[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOCAL 318 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF 
                          OPERATING ENGINEERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2002

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the 70th Anniversary of Local 318, International 
Union of Operating Engineers in Marion, Illinois.
  Local 318 has 1125 members, which represents most of southernmost 
Illinois. Ron Herring, who is currently the Business Manager for 318, 
oversees the operations of the union. For Ron, being an operating 
engineer is more than just a job; it is a way of life. Ron's father, 
who is now retired, has been a member of the union for 53 years.
  Back in 1932, during the Great Depression, a construction company 
came to Saline County, Illinois to do drainage work on the Saline 
River. They hired local people, some of them out of work coal miners. 
Working conditions were bad. Two workers on the job, brothers Ted and 
Prentiss Carathurs of Indiana, encouraged local men hired for the job 
to apply for an Operating Engineers Charter. It took seven names to 
apply, and since there were only 5 local men, the five split the fee in 
order to include the Carathurs brothers name to make the seven names 
needed for the application.
  Soon, others joined in and on June 1, 1932, Laborer's International 
Representative William ``Whitey'' Stuhr came to Harrisburg, Illinois 
and presented the Union's charter. Local 318 was born.
  Local 318's first Business Manager was Arley Sheldon, the founder. He 
was the Local's Business Manager from June 1, 1932 to October 12, 1948. 
After Arley's term, 318 has had six Business Managers; Stanley Medley 
1948-1965; Wardell Riggs 1965-1980; L. Dale Choate 1980-1987; Lester D. 
Allen 1987-1989; Bradley 0. Williams 1990-1993; Anthony Ron Herring 
1993-present.
  Over the years, 318 has seen plenty of changes especially in 
equipment. From the days of mules pulling scrapers to the use of modern 
computerized systems in dozers, cranes and trucks. They have come from 
the days of Bloody Williamson County when the UMWA was battling for 
workers' rights from 1949 through 1959 when this country was almost 85% 
union. 318 met in local kitchens, halls and rooms throughout southern 
Illinois. They participate in hundreds of projects across the southern 
portion of the state. Local 318's service area has been 100% union and 
continues to be under 318's leadership.
  From the first project in the 30's on the Saline River, flood aid 
assistance in Harrisburg in 1937, construction of the Illinois Ordnance 
plant, the ``Big Inch'' pipeline project, the Joppa Power Plant, 
construction of Interstates 57, 24, and 64, the Dog Island Dam project 
and cleanup work at Crab Orchard, Local 318 has continued to provide 
quality work.
  Founded in 1896, the International Union of Operating Engineers today 
has 400,000 members nationwide in some 170 local unions. It is the 12th 
largest union in the AFL-CIO. Further, nearly 100 apprenticeships and 
training programs ensure that union members are highly trained and 
highly skilled. The union offers employment and training opportunities 
to all.
  Local 318, like other Building Trades, are involved in many community 
activities and educational programs for children. 318 has a program 
that begins introducing students, even at the grade school level, to 
the trade in hopes that they develop another dedicated operator 
prepared to assist southern Illinois. It was the first labor union in 
Illinois to take this step.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 70th 
Anniversary of Local 318 of the International Union of Operating 
Engineers and wish their members and their families the very best for 
the future.

                          ____________________