{"id":1987,"date":"2020-07-07T06:00:56","date_gmt":"2020-07-07T06:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uniontrack.com\/blog\/?p=1987"},"modified":"2020-07-06T13:12:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T13:12:23","slug":"union-profile-iuoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniontrack.com\/blog\/union-profile-iuoe","title":{"rendered":"Union Profile: The IUOE\u2014Still Strong After 123 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Green
\nCEO\/Founder
\nUnionTrack<\/a><\/p>\n

The International Union of Operating Engineers\u2019<\/a> (IUOE) long history began on December 7, 1896, when 11 steam boiler operators from smaller, local unions met in Chicago to form the National Union of Steam Engineers of America, the predecessor of today\u2019s IUOE.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The goal of that first meeting was to improve working conditions for construction and stationary workers, many of whom were working 60 to 90 hours a week with no benefits.<\/p>\n

When Canadian workers joined the union a year later, it was renamed the International Union of Steam Engineers. The union would see another name change in 1912 to the International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers as more operating engineers and construction workers joined its ranks. Then, in 1928, \u201cSteam\u201d was dropped from the name to more accurately reflect the diversification of technology.<\/p>\n

Today, the IUOE represents more than 400,000 members in 123 locals in the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a Canadian regional office in Ottawa. The union is the 10th largest union in the AFL-CIO<\/a>, and is a member of the Canadian Labour Congress<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The IUOE is governed by a general president, general secretary-treasurer and 14 vice presidents who are elected by the general membership. James Callahan<\/a> has been leading the IUOE since 2011.<\/p>\n

IUOE Lobbies to Improve America\u2019s Infrastructure<\/h2>\n

\u201cInfrastructure Matters<\/a>.\u201d That\u2019s the rallying cry behind the IUOE\u2019s efforts to improve America\u2019s deteriorating infrastructure. The union invests time, energy and finances into initiatives that prioritize rebuilding and improving different aspects of the country\u2019s infrastructure. These efforts help to provide and protect jobs for its members.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of those initiatives is Infrastructure Week<\/a>. During that week, the IUOE joins around 500 affiliate organizations that are dedicated to rebuilding the country\u2019s infrastructure. The stakeholders come together to discuss the role of infrastructure in the daily lives of Americans. The goal of the conference is to position infrastructure as a critical issue and make it a nationwide conversation point.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the legislative side, the IUOE lobbies for more investments in infrastructure improvements. Recently, the union joined more than 30 other agencies and advocacy groups in sending a letter<\/a> to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to approve the America\u2019s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA). The bill would provide almost $38 million more than is currently being invested in the country\u2019s highways.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ATIA is an important foundation to begin addressing the critical need to modernize America\u2019s infrastructure,\u201d the advocates wrote in their letter.<\/p>\n

Beyond the national level, IUOE members support infrastructure initiatives at local levels. For example:\u00a0<\/p>\n