IBEW Local 494- Our History

Our story begins as Local Union 2 in 1892 with just 12 men united together by a common bond, undaunted by a rocky road ahead, who wrote the history of organization in Milwaukee for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The path ahead was rough with high hopes that were often smashed to nothing without a word of warning.  Money was scarce and they knew little of the obstacles they were to meet, or, of the final success they were to gain.

Milwaukee was a slow, easy going city.  A workman’s hours were long and his wages small.

Our story began as Local Union 2 in 1892 but an ill-advised strike in 1897 doomed it in 1899.

In 1901 it was reorganized into a mixed Local Union No. 82.  Later in that same year it was decided to again change the set-up and Local 424 an inside electrical local union came into existence.  Five years later the groups again merged, and thus, in June of 1906 the present Local Union 494 was started.

Check back on Wednesday to learn about the membership of IBEW 494.