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| About Us - History |
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 IBEW Local Union 1249
May 1, 1941 – March 31,2006
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LOCAL 1249, I.B.E.W.
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1249 was granted a charter on May 1, 1941 and E.J. Peck was appointed as Local 1249’s initial Business Manager. He was subsequently elected to eight successive three-year terms. Ed’s reign as Local 1249’s Business Manager is legendary, with tales upon tales of his rough and ready type of managerial style. Local 1249 was fortunate to have his type of leadership, as it was a time when it was needed and necessary. Ed retired on May 1, 1965 and the Local 1249 Executive Board appointed William H. Shutter to the Business Manager’s position. Bill held this position for over 5 full 3-year terms until his retirement.
Bill brought a progressive type of vision to the leadership role entrusted to him as the Business Manager as he had been previously instrumental in the formulating of Local 1249’s Journeyman Lineman Apprenticeship program as well as the Safety Training and Local 1249’s pension for the membership. Bill had used his own backyard for apprenticeship training schooling during the 1960’s.
The Executive Board of Local 1249 again was entrusted to fill an unexpired term of the Local 1249 Business Manager in July 1982, and they appointed then Local 1249 President Andrew J. Mihok to fulfill that term, and Andy was re-elected to the Business Manager’s position in 1984, 1987, 1990 and 1993. Andy brought with him a very progressive and open type of leadership that included a dialog with the IBEW inside locals that afforded our members an opportunity to work when job availability became slack within the outside branch. Andy was also instrumental in starting Local 1249’s “PAC” Fund – Political Action Committee.
In 1995 Local 1249 President John Bishko was appointed to the Business Managers position and he has been elected to this position in the 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2005 Local Union elections. John’s leadership included an open door policy to all. He served on numerous 3rd District committees and employed a staff of 2 secretaries, Claire and Joan, and assistants Jim Baker, Bill Boire, Steve Karboski, Jay Matthews, Tina Prosonic, Marty Riester and Harry Saville.
Local 1249’s first business office was located in rented quarters in the Eckel Theater Building on Fayette Street in Syracuse. In 1959 Local 1249 purchased an office building at 238 West Washington Street which served as the local’s home until December 1969. At that time the Local purchased land at our present site on Fremont Road in East Syracuse and built its first “new” union hall. As with most growing establishments even this union office building became too small so in 1989 a 10,000 sq. ft. modern, stone faced building was constructed near the same site; however, the old existing building has been preserved to be used as a training center.
On April 17, 1952, the first Tree Trimming contractor was organized. Since then other contractors have become signatory and the Line Clearance Tree Trimming Unit has become an integral part of IBEW Local Union 1249.
Jack McNeill served as Local 1249’s Tree Chapter Representative from the start until his retirement in June of 1963. George Eley started in February 1965, and worked as the Tree Representative until his retirement in December 1973. Robert Fullex came aboard as the Line Clearance Representative for Local 1249 in December of 1972 and continued to serve in this capacity until June 1, 1999. Mike Morales started as a Tree Chapter Representative in July 1987, to service this Unit in the eastern part of the jurisdiction until his resignation in July 1990.
In October 1990, Jim Baker was hired to replace Mike and continues to service our LCTT members in this area. Mike Fullex became a tree chapter representative on March 1, 1999 and serviced the LCTT unit until his resignation on October 1, 2005. Your tree representatives bring a desire to represent all their fellow tree members and welcome all and every inquiry.
In April of 1965 Outside Telephone work became another Unit of IBEW Local Union 1249.
Ed Peck, Jr., an Assistant Business Representative of Local 1249, in addition to his duties of servicing the “A” Chapter Construction members, was also given the task of representing these Telephone members from 1965 to 1973. Ed continued as an Assistant Business Representative until his retirement in February of 1980.
Dave Langtry, a Local 1249 Assistant Business Representative, replaced Ed Peck in 1973 to continue to service these Telephone members.
Robert Fullex was given this Telephone Unit in addition to his Tree Trimming Unit to service when Dave Langtry retired in February of 1978.
In 1989, because of the ever-increasing complexities and scope of the telephone industry, Telephone Agreements were changed to Teledata Agreements to accommodate these changes.
Local Union 1249, since 1980, has brought new membership within the main frame of our organization with the organizing of various outside entitles called “Units”. These “Units” are located in various geographical localities throughout New York State, and they are: Frankfort Power and Light, Village of Ilion, Village of Lake Placid, Town of Massena, Village of Mohawk, City of Plattsburgh, and City of Watertown.
These units are also an integral part of Local 1249, and they have their own unit officers as well as separately negotiated contracts. |
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If I were a worker in a factory, the first thing I would do would be to join a union.
-- President Franklin D. Roosevelt
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