[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 58 (Wednesday, April 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENNIAL OF LOCAL 58 OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
         BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2014

  Mr. PETERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, as the members and leadership of 
Local 58 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 
gather to celebrate the centennial of their organization, I 
congratulate them on their many achievements and accomplishments.
  As America approached the Twentieth Century, workers in an 
increasingly industrialized society saw the need to come together to 
promote safe working conditions, fair pay and strong professional 
operating standards--a labor movement that gave rise to the IBEW to 
protect electrical workers. From the beginning of the IBEW's existence, 
Detroit has had a strong membership, which resulted in the creation of 
Local 58 in 1914. Under its first President, Ed Ismond, the members of 
Local 58 worked diligently to realize increases in pay that better 
reflected the danger of their profession, increased flexibility in 
project design to ensure higher safety standards, and the creation of 
many workplace practices that continue to be the standard today. Among 
those practices are the eight hour workday, the forty hour work week, 
established rates of pay and established pay schedules.
  At the turn of the century in late 1800s, advancements in 
manufacturing made it possible to better harness the power of 
electricity--events which put the members of Local 58 at the center of 
major events in our nation's history. With the manufacturing boom in 
Detroit, members of Local 58 put their skills to work in the 
construction of structures that have become iconic of the economic 
might of our country: structures like the Ambassador Bridge, Masonic 
Temple, Penobscot Building and Michigan Central Station. And later, 
when America entered World War II, 200 members of Local 58 answered the 
call to serve our nation overseas and many more of its members served 
our nation in the Arsenal of Democracy, producing equipment that was 
vital to our success.
  In the later decades of the 1900s, Local 58 continued in its mission 
to push for more effective workplace protections, seeking higher 
standards for the conditions allowed by contractors. As part of this 
effort, Local 58, the IBEW and their brothers and sisters in the labor 
movement became more politically active--directly engaging their 
legislative officials to discuss the importance of workplace safety.
  Throughout its history, Local 58 and the IBEW, like many of their 
labor movement partners in other industries, have shown a dedication to 
training and continuing education for their members. Woven into the 
very fabric of Local 58, its apprenticeship training program can be 
traced back to 1923. Originally operated in partnership with Detroit 
Public Schools, the original trade school was located at Sixth and 
Abbott in Detroit. After moving to several locations over the next 
eighty years, Local 58 opened a 50,000 square foot training facility in 
Warren, with ten classrooms, three hands-on shop areas and many state-
of-the-art labs, which supports nearly 240 apprentices. In addition to 
the apprenticeship programs, the center also supports the ongoing 
education of Local 58's members--more than 4,700 strong.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor that I am able to rise to recognize the 
incredible accomplishments of the men and women of Local 58 of the 
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. As masters of 
electricity, from the iconic skyline of Detroit to the current 
standards enjoyed by the American workforce at-large, the members of 
Local 58 have been deeply involved in shaping the United States in the 
Twentieth Century. Their achievements over the last 100 years are truly 
remarkable and I am proud to continue standing in solidarity with them 
and their brothers and sisters in the labor movement to ensure that the 
future of our nation continues to be bright for all Americans.

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