The History of IBEW
Important Dates in IBEW History
- 1891: National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers founded (Nov. 28) and affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (Dec. 7). Apprenticeship system established.
- 1892: First women members admitted into NBEW.
- 1893: First Journal published (Jan. 15), called The Electrical Worker; continuously published under various titles. Cleveland Convention delegates voted to hold conventions every two years.
- 1895: Telephone operators joined NBEW.
- 1896: First woman organizer appointed.
- 1897: First woman delegate sent to the National Convention.
- 1899: NBEW becomes international union when jurisdiction is extended to include Canada; name changed to International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
- 1903: First full-time, salaried Grand President.
- 1908: Reid-Murphy split; IBEW affiliated with the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada.
- 1912: Court decision upheld McNulty-Collins as officers of the legitimate IBEW.
- 1913: Delegates return to a united Convention. Split in the IBEW ended and seceding faction (Reid-Murphy) reabsorbed into the legitimate Brotherhood (McNulty-Collins) by agreement in 1914.
- 1918: Constitutional amendment renders actions of conventions final.
- 1919: Telephone Operators Department established.
- 1920: Council on Industrial Relations founded. IBEW headquarters moved from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C.
- 1922: Electrical Workers' Benefit Association founded.
- 1924: Research Department established.
- 1927: Pension Plan established by Detroit Convention.
- 1929: IBEW moved into its own building at 1200 - 15th Street, N.W.
- 1946: Number of vice presidential districts increased from 10 to 12; National Employees' Benefit Agreement signed by IBEW and NECA.
- 1947: Permanent National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry formed. Government Employees Department established. Progress meetings for vice presidential districts instituted. National Electrical Benefit Fund went into effect.
- 1950: Members voted to submit to referendum vote the holding of the International Convention every four years instead of every two. Affirmative decision reached in 1952.
- 1951: Broadcasting and Recording Department established.
- 1954: Chicago IBEW Convention was the largest labor union convention ever held in the world.
- 1955: Construction and Maintenance, Manufacturing, Telephone, and Utility Departments established; previously existed as divisions within the IBEW.
- 1959: Skill Improvement, Safety Departments established.
- 1963: Supreme Court ruling supported authority of IBEW Constitution.
- 1966: Founders' Scholarship Program instituted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the IBEW.
- 1971: IBEW moved to new, permanent address at 1125 - 15th Street, N.W. Special Services, Organizing Departments established.
- 1972: IBEW membership reached one million in October; Telephone Department operations relocated to International Office.
- 1977: IBEW and NECA agreed to improve NEBF benefits and increase employer contribution from 1% to 3%.
- 1981: Electrical Industry Health and Welfare Reciprocal Agreement established; achieved 100% participation in 1985.
- 1982: IBEW affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Labour.
- 1984: Electrical Industry Pension Reciprocal Agreement established; achieved 100% participation in 1989.
- 1987: Pension Investment and Employee Benefits Department established in response to 33rd Convention resolution.
- 1988: Skill Improvement Department renamed Technical Services Department; Safety Department renamed Safety and Health Department; Telephone and Cable TV Departments combined into the Telecommunications Department; Education Program established (became Education Department in 1991).
- 1989: Research and Education Department renamed Research and Economics Department; Organizing Department renamed Special Projects Department. Canada IBEW-COPE established.
- 1990: IBEW Tenth District (Railroads) welcomed into membership the members of the Canadian Signal and Communications Union. The First District publishes the first issue of its newsletter, Canadian Comment.
- 1991: Centennial Exposition and the 34th and 100th Anniversary Convention held in St. Louis. Delegates vote to hold Convention every five years. Special Services Department renamed Human Services Department.
- 1992: Bylaw Approval Department and the Appeals Department consolidated into Bylaws and Appeals Department.
- 1994: New database established for agreement approval/analysis. Research and Economics, Technical Services Departments merged to become Research & Technical Services Department. Public Relations Department established.
- 1995: Journal, Public Relations Departments merged as the Journal and Media Relations Department. First IBEW-wide opinion poll of rank-and-file members conducted.
- 1996: Electronic voting used for first time at an IBEW Convention. Committee appointed to study IBEW's structure and Constitution.
- 1997: IBEW reaffiliates with the Canadian Labour Congress.