Founded around the turn of the 20th century in 1891 as a part of the AFL, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) emerged out of simply horrid working conditions for electrical workers.

At the time of their founding, being an electrical worker meant making about $10 a week, low even for the era and a death/injury rate that was double other industrial jobs. At one point a staggering 1 out of 2 linemen and wiremen died on the job in certain cities. Thus the IBEW was largely founded to give these workers the working conditions that all Americans today would consider a fundamental human right.

Quickly the IBEW made history when we admitted our first women members a year after our founding in 1892, and in the coming decades the IBEW largely focused on expansion of the union. The IBEW was also a trendsetter in improving employee-employer relationships. By establishing the Council on Industrial Relations (CIR) in 1919, which allows for a balanced discussion between labor and management the IBEW has been able to settle thousands of disputes without striking, earning them the title of being a “strikeless industry."

This is a model that many other unions are still trying to perfect today. Following WWI, membership struggled, but as Franklin D. Roosevelt assumed office, and pro-labor legislation was passed.

FDR's pro-labor legislation paid off when the IBEW had an action plan ready for WWII only 72 hours after a formal request had been made. IBEW members served honorably during WWII in a variety of roles both on the home-front and on the war-front.

As the modern era emerged, the IBEW's membership surged, and members are cared for with well-financed and fair pension plans. In fact by 1974, about 3,000 delegates represented over a million members at the IBEW Convention. Today the IBEW stands strong at about 873,000 active members and retirees, ready to serve as needed while protecting the rights and dignity of its members.

 

History of Local Union 488 - Bridgeport CT

There are two accounts of history written in 1963 and 1988.  Both can be read below.

 

The following was written in 1963.  Author Unknown:

It is only a few short years ago, as man measures time, since a young genius named Thomas Edison, sat anxiously watching through a long night, a "new­ fangled" creation of his brain, the incandescent lamp, wondering if it would burn till day-break. Not even a century has passed since the world's first electric generating station began operation in New York City, furnishing light to 59 customers. Now look where the industry stands today!

Only 18 years ago, on August 6, 1945 there occurred an event that will be recorded in the history books of all time. That is the day that saw "all Hell break loose on earth," in the dropping of the first atom bomb on Hiroshima.

And now-in but a brief decade and a half-the electrical industry has beaten that awful terrible sword of destruction into the shining plow-share of achievement-nuclear power for the peaceful purposes of the world-to light homes, run factories, heat schools and churches.

The electrical industry is moving forward in the "space" age of today. While it is mah1re in record of achievement, it is as new as tomorrow. It is just 50 years ago last April, that a small group of men working at the electrical trade in the Bridgeport area ventured to form a union. This was a pioneer effort, for no electrical. trade union had previously existed in the City of Bridge­ port. On April 1, 1913, nineteen charter members were recognized and accepted by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, by granting of a Charter on which their names are enrolled and which is with us tonight. A charter like a property deed, is the main authoritative document proving possession. Without our charter a union would have no official status with the I.B.E.W. or any other members of the American Federation of Labor. Indeed, no union meeting is official unless the charter is present at the meeting. Such a charter is not presented to any group until they have proved themselves in all ways qualified to receive it and perpetuate the organization it represents. Our presence here tonight and the hosts of friends attending, our history of construction, our secure place in the community and our forward-looking program for the future, bears testimony that these men were in the highest sense qualified.

Let us analyze the qualifications these honored charter members had to have. First, they had to be masters of the craft of electrical construction and prove they were so regarded by construction companies. They had to have the ability to organize and take care of the administration of a local union. They had no "Old Timers" or past officers to consult with, no past experience to guide by, no previous rules, by-laws, or contractor agreements as examples. They had only intelligence, common sense and courage enriched by unity with which to face this new experience and make themselves recognized by employers and the public as the agents of the newly born Electrical Construction Craft. No one had led them by the hand to an established union hall, like any pioneers they had to find their own place of meeting.

By trial and error, and correction they built their rules and agreements and by hard work, hardship, courage and determination did they enforce them. "They were giants in the earth in those days" and they were young and vigorous and belligerent giants. They were the giants of industry and capital and the giants of science advancing civilization so rapidly that people of that generation saw more new wonders unfold than had any ten previous generations.

Into this crowded arena of contesting power our charter members took their first firm steps. They planted their banner among the many there and added one more to the glorious display which represented the American people.

The banner of honest leadership originating in these charter members was officially held by the chairman and the business agent as administrative head of the local, Walter B. Clark and Maurice Botsford were first in these offices. In yearly elections succeeding officers of the local carried the standard of 488 unionism.

In 1914 Maurice Botsford and J. E. Sullivan. In 1915-16-17 Harry Abercrombie and J. E. Sullivan. In 1918 Gilpatrick and A. Walkley. They held office for the next three years. Wm. Schoonmaker and A. Walkley in 1922 and 1923. In 1924 A. Walkley and Wm. Schoonmaker. E. Boyle and J. Gallagher split the year as president and O. Kubasco was business agent in 1925. Both Brother Gallagher and Brother Kubasco held their respective positions until 1927. Wm. Hinkley and O. Kubasco in 1928. From 1929 to 1930 S. Whiting and A. Walkley. Another split year for president was 1931 with S. Whiting and Wm. Schoonmaker and G. Mylen business agent. From 1932 to 35, Brother Schoon­ maker and Brother Mylen. H. Boyle and G. Mylen from 1935 to 1941. From 1941 to 43 A. Schlosser and G. Mylen. Due to injury, H. Boyle was succeeded by Brother Kelly, in the years of 1943 to 45. In 1945 to 49 N. Giampaolo and J. Creevy. Upon the death of "Nick", C. Daly was president and J. Creevy business agent in 1949 to 51. Frank J. Mylen 1951-1955, William Oldham 1955-1961.

Up to our present representatives, David A. Nettleton, president, and John Creevy, business agent, our banner did not always fly in a light breeze and joyous sunshine, but was often whipped by the storms of depression and unemployment, wet by the rains of industrial unrest, carried in the mist of uncertain working agreements, but held firm and high to pass undefiled to those who will follow.

The history of any society, club or union whose purpose is based on problems related to the construction of buildings or other facilities that civilization requires, is largely the reflection of the history of the human race. The building trades alone, have tremendously interesting history, that parallels the advancement of man from the cave to the atomic age.

The trade origins of the carpenter, mason, and painter are older than the written word, but massive structures still stand as mute testimony of ancient of water facilities, and from the Latin word plumbus (meaning lead) the plumber of today derives his title. Metal workers can trace the origin of their craft to the end of the stone age, when men first fashioned utensils and implements of war from the softer metals.     

Later came the glazer's and plasterer's art born out of the timeless use of clay, and the use of translucent skins of animals where we use glass today. With the birth of American industry came steel in large quantities and structural steel workers formed a new trade, erecting a type of building the world had never before seen.

On this 50th Anniversary Local Union 488, I.B.E.W. seems to represent a trade in its infancy, for such a trade as electrical construction had no purpose before the invention of the electric motor and the electric light. Since the start of the home and industrial use of electricity, this new element and its associated trade have blazed a trail tremendous in its scope, amazing in its advances, bewildering in its scientific revelations, awesome in its hidden and terrifying power, and wondrous in its unfolding future.

Just as the early cave man, before the advent of any trade, saw with wonder the frightening power of lightning, nature's first revelation to man of this mysterious force, so we today view the same force in nature. We also view the wonders of electricity harnessed by men and try to imagine the near future so dependent on the properties of electricity and the skill of men controlling it for light, heat, power, sound systems, chemical production, medical treatment, and atomic energy.

In Bridgeport, the members of Local Union, 488 I.B.E.W. have since 1914, installed, tested and maintained electric lights, motors and devices in homes, offices and industrial buildings. Without the power of electricity, ours would be a city of darkness with ghost like factories hovering over motionless machinery, more than one hundred thousand clocks would cease to give their faithful record of the flight of time, radio would be mute, television faceless and every householder would need have to revert to wood fires, hand laundry, and the other hardships of our grandparent’s day. In time of hurricane or flood many of us experience the difficulties attending the failure of power for short periods.

The members of 488 many times helped restore power in these emergencies here and in the Hartford area.

In 1914, Local Union 488 started its first major electrical construction at what is now the General Electric Co. plant. It was then being constructed for the Remington Arms Co. and comprised the largest single manufacturing plant in the city. Since then, our members have done construction work in every major factory in Bridgeport. Also, in 1914 our members installed electrical work in Bridgeport Central High School, and have since done electrical work in every school and every public building in the city.

In the early days all lighting was of incandescent or of the carbon arc types electrically, and gas mantles were still in considerable use. The arc light was not used in homes but was used for street and factory yard illumination. Residence wiring usually consisted of one ceiling outlet per room often with no wall switch and using a pull chain lamp holder. Wall plug-in outlets were few and often poorly located. Ceiling outlets were often a combination incandescent electric lamp holder and gas mantle lamp and the electrician of that day had to be something of a Jack-of-all-trades in making his job gas tight and electrically safe. Many of these old installations are still in use in homes and in light industry in this area.

Electric service entrance wiring in homes consisted of two small 110-volt wires in a ¾ inch pipe on the exterior wall and open switch and fuse block in the cellar.

 

This scanty picture is not a result of poor craftsmanship or architectural design, for this you must remember was only the dim dawn of the use of electricity in the home.

In the good old days, we did not have a profusion of table and floor lamps, fluorescent and modern incandescent fixtures, electric motor driven home appliances too numerous to mention, electrically operated and controlled heating systems and electro-welding, electric door bells and signaling and sound systems independent of batteries, radio and television receivers, electric clocks, timing devices.

A tremendous advance has been made in making homes more comfortable through the extensive use of electrical devices. The craftsmen of Local Union 488 have continually educated themselves and met each new improvement with the skilled workmanship and knowledge for its proper and safe installation. All members adhere to the conditions of the National Electric Code of the Board of Fire Underwriters and to the code of the City of Bridgeport in this city and to approved city codes elsewhere. Bridgeport appointed as its first official electrical inspector, Harry Abercrombie, a charter member of Local Union 488 and upon his death in 1948 appointed Charles Kelly, Sr., a present member of 47 years standing, in which position Mr. Kelly now serves.

The importance of electricity in the home is dwarfed only by its massive use in modern industry. Local Union 488 members have worked on every phase of industrial power from the United Illuminating and Connecticut Light a11d Power generating plants to the smallest electronic devices controlling the heaviest industrial machines. In 1937 as the depression was receding, we installed all the electrical work in the Housatonic Plant of the Bridgeport Brass Co. This was then the most modern brass rolling mill in the world and new type relay controls were used extensively. Electronic controls now in use are a further step toward automatic machinery and as machines become more automatic and complex the electrical features and controls become more extensive and complicated. Our craftsmen continue to meet the challenge. In 1937 our members also performed the electrical construction work on the G. E. power plant and have since installed new generating units in the U. I. and C. L. & P. power house.

Our latest job in electronics was the new WICC television station and tower at the Shelton-Trumbull line and it is not only high in the science of electronics and ultra-high frequency, but its physical structure rises 435 feet. Our men literally rose to the occasion if you call climbing up to airplane travel altitudes rising.

Thus, we can trace the history of our work from the invention of the Edison lamp through exposed insulated wires, knobs and cleats, B.X. armored cable, rigid conduit, thin wall tubing, copper bus bars and enclosed bus duct to where it soars into space through the very air we breathe. All of our history is well within the memory of many here, but the future of electricity lies beyond horizons we dream not of.

 

The following was written in 1988.  Author Brother Stephen J. Hunyadi:

The following are my recollections of events through personal experience, and long years of association, with many members of the Union Labor Community. I came to Bridgeport, in 1925 and was hired through Local Union 488 as a probationary apprentice. Any events which occurred prior to 1925, have all been stated and re-stated on numerous occasions by many of the older Journeymen. Some of them were charter members with whom I worked. Harry Abercrombie was a contractor in 1925, and when I became a Journeyman in 1928, I worked for him on several jobs, and was friendly with him for many years until he died. Thomas Nolan, Fred Haug and George Kinney, were all journeymen employed by the Flynn & Powers Company, for whom I also worked, helping these men on the different jobs. Fred Haug and Thomas Nolan were both my mentors and it was from them that I learned many intricate problems in our field. William T. Rock as also a contractor, for whom I worked. Sam A. Robinson was one of the key men at George J. Steinhardt shop. I used to have many pleasant conversations with him, as well as with many other old timers, such as Morris Botsford, W. G. E. Clark, William Fisher, Orville Coles and G. Throp. At each encounter there was always a phrase or two, an incident or observation mentioned, which always added to the total knowledge of the events as they used to be.

At every meeting or any gathering, the old timers always habitually and faithfully related, how it was then. And how much they had to struggle to get along. How this employer acted, and how tough the other employer was. They used to tell of one employer who always demanded of his journeymen to take his overalls off, let the bird dog carry them, and "You walk several feet behind me", (the bird dog was an insulting name for the apprentice) "because I want the people to know who is boss."

Since I came to Bridgeport, I have always taken an interest in the doings of our Local Union. After my initiation in 1927, a few years later I was appointed Press Secretary for the Union. Publicizing the achievements of the organization, their social functions, sporting events and all around functions of our members on the different large jobs they manned during the course of construction. Being close to the scenes of activity, one learns much about how the organization functions. I was also a delegate to the Central Labor Union, representing the interests of Electrical workers for many years. In 1942, I was elected Financial Secretary which office I held for 30 years; this is a record which no. one has equaled.

With the help of Joseph Zahornacky, Charles Atherton, Stephen Pall, Nicholas Giampaolo, John Creevy and George Mylen, we established the Local 488 Sick Benefit. Since I chaired this committee, I was appointed and re-appointed to be t e Secretary Treasurer and the Administrator of this fund for 28 years. This office took me into many member's homes during their illness. So, between the both offices, I learned many problems the members have. I was also a member of the Executive Board for 25 years. This is the ruling body of the Union, it also has the power to render quick decisions between meetings of the Union. All these facts which I have and will state are truthful and factual events occurring constantly in the life of a Union.

After the turn of the century up to around 1913, working conditions for the workers were barely above a serf. Hours were long, wages were low and working conditions rotten. The only comforts an average working man had was a few hours rest between job terminations and the job beginning the next morning. One started his work early in the morning. Apprentices always had to come in early to start the stove fire, sweep the shop out, and get the material ready for the day's work. As I said before, they were called bird dogs. "Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut," they were told. "Be careful, if you get hurt it'll be your fault." "I can't afford a Doctor." And "a crippled apprentice is no good to me". Most of the apprentices always did menial jobs, chiseling holes through walls, drilling beams, carrying heavy tool boxes belonging to journeymen, and bringing materials either from the supply house or from the shops. Many times, they carried so much stuff that they would not be allowed to enter a trolley car. So rather than lose their job they walked great distances to deliver what they were told to get. If a person dared to complain he was immediately chastised. He was considered a trouble maker, some kind of a foreigner, a Bolshevik. He was ridiculed at every opportunity. And in cases of mechanics, even though he may have been a best craftsman, his work was belittled, and he was constantly criticized as an incompetent, until he either quit, or got into an argument with his employer and was fired. They simply could not tolerate anyone who was able to think. To the employers, such a man was dangerous and a menace to their way of life.

If a person dared to speak of a Union or of better wages and working conditions, such a person was immediately ostracized and black balled in the community. Most of the time, he had to leave the city, change his name and start all over again in some other place. The employers everywhere had absolute automatic power over their employees. They decided the hours of labor, the rate of pay, and the amount of work had to be done during the day. They decided the employee’s nationality, his color, his religion and his political beliefs. His entire life had to coincide with the wishes and the whims of the boss.

The 19 Charter members lived under that austere environment for many years, but they did not like it one bit. Not only was every phase of their life ruled by the dictates of the employers, but they were constantly being short changed in their income. Their rewards in the economic harvest of the day, were always only a few scattered seeds, thrown to them by their employers. So after a while they began to rebel; at first silently seething in anger one by one; and then gradually and unanimously suddenly they all decided to alter these inequity that were constantly thrown into their paths. They did this in an intelligent manner. They secretly applied to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Washington, D.C., for a charter, which would enable them to organize a Union. And once that they are in possession of this worker's Magna Carta, they will declare their intentions to the employers. Well, you could just imagine the uproar this caused, when the news hit the scene. "The ingrates!" "The nerve of them!" "Let's fire them all!" "Are they going to tell us our business?" But in spite of the uproar, the 19 brave souls stuck together as one, accompanied by an equal number of other craftsmen who still did not want to commit themselves in writing. Their decision to have a Union was irrevocable, and the gamble paid off. This was a period just prior to World War I, and work was plentiful everywhere. The employers needed every available man to do the work, thus they were compelled to recognize the inevitable change. On April 1, 1913 local Union 488 became a reality.

With a charter in their possession, the members immediately became braver and their entire outlook on life took a rosier turn. Their status became greatly re-enforced because now they had the International Union in Washington behind them. The I.O. representative immediately called for a conference, which according to Freddy Haug, was held at the Atlantic Hotel on Water Street. This was really the first of its kind for the Bridgeport Electrical Community. The I.O. man was an experienced legal advisor and well versed in the proper procedures of organizing a Local on a sound footing. This was also the first time that the employees were not shouted down by the employers. They were not being threatened, bulldozed, nor ridiculed. After a great deal of harangue and blustering the Union obtained its first legally constructed agreement, and the recognition of the Union was established firmly in writing. In addition, all the methods of future procedure was also established, and notice of future I.O. participation in any difficulty was also accepted. This of course, was a bitter pill for all rugged individual employers. Many of them held a grudge for years afterwards. Many of them went to their graves lamenting the ingratitude of their employees. But the officers of the Union, never allowed grudges to be on the agenda. They followed the procedural orders and always held strictly to the questions at hand. There were some tough old birds on both sides, and many times the fur would fly. But always there were level headed people on both sides and calmed the tempest.

One of the age-old tactics usually employed by the employers was to start a rumor about something or someone, and thus discredit him or demean him. But if there were such rumors, or innuendos in the air, about any member, the Union immediately called a meeting to investigate it facts or fiction, settle the matter there and then, before things got out of hand, to anybody's detriment.

The History of this Local wasn't always honey and roses. From the very beginning it was a constant struggle to keep that charter on the wall. The employers did everything within their power to minimize its importance. And the workers did just the opposite. To them it was a psychological shield and armor. So for the moment, at least for the duration of the war, there was a sort of an uneasy truce, between the two sides. Moreover the first 25 years neither the economic conditions nor the mood of the country were very conducive to any great progress. After the war, the economy tapered off and in 1920 and 1921, the Union began to feel the pinch of unemployment. So it requested the employers to reduce the working hours of the, day from 9 hours to 8 hours, and reduce the work days from six days to five days. But they would not hear of this. Even though there wasn't enough work around to keep everyone busy for 40 hours a week. They weren't going to be dictated to by any Union. So the Union had no other course but to go on strike. The strike lasted 9 months, and it almost broke the fragile young institution. But most of our members went to far off places to seek work and thus were able to survive. Many took pick and shovel jobs, delivery men, janitors and farm hands. Anything that came along to make a dollar and keep going. By the middle of 1921 work began to improve a bit. There were many large building projects in the works, such as the Poli's Palace and Majestic Theatres on Main Street; the Dawe's Theatre on State Street; Housing and Factory additions, church and school construction. So the strike was settled, and the Union obtained 51/2 days a week at 44 hours, and $1.00 an hour. Work from then on improved constantly, until in 1929 the journeyman's pay was $1.375 an hour, or $60.50 for a 44 hour week.

When we speak of the charter, in the Union, we speak of something like a deed to our home. The deed declares us to be the legal owner of it. The Union charter gives the organization the authority to function as a legally constituted instrument, according to the rules and regulations of the International Office. Without the charter, no Union would have any legal standing nor any official recognition anywhere. And such a document is not presented to just anybody. Any group getting it must prove themselves qualified to receive it, to safeguard it, and to perpetuate its existence. The proof, that the 19 charter members and their subsequent successors were qualified to receive it, is a self evident fact. Because today, 75 years later that same charter still hangs in our office, proclaiming to everyone that these men, and all those who joined them down through the years, were all endowed with a fierce determination and a burning desire, to have and to hold together a strong organization. Always knowing that it was only through such an instrument of affiliation that their conditions of life became better.

But as it often happens, the dreams of a better life suddenly shatter, and we awaken in a stupor, trying to find our way. This happened suddenly in October, 1929, when the great stock market crash occurred. The economic machinery suddenly came to a halt. Panic spread everywhere, the great depression loomed ahead such as w s never experienced before by anyone alive. Millions were being laid off, factories closed up, no help signs went up, farms were being foreclosed, mortgages were being called in by the banks. Everyone tried to salvage their investments, but prices went down to nothing. Money was scarce and jobs were even scarcer. The Union had 75 members, 50 of them were out of work completely, and the other 20 worked part time 2 or 3 days a week. The months dragged into years and the years multiplied the miseries of the people. At that time there was no unemployment benefits, no welfare plans, no vacation funds, no sick benefits, no brotherhood funds, no credit unions. Members had nothing but their own meager resources to fall back on. There was no Union treasury; in fact we owed the Business Manager $3,500.00 in back salary. Many members were on the verge of losing their membership standing. The 1.0. has a standing and a relentless rule that if you fall behind in your dues for a period of 3 months, you are suspended. And if you fall behind 6 months, you are automatically dropped, losing all accumulated standings.

Realizing that something must be done to stave off the wholesale dropping of the members, some of them already had more than 10 years of standing or better, the Executive Board decided that those who work any time at all must pay full dues of $7.00 per month. But those who were unemployed, in order to save their standing, must pay the I.O. Per capita of $2.00 per month and sign an I.O.U. to the Local for $5.00 to be paid back when the member returns to work, at the rate of one day’s pay a week. In this way many of us saved our standing. Most of us, like our predecessors who were on strike in 1921, also worked at pick and shovel jobs for the City of Bridgeport. We were getting $2.50 a day for 8 hours’ work, payable in script. We worked 3 days a week getting $7.50 in script, which were redeemable in certain grocery stores for food. In addition, members worked at anything and everything if a few dollars could be earned.

Then after a long siege of 4 years and six months, in 1933 came the inauguration of Franklyn Delano Roosevelt. Those who remember this period will always proclaim, that he was not only the savior of our country, but of our Union as well. Because he immediately recognized the most important problem facing this nation. The unemployment of millions of people. Immediately, minutes after his inauguration speech he called Congress into an emergency session to enact emergency legislation to put people to work. Almost overnight, every Union office, became a Federal hiring hall, and every Union Business Agent a federal government supervisor. In Bridgeport every able bodied man was examined at one of the designated schools for each area, and was put to work, on public buildings, repairing and refurbishing them, and salvaging that which could be salvaged and correcting other perils to make them safe. Every able bodied man was paid his Union scale of wages and was given 3 days work a week. Electricians' scale at the time was $9.00 a day. During the depression we reduced our scale from the previous $11.00 a day to $9.00 a day trying to help our employers to get some work. So now working for the government we received $27.00 a week, which was God sent. A far cry from $7.50 a week in script, to $27.00 a week in real warm cash. And it was real, because one could go to the store and purchase enough food for $7.00 for two people to live comfortably. Rent for a 4 room apartment was $18.00 a month. New cars were selling for under $500.00. And as they used to sing, "Happy Days Are Here Again". It was truly so, after the terrible uncertainty and anxiety of the past 4½ years, of Hoover's administration.

From 1933 on, conditions steadily improved, both economically and socially. Public clamor demanded liberal legislation. The era of laissez faire rugged individualism was coming to an end. But it took an enormous toll in human suffering, before it gasped its last breath. People everywhere were demanding legislation to put the country back on its feet. Wagner Labor Relation's Act, created many opportunities for organized labor. Organized Labor began demanding legislation in both the State and the Federal Houses of Legislature. Demands for compensation in case of accident on the job, unemployment benefits, social security, banking controls, and stock market restraints and hundreds of other corrections of inequities which were plaguing the citizens of our land. Organized Labor was right at the front in these battle lines. In every instance that Labor triumphed, it automatically helped everyone on the lower rungs of the economic ladder, whether they were unionized or not.

As I look back, I can still see the faces and hear the voices of men, who spent many hours by day and by night, meeting with employers and politicians. Always trying to learn from them the newly instituted and available benefits, for the members of our Union. Those are the men upon our Honor Roll, who have a star after their name. They have served us in many official capacities, behind the scenes. Always trying to get for us all a better way of life. They were the elected officers, who guided this Union's destiny, through the years. They were the leaders, the planners, the guardians of the charter, the front line troops in every battle. They went out fearlessly, to gather the elements which fueled the system and make it work.

But let us not forget those, who do not have a star after their name. For they were equally as important in the scheme of things. If they did nothing more than attended the meetings, paid their dues, and backed up the officers when it was necessary to be counted, they have also done their share. By swelling the ranks numerically they have added to the strength, to the stability, and to the preservation of the Union.

Since 1933 the Union began to recover, because of huge projects that were gradually taking shape all over our area. The members slowly got out of their debts and they also began to prosper. During the war, many of the members went into the service. Those staying behind helped in the war effort by building factories housings where war materials were made, and where war workers lived. We gave up premium pay for the duration, and bought bonds in order to help our government.

In 1947 our Union was one of the first in New England, to pioneer a real Apprenticeship program to train new members to become better journeymen. This program was in cooperation with N.E.C.A. and the I.B.E.W. Of course we in Local Union 488 already had a program of our own brand, which was devised by our Fred Daly, the father of the Apprenticeship Program of L.U. 488. Assisted by Charles Atherton, John Creevy, Nicholas Giampaolo, Frank Mylen, Stephen Pall, William Schoonmaker, Sr., William Zumstag and William Oldham. This program was at least 15 years old, when the I.B.E.W. and N.E.C.A. became mandatory. Because of the aforementioned Fred Daly, who was the spark plug in the cause of electrical apprenticeship training. He was an instructor at Bullard Havens Technical School, and an avid proponent of a better education for all our members, in the electrical technology. Fred Daly also became the secretary and an administrator of the new program under the joint venture. Today more than 85% of our members are certified graduates of that program, and are thus qualified to assumer any responsibility in the construction electrical field.

In 1969 we merged with a local in Danbury, thereby tripling our territory, and increasing our economic opportunity tremendously. Today we have excellent relations with our employers. The years have brought about a more humane type of an employer, who recognized the fact that we are all interdependent upon one another. And that working together we all profit and share in richer rewards. We both recognize that working for a living is a two way street, and that neither can get along without the other. Today our journeyman earn as much in one hour, as they did all day in 1933. Our productivity has also increased with the introduction of all kinds of new equipment. As the result our industry is capable of doing far bigger jobs than in 1933, in less time. Our members today must be better trained, better educated and more qualified, in order to operate all this new equipment safely and efficiently.

The contributions to the community by our Union are many. Our men have helped to erect 95% of the massive commercial and industrial complexes. Thousands of private dwellings, housings, schools, hospitals, powerhouses, federal and state buildings, churches, universities, condominiums, supermarkets, super highways, libraries and in fact anything which requires electricity for its operation. We do it, no matter how large or how small, how intricate or how simple.

Today we now have purchased our own building that houses the office and the apprenticeship program of Local Union 488. The building is air conditioned throughout. There is a reception area, a conference room and four offices and completely burglar alarmed.

Our members today are entitled to substantial pensions, annuities, death benefits, welfare plans, vacation plans. And those out of work today get unemployment benefits, and help from our brotherhood fund. We donate to all the community projects, either from the Union directly or from the individual members. We try to keep our members off public welfare. We have an active Retired Member's Club, which constantly publicize our Union in a good light. We are of many ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths, and political schools of thought but we always encourage the principles which teaches us to believe in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man. We believe every man is equal, in our organization. He has equal rights, equal privileges and equal opportunities. If he is ambitious and improves his talent by educational means, his horizons in the I.B.E.W. Union are limitless.