Local 467 History
*This write-up was part of the Local 467 Centennial
Celebration.
By: Gary Saunders
As Plumbers, Steamfitters and Refrigeration Fitters Local
Union #467 and it’s members embark on our second 100 years
of service to each other, our industry and our community, we
take this evening of celebration as a time to remember our
founding brothers and all those that followed, who gave so
much to make this Local Union what it is today: a strong,
vibrant organization of the best trained Plumbers,
Steamfitters and Refrigeration/ Air Conditioning mechanics
available.
Those founding Brothers joined together to form this Union
and collectively decide what they would be paid for their
labor and expertise. As the Local Union grew, and with the
advent of collective bargaining, our forefathers
acknowledged it was the employers right to control their
capital, but that it was the Union members right to
control their labor. In so doing, they would negotiate what
would be paid for that labor and under what conditions they
would provide it.
Those were the guiding principals on which this Union was
formed and those principals have been followed by each
successive generation of members and Officers. We must not
forget it was the determination of those past members of
Local #467 that brought this Union the five day work week,
the eight hour day, overtime pay, safer working conditions,
health care benefits, time off for vacations with our
families, a training program second to none and a pension
benefit plan that will allow our members to retire in
dignity with the ability to take care of their needs in the
sunset of their lives.
We must remember all we have today was not achieved without
much struggle and sacrifice on the part of our past
brothers. There were strikes and work stoppages, times of
great unemployment not only during the depression but during
many severe recessions. Through it all this Local Union has
become a model of stability, as evidenced by the fact that
our Union has had three Business Managers over the last
fifty years. During those years Local #467 forged a good
working relationship with our employers to the benefit of
our industry and our community.
Over the years, Local #467 had played an ever increasing
roll in the political process of our Cities and County. At
the same time we endeavored to do our part to be involved
with community groups and charitable organizations for the
betterment of all our residents. We have done so with the
knowledge that being involved in our community gives us not
only the ability to bring forward a point of view not always
articulated, but a better perspective of how we can work
together with our elected officials, the business community
and our brothers and sisters in the Labor movement to
continue the progress that has been achieved these past 100
years. Full Time Elected Officers of Plumbers,
Steamfitters, and refrigeration Fitters Local Union 467
- 1903-1929 - Local 467 had no full time officers. The
president and elected officers ran the business of the
Union after work.
Business Manager
- 1930-1941 - Business Manager: William J. Logue
- 1941-1948 - Business Manager: Albert H. Randall
- 1948-1953 - Business Manager: Robert Wertz
- 1954-1971 - Business Manager: Sam Abruscato
- 1971-1987 - Business Manager: Thomas J. Hunter
- 1988-Present - Business Manager: Gary J.
Saunders
Business Agent
- 1950-1965 - Business Agent: Irving Hupp
- 1965-1967 - Business Agent: Arthur Amberg
- 1967-1970 - Business Agent: Thomas J. Hunter
- 1970-1979 - Business Agent: Harold C.
Holcomb
- 1974-1982 - Business Agent: Elmer Gallagher
- 1980-1987 - Business Agent: Gary J. Saunders
- 1983-2005 - Business Agent: Arthur Santos
- 1988-2006 - Business Agent: James H. Topping
- 2005-Present - Business Agent: Mike Swanson
- 2006-Present - Business Agent: Mark Burri
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