[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOILERMAKERS LOCAL 363

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Boilermakers Local 363.
  The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, 
Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers was born on September 1, 1893. On that 
day, at a meeting in Chicago, representatives from the International 
Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders, which had been 
organized on October 1, 1880, and the National Brotherhood of Boiler 
Makers, which had been formed in Atlanta in May of 1888, resolved to 
consolidate their organizations. It was further agreed that the new 
organization, to be known as the Brotherhood of Boiler Makers and Iron 
Ship Builders of America, would make its Headquarters in Kansas City, 
Kansas. Two and a half years later, on June 9, 1896, the Brotherhood 
affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.
  In subsequent years, the Brotherhood continued to grow, and in 1902, 
the Helpers division was formed. Because helpers were barred from 
sitting in the lodge room with mechanics, this new division had its own 
local unions and was entirely separate from the Boiler Makers. This 
would change a decade later when the Helpers Division would be 
consolidated with the Mechanics Division.
  In March 1906, at a special Convention in Kansas City, the name of 
the Union was changed to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, 
Iron Ship Builders and Helpers of America in order to incorporate the 
newest division. Also at this time, the term ``Boiler Makers'' was 
condensed into one word, ``Boilermakers.''
  The Boilermakers affiliated with the National Building Trades 
Department of the American Federation of Labor in February 1931. At the 
turn of the century, total membership stood at about 8,500, but by 
1944, due in part to dramatic increases in the shipbuilding, railroad, 
and fabrication shop industries during World War II, the Boilermakers 
numbered over 350,000. In 1954, the Boilermakers merged their 
organization with the International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop 
Forgers and Helpers. The International Brotherhood of Blacksmiths had 
been organized in 1889 and added Helpers to both their membership and 
their name in 1901. A 1919 merger with the Brotherhood of Drop Forgers 
created the Union that, on June 29, 1953, merged with the Boilermakers 
to create the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship 
Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. A year later, a new 
International seal was adopted to include all crafts.

  On October 1, 1954, the Boilermaker National Health and Welfare Fund 
was established, on November 9, 1959, the Boilermakers National Joint 
Apprenticeship Fund began, and the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National 
Pension Trust became effective October 1, 1960. Delegates to the 1977 
Convention voted to establish a Construction Division at International 
Headquarters for the purpose of servicing those members with employment 
in, or related to, the construction industry.
  On March 15, 1984, the delegates to the Special Merger Convention of 
the United Cement, Lime, Gypsum and Allied Workers International Union 
voted to merge with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron 
Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. The merger of the 
CLGAW, formed in 1936, and its ten thousand members who dominate the 
building products and supplies industry, and the Boilermakers forged an 
organization with a greater ability to provide services to its members.
  On October 1, 1994, a merger was consummated with the Stove, Furnace 
and Allied Appliance Workers International Union--a skilled trade union 
that was organized in 1891. The Stove Workers, with 5,800 members, 
became a Division of the International Brotherhood known as the Stove, 
Furnace, Energy and Allied Appliance Workers Division. The word energy 
was inserted to give special recognition to the coal miners within that 
Division. The Division had its members employed primarily in the 
manufacturing of stoves and various types of appliances.
  During the same period, merger talks were also being carried out with 
an independent union known as the Western Energy Workers. This one-
local union, formed in 1978 with members employed in the coal strip 
pits, signed a merger agreement with the Boilermakers effective 
December 1, 1994.
  In October 1996, a merger agreement was made with the Metal 
Polishers, Buffers, Platers and Allied Workers International Union. 
This union was also an old line, skill trade union that was organized 
in 1892. This merger brought 4,000 new members to the Brotherhood. 
These members are employed primarily in plating and polishing shops 
within the United States and Canada.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the past, 
present and future members of the Boilermakers International Union, 
Local 363 on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary.

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