Brief History of Our Union

IBEW Local 22

Serving the Electrical Construction Industry in Nebraska and Western Iowa

January 21, 2022

Important Phone Numbers

LU 22 Business Office

402-331-8147

Job Recorder

402-331-8452

Training

402-331-3103

Credit Union

402-331-3121

Benefits Office

402-592-3753

Click HERE for more information on DC Retirement Strategies.

Brief History of Our Union

Updated On: Jan 15, 2013

The nucleus of our Brotherhood formed in 1890 in St. Louis, Missouri. The group was chartered as the Electrical Wiremen and Linemen’s Union, No. 5221, of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). On November 21, 1891 the first convention was called in St. Louis with ten delegates representing 286 members. One of the outcomes of this first meeting was the creation of the Preamble printed above, and the name of the organization – National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – was chosen. Even our emblem, the hand grasping the lighting bolt, was established at this first convention.

1899	–	At the Sixth Convention, the name of the union was changed to what it is today: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
1919	-	Council on Industrial Relations (CIR) is established.
1920	-	After several moves the IBEW headquarters is relocated permanently to Washington, D.C.
1927	-	At the 19^th National Convention, the IBEW Pension Plan was established.
1929	-	Last convention held for 12 years due to the Great Depression.
1941	-	The Golden Jubilee year of the founding of our Brotherhood and the 21^st National Convention held in St. Louis, where it all began. 869 local unions and nearly 200,000 members were represented.
1941	-	The National Apprenticeship Standards for the Electrical Construction Industry were established.
1947	-	The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee was established.
1954	-	The National Convention in Chicago boasts 3,138 delegates representing a membership of 625,000.
1974	-	Membership reaches more than one million members.
1991	-	34^th National Convention celebrates the 100-year milestone of our Brotherhood
2001	-	36^th National Convention held in San Francisco, CA