[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 75 (Friday, May 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF L CAL 50 OF THE UNITED ASSOCIATION OF 
        JOURNEYMEN PLUMBERS, STEAMFITTERS AND SERVICE MECHANICS

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 15, 2015

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the men and women of 
Local 50 of the United Association of Journeymen Plumbers, Steamfitters 
and Service Mechanics' 125th anniversary. I join in the union's 
celebration and add my congratulations to the chorus in recognizing 
this remarkable milestone event.
  The union's original 37 members were granted a charter on December 1, 
1890 after previous association with the International Association. 
Aggressive organizing efforts brought the city's pipe craftsmen 
together and the union grew to nearly 90 members by 1897. During this 
time the local worked not only to increase its membership, but also the 
wages of its members who had been earning on average 30 cents an hour 
in a sixty hour work week.
  The Local's history reports that one of its first major construction 
projects was the Nasby Building, Toledo's first skyscraper at six 
stories tall. By the end of its first decade, Local 50 craftsmen also 
helped to build Toledo landmarks the Gardner Building, the Spitzer 
Building and the Lucas County Courthouse. During this time of its 
initial establishment and growth, the Local's history explains that its 
leadership was able to work with are contractors and business owners 
while adhering to its primary objective: ``Solidarity among workers for 
the benefit of all.''
  As the new century dawned, there were rivalries between the UA and 
other unions which ultimately weakened the relationship between Local 
50 and contractors and resulted in wage and overtime differentials 
among the crafts. However, these early power struggles eventually 
served to strengthen Local 50, which emerged from the battles a strong 
and powerful leader in Toledo's labor movement.
  Through World War I, fears of Communist infiltration, tensions 
between management and labor, violent strikes, Prohibition and the 
Great Depression, Local 50 suffered, but survived. Then came the 1934 
Electric Auto-Lite Strike. The Local 50 history notes, `` `The outcome 
of the Auto-Lite Strike strengthened the Toledo Central Labor Union, 
its affiliate locals and the Lucas County Unemployed League, leading to 
further organizing activity in the city.' The strike also led to the 
creation of the Toledo Industrial Peace Board, which would go on to 
become a national model for strike resolution.''
  President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal saved Local 50. Its members 
were employed by many of the public works building efforts the New Deal 
initiated, including the city's Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, 
completed in 1941 and still operating in testament to the members' 
skills. World War II brought increased work and technological and 
training improvements.
  As the union grew, progressive changes were initiated for its 
membership. The Health and Welfare Fund was created in 1952 followed by 
pension, holiday and retirement plans. Beginning in the 1950s, the 
union's membership was kept busy with many new buildings going up along 
Toledo's downtown skyline and new buildings at the University of 
Toledo. In 1970, the members of Local 50 began the biggest project in 
its history: the building of the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. The 
history reports that during the eight-year building project, ``Local 50 
members dismantled and rebuilt components of nearly every piping system 
installed in the plant.''
  Local 50 then joined with other unions in the Northwest Ohio Building 
Trades to strengthen further its efforts on behalf of its membership. 
This coalition was crucial to the unions during the economic downturn 
of the 1980s and the subsequent fallout of the challenges to working 
families brought by that economy. The Local's history explains the 
union was able to remain strong ``by `drawing on the highest traditions 
of craft unionism and moral guidance provided by the hearts and minds 
of its membership.' The 1990s saw the centennial celebration of Local 
50 as well as employment in large construction projects and a renewed 
emphasis on continual training. As the new century began, the jobs were 
still going strong. A new union hall and training center opened on 
August 12, 2003 with a state-of-the-art training center completed in 
2009. Through the first years of the 21st Century, Local 50 members 
were again an integral part of major building efforts at universities, 
industries and public construction in our region.
  The January 4, 2000 edition of ``The Pipe Line'' Voice of the 
Building Trades printed this truth which summarizes the U.S. labor 
movement and the journey of Local 50: ``When Local 50 was born, there 
were no pensions, no hospitalization, no scholarships, no picnics, no 
dinner dances, no apprenticeships, no Journeyman training and no credit 
union. Each of these benefits grew through struggle and dedication. `We 
stand on the shoulders of those who came before.' I don't know who said 
this, but it is certainly true of Local 50 . . . Over the last 100 
years, labor has changed the face of this nation. We have weekends, 
Social Security, living wages, Health and Welfare, pensions, 8 hour 
days, safety provisions, and other benefits which are a direct result 
of labor's struggles.''
  I am reminded of labor leader Richard Trumka's statement that ``There 
is nothing stronger than the American labor movement. United, we cannot 
and we will not be turned aside. We'll work for it, sisters and 
brothers. We'll stand for it. Together. Each of us. To bring out the 
best in America. To bring out the best in ourselves, and each other.'' 
The brothers and sisters of Local 50 in Northwest Ohio have done just 
this for 125 years, helping to create the middle class and bringing out 
the best that is in us. United, its members have stood strong over 
three centuries. United, its members will stand strong and in 
solidarity in the centuries to come.

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