Political Quotes

“today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 158 from Green Bay, WI. The original charter of Local 158 was filed on June 6, 1919. IBEW Local 158 occupies a storied place in the history of organized labor in northeast Wisconsin. Electrical workers in Green Bay began organizing for better wages and working conditions as early as 1902. By 1919, the workers had a committed core of electrical workers and filed the charter to establish a chapter of the IBEW on June 6 of that year. On June 17, 1919, the Local held its first meeting at the home of Brother August Verheyden. The Local increased its influence and magnified its voice by joining other groups advocating for workers and their families. In 1921, IBEW Local 158 joined the State Federation of Labor, the Green Bay Labor Council, and the Green Bay Building Trades. Construction of paper mills and powerplants in the Fox Valley created steady employment for IBEW members. Their experience was especially important when the call for skilled labor went out during World War II to help build ships for the U.S. Navy. After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy rapidly began building low-cost cargo ships called Liberty Ships, as well as smaller torpedo patrol and submarine chaser boats. Members of IBEW Local 158, along with their brethren from Local 1012 at the Leathem D.…”