office.

Unbeknown to the delegates in 1929, this would be the last Convention held for 12 years.

In 1929 the average wage for inside electrical workers in the United States was $1.15 per hour.

1930

At its March 1930 meeting, the IEC approved submitting a proposed amendment to the membership for a referendum vote.

Our current Constitution is much the same as it was following the action taken in 1930.

1933

Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933 and immediately proposed New Deal legislation to launch the United States on the road to recovery.

President Broach's health failed, and he was forced to resign as International President in July 1933.

1937

Our local union of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was chartered in 1937.

1941

In September 1941 an important event took place: The National Apprenticeship Standards for the Electrical Construction Industry were established.

President Tracy, in his report to the 1941 Convention, stated:

Reports to the 1941 Convention pointed out the dramatic progress achieved in the 12 years since the Miami Convention.

1943

By late 1943 it was evident that 37 cents per ``A" member per month was insufficient to pay for a $40 monthly pension.

1944

A special assessment of 70 cents was levied and allocated to the Pension Fund for the first six months of 1944, and in July 1944 this assessment was reduced to 20 cents.

In November 1944 the IBEW, in conjunction with the Engineering College of Marquette University in Milwaukee, established a National Electronics School.

1946

On October 1, 1946, NECA and the IBEW signed an agreement establishing the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF). The contractors agreed to put 1 percent of their payroll into this special fund.

Our 1946 Convention also created another type of membership, known as ``BA." The IBEW thus offered three types of membership: ``A," ``B" and ``BA." The ``BA" member would enjoy rights equal to the ``A" paying the same per capita to support the IBEW's operations, with equal voting rights.

1946---Number of vice presidential districts increased from 10 to 12; National Employees' Benefit Agreement signed by IBEW and NECA.

1947

Annual progress meetings for all vice presidential districts were instituted in 1947.

1948

In September 1948 our 23rd Convention was held in Atlantic City.

1950

International President Tracy and the IEC unequivocally stated in May 1950 that the IBEW preferred private ownership of utilities to public ownership because of the more favorable climate for collective bargaining with privately owned companies.

1950---Members voted to submit to referendum vote the holding of the International Convention every four years instead of every two.

1952

In October 1952 the IBEW and NECA appointed a full-time director of apprenticeship and training.

1954

These two officers were at the helm when our Chicago Convention met in 1954.

Reports of the officers to the 1954 Convention still emphasized the sinister effects of the Taft-Hartley Act and the "right-to-work" laws it had spawned in 16 states.

1954---Chicago IBEW Convention was the largest labor union convention ever held in the world.

1957

A full apprenticeship training program for outside electrical apprentices became available in January 1957.

1958

The four years following our 1958 Convention in Cleveland were not easy ones for any segment of the labor movement.

1959

In 1959 a full-time director of skill improvement training was added to our I.O. staff.

1959---Skill Improvement, Safety Departments established.

1960

During the 1960's and 70's, Local 48 benefited from the construction boom, with members working on some of the area's most important projects.

1961

In autumn 1961 our Brotherhood developed a course called Industrial Atomic Energy Uses, Hazards and Controls; and institutes were conducted to train instructors in this field so important to the welfare of our members and the public.

1966

Our Diamond Jubilee Convention was held in September 1966 in St Louis, where the Brotherhood was born 75 years earlier.

1971

1971---IBEW moved to new, permanent address at 1125 - 15th Street, N.W. Special Services, Organizing Departments established.

1977

1977---IBEW and NECA agreed to improve NEBF benefits and increase employer contribution from 1% to 3%.

1984

He served with distinction as director of Labor's League for Political Education, which evolved into the Committee on Political Education (COPE). Secretary Emeritus Keenan died on July 22, 1984.

1986

International President Pillard retired in August 1986 and was named International President Emeritus.

1987

The delegates to the 33rd Convention also voted to raise the per capita tax to $6.00 effective January 1, 1987.

1989

1989---Research and Education Department renamed Research and Economics Department; Organizing Department renamed Special Projects Department.

1994

1994---New database established for agreement approval/analysis.

1998

1998---Recommendations of the Select Committee on the Future of the Brotherhood approved by referendum vote of the local unions.

2001

A $1.00 increase in the per capita tax to be effective no later than January 1, 2001, won the approval of the delegates.