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
- 1988-2010 - Business Manager: Gary J. Saunders
- 2010-2016 - Business Manager: Mike Swanson
- 2016-Present - Business Manager: Mark Burri
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
- 2005-2010 - Business Agent: Mike Swanson
- 2006-2016 - Business Agent: Mark Burri
- 2010-2018 - Business Agent: Chris Collins
- 2016-Present - Business Agent: Eric Tassio
- 2018-Present - Business Agent: Scott Beale
