[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2072-E2073]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF STEAMFITTERS LOCAL 439

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2011

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the 100th anniversary of Steamfitters Local 439 of 
Caseyville, Illinois, affiliated with the United Association of 
Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of 
the United States and Canada.
  The history of the pipe trades goes back before the Civil War. During 
the mid-nineteenth century, plumbers, steamfitters and gas fitters 
would have been represented by individual trade locals. In 1889, a 
plumber from Boston sent a letter to a plumber in Washington, DC, 
expressing an interest in forming a ``United Brotherhood'' and soon 
thereafter, the new union was formed. The union name would later be 
adopted as the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the 
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada and 
be known as UA.
  On August 12, 1911, UA General President Martin P. Durkin chartered 
Local 439 in East St. Louis, Illinois. The local hall would remain in 
East St. Louis for 76 years. In 1987, the current hall was erected in 
Caseyville, Illinois, and named the Donald J. Bailey Building in honor 
of Local 439's retired business manager. In further recognition of the 
contributions of Donald Bailey and the Steamfitters to the community, 
St. Clair County named the street where the union hall is located, 
Donald Bailey Drive.
  The current business manager is Charles ``Totsie'' Bailey, who first 
joined Local 439 in 1978. Throughout his tenure as Local 439 business 
manager, Totsie has worked tirelessly to provide his members with the 
best representation possible and also to improve their skills through 
continuing education and training. Through his leadership, additional 
training facilities have been opened and educational programs have been 
developed.
  Totsie is a fierce advocate for his members but he is also known for 
his generosity and his commitment to his community. Totsie leads by 
example and has personally donated his own resources to assist members, 
retirees and families of his local as well as many within his 
community.
  Local 439 has always been very involved in volunteer and fundraising 
efforts and the list of organizations they have helped includes; the

[[Page E2073]]

Multiple Sclerosis Society, the United Way, the St. Vincent De Paul 
Society and the Backstoppers, a local organization that provides 
assistance to the families of fallen police officers and firefighters. 
Local 439 holds an annual fundraiser to benefit the Illinois Fire 
Safety Alliance Burn Camp for Kids and has raised over $250,000 in 
eight years for this worthy cause.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
leadership and members of Steamfitters Local 439 as they celebrate 
their 100th Anniversary and to wish them continued success in the 
future.

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