IUOE history

Through organizing efforts, many other units have become a part of Local 520. Based on the research compiled by many, this is a brief history of Local 520 International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO. The charter for our International Union was granted on May 7, 1897 by the American Federation of Labor.

Operating engineers flocked to San Francisco to rebuild that majestic city after it was turned to rubble in the earthquake of 1906.

More and more construction workers signed on and the union changed its name at its 1912 convention to reflect this new composition in the first decade of the new century becoming the International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers.

In 1927, the National Union of Steam Engineers merged with the International Brotherhood of Steam Shovel and Dredgeman and adopted the name of International Union of Operating Engineers.

As members began working with internal combustion engines, electric motors, hydraulic machinery and refrigerating systems, as well as steam boilers and engines, the word “steam” was dropped from the union’s name and in 1928 it became the International Union of Operating Engineers.

In October 1929, a small group of equipment operators made an unsuccessful attempt to organize and form a local union under the charter of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Passage of the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, which guaranteed construction workers’ wage rates on federally financed projects, helped the union weather the after-effects of the Great Depression and maintain its progress.

The International Union of Operating Engineers granted this request on July 1, 1933.

On May 1, 1935, ten men organized and filed for a charter under the banner of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

Local 18 traces its beginning to 1939, when six autonomous local unions came together as the Hoisting and Portable Branch of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

By 1945, with the Local expanding its membership, the office was moved to the Labor Temple at 920 Main Street, Jacksonville, Florida.

Entering the 1950’s, Local 132 was in stable growth.

The International then appointed John Lynch to serve as Local 150 President-Business Manager, a position he held until 1952.

In 1953, the International appointed William Law to serve as President-Business Manager.

An office in Clarksburg was opened in mid-1954.

In 1959, the federal law regulating unions known as Landrum-Griffin was passed in and local unions across the country were required to conduct elections for their officers every three years.

Local 132 was granted a C-Branch charter from the International Union of Operating Engineers on November 1, 1960.

In 1962, the members voted William F. Martin into office as President-Business Manager.

Local 673’s first own office was opened in 1963 in Titusville, Florida.

The 1970’s brought on a rapid growth of members to Local 132.

On the down side, a wage-price freeze was announced by President Richard Nixon in February 1971, a program that was to last until November 1971.

In 1986, the Membership of Local 150 elected William E. “Bill” Dugan President-Business Manager.

In 1987, the Local purchased 5 acres of land at 8366 Devoe Street, Jacksonville, Florida, which is currently our office in Jacksonville, Florida.

Alan B. Tarpley defeated Joseph Handley for Business Manager in August of 1989 to end his 31 years of control of Local 132.

The Annuity Fund was added to the Health & Welfare and Pension Benefit package in June 1993.

In 2001 Business Manager Burdette hired two full-time organizers to combat the non-union element in our state.

In 2007 Local 132 President, Assistant Business Manager and Apprenticeship & Training Director, David Mullins, resigned to accept appointment as West Virginia Commissioner of Labor.

When the economic collapse of late 2008 began to impact Local 150, the union, under the leadership of President-Business Manager James M. Sweeney, implemented programs and action plans to create work, protect benefits, and keep members afloat.

The early 2010’s saw growth in the energy sector.

In 2013 Rodney Marsh became President.

By 2014, private investment had begun to increase and Local 150 found itself with its lowest unemployment numbers in more than seven years as it fought to restore the union density the industry enjoyed prior to the recession.

2015 began the contemporary era at Local 132 as Charles Parker took over as Business Manager after the passing of Tommy Plymale.

And in 2016, the union succeeded with a landslide victory of nearly 80 percent of voters approving an amendment to the Illinois’ Constitution ensuring that transportation revenue can no longer be spent for purposes other than transportation.

In 2018 pipeline work was at an all-time high, with construction beginning on the Atlantic Coast, Mountain Valley, and Mountaineer Express projects.