The History of IBEW
The New Deal
Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933 and immediately proposed New Deal legislation to launch the United States on the road to recovery. First came the National Recovery Act, later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court after bitter opposition from big business. Later came the Walsh-Healey Act, then the Wage-Hour Law.
President Broach's health failed, and he was forced to resign as International President in July 1933. The IEC appointed Vice President D.W. Tracy to take his place.
Positive Legislation
The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, also known as the Wagner Act after its author and friend of labor, Senator Robert Wagner, ensured government protection to union organizers and to organized workers and led to a rapid increase in union membership. The Wagner Act enabled the IBEW to organize utility companies and manufacturing plants in a way never before possible.
Before 1935 there was only one type of IBEW membership, later known as ``A" membership. In 1935 a ``B"-type membership was created by referendum vote. ``B" membership allowed the unorganized in utilities and manufacturing plants to join at a lower admission fee ($1.50) and pay a lower per capita (50 cents). ``B" members did not participate in death and pension benefits, since they did not pay for them. Neither were ``B" members allowed equal voting rights with the other members at Conventions and on referendums.
Other legislation beneficial to U.S. workers was passed in the late 1920s and throughout the 1930s, including the Railway Labor Act, Social Security Act, United States Housing Act and Norris-LaGuardia Act. Our Brotherhood played a prominent role in these legislative triumphs. President Tracy, in his report to the 1941 Convention, stated:
"The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers overlooked no opportunity to present its case to the various boards established by the government for the purpose of formulating regulations and schedules under this program of new legislation, and our Brotherhood enjoys the distinction of having made available to these government boards more accurate, more detailed and more helpful data than any other labor organization."
In 1939 the IBEW became bargaining agent for technical employees of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
In July 1940 Brother Tracy resigned as President to accept an appointment as an assistant secretary of labor. The IEC appointed Ed J. Brown, a member of the IEC, to fill the post.