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 Herbert C. Edwards, third from left, a member of Local 744 (then in New York City) and Local 3, New York City, takes a break with other members of a Western Union crew in Winfield, Long Island, in August 1921. 1891-1920 IBEW vs. The CorporationsFrom its founding in 1891 until about 1900, the IBEW sought to consolidate its position as the bargaining representative for all electrical workers. While this goal appears to have been achieved in several cities, including Kansas City, Kansas, and Mount Vernon, New York, during this period, the union made little headway against employers in other areas; for example, the Edison Company of Rockford, Illinois, which routinely discharged workers for joining the union.On May 1, 1900, organized electrical workers embarked upon a campaign of concerted activity. Nearly 100 workers struck for the eight-hour day in Rochester, New York; linemen employed by the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company struck in Springfield, Massachusetts; 1,500 electrical workers in New York City ceased performing their jobs; and 400 electrical workers in Philadelphia walked off their jobsite. Records indicate at least one strike in 1900 concerned safety: Electric-light workers in Baltimore struck over an increase in wages, basing their demand on the increase in voltage which made their work more hazardous. While many of these strikes were unsuccessful, one two-week strike resulted in a signed agreement. An IBEW local in San Francisco signed Independent Electric Light and Power Company to a contract providing $3.00 per day in wages and an eight-hour day for linemen.
Union’s Influence Improves The second decade of the IBEW showed an increase in the union’s influence and a corresponding decline in labor strife between electrical employers and employees. A study done by Charles Franklin Marsh indicates that between 1903 and 1908 only nine of 28 cases in which conditions were improved involved a suspension of work. The involvement of officials at the International and District Council level in negotiations apparently accounted for much of the peaceful settlement of these contracts. However, another significant factor was the nature of the industry. Demand for electrical workers was high, particularly during this era when the electric light and power industry was undergoing its great expansion. This expansion resulted in the use of electricity in all aspects of everyday life, from factory to farm, from office to kitchen. Thus, while unions in other industries at this time were suffering declines in membership and bargaining strength, electrical workers were enjoying amazing increases. From 1903 to 1906 the number of card-carrying electrical workers tripled to about 30,000. However, the participation of International and District Council officers in contract talks didn't preclude strikes entirely; although the officers’ intervention helped prevent hastily called, unauthorized actions. In one case where the Vice President wasn’t notified of repeated strike action within several months by the local, the union lost “the best job in the state of Wisconsin,” according to Vice President F.G. O’Connell. Often the job action wasn’t taken by the local union but by the company. In 1907 following the organization of a local in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha Gas and Electric Company locked out those employees who had joined the union. The dispute wasn’t settled (in favor of the union) until January 1908, thanks mainly to the support of the building trades. |
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