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On July 20, 1969, half a billion people watched in wonder and amazement as Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon. This pivotal moment in human history could not have been made possible without the contributions of the more than 1,800 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who worked at the Kennedy Space Center to provide the instrumentation, data acquisition, processing and communications support that contributed to the triumph of the Apollo 11 mission.
As Armstrong addressed the enamored crowd at the 29th IBEW International Convention in Seattle the following year, he personally thanked union members for:
Dedicating themselves to safeguarding the reputation of their country and the lives of my fellow crewmen and demonstrating in the process that American skill and craftsmanship are the very finest in the world.
Just eight days after this “giant leap for mankind,” fifteen of the IBEW’s linemen embarked upon their own “small step” to create a pivotal moment and legacy that would also be honored and celebrated 50 years later.
On July 28, 1969, fifteen outside members of IBEW Locals 37 (New Britain, Conn.), 565 (Bridgeport, Conn.) and 761 (Greenfield, Mass.) petitioned the IBEW to grant a charter in the city of Hartford, “believing a union to be well designed to improve our intellectual and social condition and promote our industrial wellbeing and advancement.” This new Local would represent a group of approximately 300 linemen united from these three existing memberships and those from Locals 300 (Montpelier, Vt.), 660 (Waterbury, Conn.), and 909 (Pittsfield, Mass.), all represented by both the IBEW and the Northeastern Line Constructors Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association. The new Local’s jurisdiction would cover the outside jurisdiction of the state of Connecticut (minus the area covered by Local 501 in Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, and Stamford Township west of the Five Mile River in Fairfield County), Western Massachusetts (including Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties), and all of Vermont.
Four days later, the IBEW granted this group “the power to establish a Local Union of the International Brotherhood” and an official charter was issued. On August 1, 1969, Local Union No. 42 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was born.
IBEW Local 42 immediately went to work establishing an office at 2075 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill, Conn. and setting up a dynamic team to lead the new united membership. International Vice President John Flynn and International Representative Bart Saunders were on hand to officially swear in the Local’s first set of officers: President Quido Iannacone, Vice President W. Todd, Treasurer Paul Rajotte, Recording Secretary William McDermott, Financial Secretary Albert Oakley, Business Manager Truman “Tru” Schlehofer, and Assistant Business Manager James Fraser.
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 565 member
Former Local 565 member
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 565 member
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 565 member
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 565 member
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 761 member
Former Local 37 member,
Former Local 37 member
Former Local 761 member
Former Local 565 member
Local 37 of New Britain, Conn. was chartered on December 23, 1892, and the remaining membership amalgamated into Local 90 of New Haven, Conn. on October 1, 1977.
Local 300 of Montpelier, Vt. was chartered on September 1, 1939 and is now located in South Burlington, serving more than 1,200 hardworking Vermonters.
Local 565 of Bridgeport, Conn. was chartered on August 26, 1926 and fully amalgamated into Local 42 on August 1, 1969.
Local 761 of Greenfield, Mass. was chartered on March 8, 1935, and the remaining membership amalgamated into Local 455 of Springfield, Mass. on March 1, 1971.
Local 909 of Pittsfield, Mass. was chartered on November 20, 1935, and the remaining membership amalgamated into Local 455 of Springfield, Mass. on March 1, 1971.
The charter number 42 was originally issued to a union of electrical workers in Utica, N.Y. on October 12, 1892. This IBEW Local 42 lasted 48 years and became defunct on September 11, 1940.
