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Our History
A Union is Born
The Turbulent Years
The Conspiracy Trials
The Beginning of the
Morrin Era
The Depression and a New
Deal For Labor
World War II
Ironworkers Grow in the
1950's Part Two Part Three
John H. Lyons Jr.
Elected President
The Tradition Continues
Pathways to the 21st
Century Under The Leadership of General President Jake West
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Part Three
The four years following the 1902 Convention were very eventful and had great effect on the future of the International Association and its members. The progress made in organizing and obtaining increases in wages and, in some cases, signed agreements, was outstanding. Most Local understandings and agreements were reached without strikes, or, if there was a strike, it usually was short. The first General Presidents, Edward Ryan, john Butler and Frank Buchanan, grappled with basic issues, growing pains of the fledgling union, organizing, trying to get enough money for paid officers, and locating a headquarters somewhere other than the Secretary/Treasurer's basement or attic. As early officers of the Iron Workers wrestled with these problems, the overriding problem only slowly realized - and first by Frank Buchanan, was whether the International Association was to be a confederation of autonomous locals or a strong indivisible union. On this score Buchanan would have to do battle with New York's Sam Parks and other stubborn, like-minded powerful local union leaders. Buchanan knew that a strong International Association was the only means to give Ironworkers a fighting chance against employers who were forming their own organization. He was aware that steel companies led by U. S. Steel, were pushing the open shop policy in the mills and realized that fabrication and steel construction companies would follow along the same path, especially those which were subsidiaries of U. S. Steel like American Bridge.
The beginning of the Shop Division and Shopmen Local Unions had its birth in the summer and fall of 1902, just six years after the International was formed. The first local was Local No. 40 in Newark, N.J. which was designated as "Inside Architectural Bridge and Structural Iron Workers." From time to time in this history the reader will note that the number of certain local unions changed. The reason is due to the Local Union losing its charter for a period of time. In some cases numbers for some locals were recycled during the early years, so that a number for a particular local might again appear in another city at a later date. That is what occurred with Local 40. After the charter of the Newark Shopmen's Local was revoked sometime in 1904 and Local No. 2's charter was revoked about the same time, the International issued the number again to charter a new outside local in New York City.
After the general strike had been in effect for about three weeks, President Buchanan secured an audience with Financier J. P. Morgan, at his residence in New York. The meeting was arranged through the influence of the officials of the National Civic Federation. After President Buchanan had outlined the Union's position, Mr. Morgan is reported to have said that while he did not approve of closed shop and certain other features of unionism, he was in sympathy generally with labor organizations and would see what he could do in the matter. After a three day meeting with representatives from the American Bridge Company, the National Association of Manufacturers and erectors of Structural Steel and Iron Work and the International, an agreement was reached which became effective May 1, 1903 and was to continue in force until January 1905. The Agreement did not include a solution to the problem with Local #2 in New York. In 1904 the contractors agreed to terminate the dual (competing union, which had received a state charter due to the political influence of contractors) they started in 1903. In turn, the International agreed to revoke the charter of one of the founding locals, Local No. 2, in February, 1904. Sam Parks had been convicted of extorting money from contractors just before the Seventh Convention and was free on appeal for a new trial. His appeal was denied and he was returned to prison where he died several months after the demise of his old local. Whatever might be said of Sam Parks, he was a man of his time, who was dedicated to the well-being of his fellow New York Ironworkers. He may have wanted a full wallet for himself, but he wanted his friends to earn sufficient wages to take care of their families adequately. Parks had many friends outside the trade as well. Newspaper accounts of the day report that more than 10,000 admirers lined the streets to view his funeral cortege as it wound its way to the cemetery. The International then established four new locals: Two in Manhattan (Locals 40 and 52), one in Brooklyn (Local 35) and one in Jersey City (Local 45). Local No. 2's members were transferred into the new locals. The contractors recognized the new locals and agreed to employ union Ironworkers exclusively.
This Convention, the first held outside the United States, clearly established the international aspect that the founders desired. The Toronto local had been chartered as Local No. 4, just two years earlier, on September 15, 1902. Canadians since have been staunch and loyal members of the International Association.
Frank M. Ryan of Local No. 1 in Chicago, Illinois was elected to replace Frank Buchanan as General President and John J. McNamara was reelected as Secretary/Treasurer. The Convention indeed became one of the most significant bodies in the short history of our organization. Shortly after accepting the decision of President Buchanan not to seek further office, the delegates proceeded to practically tie the new officers hands. In endorsing a national strike against the large steel companies the delegates also adopted a resolution which contained a clause that instructed the International Officers "not to call this strike off until every existing grievance is settled satisfactorily to our affiliated locals." This inflexible resolution made it virtually impossible for International Officers to negotiate for a fair settlement of the issues that brought about the strike. It was after this Convention that the International started issuing membership books made of a "cloth" fiber that was resistant to the deteriorating effects of heat and sweat. President Ryan and McNamara ran into difficulties immediately after assuming office in 1905. Ryan and American Bridge's S. P. Mitchell discussed the strike then in progress. Mitchell offered to employ only Union Ironworkers on American Bridge's own erection work, but would not give that guarantee for work sub-let by American Bridge. Ryan decided to strike all jobs considered to have been sub-let by American Bridge. In his hometown of Chicago, he wanted work stopped on two jobs and the majority of local No. 1 members agreed. Frank Buchanan was one of the dissenters. Cleveland Local No. 17 refused to call off its members from jobs sub-let by American Bridge and McNamara caused his own local to be temporarily suspended. Ryan also ran into trouble over the Tube Mill job being erected Non-union, by National Tube Company, at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, within the jurisdiction of Pittsburgh, local 3. National Tube and American Bridge were both subsidiaries of U. S. Steel Corporation; however, the Unions few friends at American Bridge couldn't order National Tube to use union Ironworkers. Such interference being contrary to the parent company's established policy. Local No. 3 officers were adamant in their demand for union Ironworkers on the Tube Mill job, however the work continued non-union. The American Bridge Company President, August Zeising, decided to make Ryan an offer he couldn't refuse. In the presence of U. S. Steel officials, Ziesing proposed to Ryan that his company would use union Ironworkers exclusively on direct contract work and work done under sub-contract. He did not offer a signed agreement, but would put his offer in writing to employ union men for the uniform number of hours for the recognized wages. The Union would have to waive its claim to the Tube Mill work at McKeesport. President Ryan tried to convince Local No. 3 to change its position on the Tube Mill job. The Local Officials wouldn't budge. Ryan decided he then had to turn down American Bridge's offer, since the Local wouldn't waive its claim. (In an interview in 1915 Sam Gompers said"....this mistake was one of the three most costly blunders made in recent years in the American Labor Movement.")
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In
his report to the delegates attending the Seventh International convention
held in Kansas City in September. 1903, President Buchanan who was
reelected, stated "he had found that the locals in Buffalo,
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Jersey City and Albany had suffered grievances
at the hands of the American Bridge Company and that this company had
refused to adjust them." The International Executive Board
called a general strike on all of the American Bridge Company's jobs,
effective March 12, 1903.
At
the Eight International Convention held in Toronto Canada in September,
1904, President Buchanan was reelected and John Joseph McNamara of Local
17 in Cleveland, Ohio was elected as our sixth Secretary/Treasurer.
At
the Ninth International Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
September 18 - 30 1905, President Buchanan, despite having the support of
his views by a large majority of the Local Unions, and having been elected
President of the Building Trades Alliance ( a forerunner of our present
day A. F. L. - C. I. O. Building & Construction Trades Department) and
by having been selected to deliver an address on Labor Relations to the
second session of the 57th Congress of the United States, surprised
everyone with his decision to retire from his office as President.
In 1906 Buchanan decided to run for Congress. He was defeated.
He ran again in 1908 and again was unsuccessful. The third time was
a charm however, and in 1910 he made it. He served three terms as
the Democratic Representative from the Seventh District of Illinois.