HIGHLIGHTS OF A HUNDRED YEARS, 1899-1999
Many of the homes and other buildings constructed in Kane County in the twentieth century are reminders of the craftsmanship of members of Local 363, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Through the years this union has worked toward higher standards of skill for consumers and both higher wages and greater job security for the "brothers".
The Brotherhood was organized at a Chicago convention in 1881. Peter J. McGuire, the first general secretary, originated the idea of Labor Day, first observed with a parade in New York City in 1882. It was made a national holiday in 1894. McGuire was also one of the founders of the American Federation of Labor in 1886.
When Henry Demarest Lloyd, a social reformer, addressed an Elgin audience on the subject of the eight-hour day in the spring of 1890, he noted the absence of labor unions in the city. The Panic of '93 and widespread unemployment, however, weakened the confidence of employees, and when the economy recovered, they embraced the security offered by union solidarity. Samuel Gompers, president of the AFL, came to Elgin to speak in 1898, and the next year several unions were formed. Among them was Carpenters Local 363, AFL.
Local 363 was organized on September 14, 1899. The first president was Philip Ultes, and the first meetings were held on the fifth floor of what is now the Commerce Building on the northeast corner of Spring and DuPage Streets. Henry Krunfusz, who was the eleventh to sign up, recalled that each member acted as an organizer, encouraging others to join for their mutual education and benefit. About thirty of the brothers marched in Elgin's first Labor Day parade in 1900.
Prodded by the carpenters, the city council in 1901 passed an ordinance requiring that union labor be employed on all city projects. Organization proceeded apace, an by 1903 there were more than forty trade and labor unions in Elgin with a combined membership of more than five thousand.
James H. Brower, a union carpenter, was business agent for the building trades in 1905, when a downturn in business conditions led to unrest and a test of union strength. He led a strike for a closed shop, a nine-hour day, and a limit on the number of apprentices to one for every four journeymen. Brower had been the Socialist candidate for mayor in 1903 and was also the promoter of a visionary co-operative plan to establish stores selling only goods bearing the union label.
Brower was both an idealist and an aggressive union leader. "If you want farm hands, kids and pick-ups to do your mechanical work," he declared, "we would refer you to the Employers' association." The work stoppage was opposed by the contractors. Although Local 363 was the last union to hold out, the strike failed. The brothers went back to work for 35 cents per hour and a ten hour day with union and non-union men employed on the same job. Brower left town.
Wages increased during the First World War and the building boom that followed. In 1922 the brothers were making $1.00 per hour, had achieved a 44-hour week, and were employing their own part time business agent. Contractors that year, in order to reduce labor disputes, put forward on Open Town Plan. Union men of one craft would remain at work on the same job with non-union men of another craft, but were not asked to work with non-union men of their own trade. Local 363, along with the other trade unions, accepted this arrangement because of the prosperous times.
By 1924 there were more than a hundred members in good standing, wages were up to $1.10, and all who were able bodies were employed. In 1926 the scale rose to $1.25, and by the end of the decade, the national Brotherhood was able to provide a $15 per month pension for all those who had served 30 years.
The fortunes of Local 363 have been closely linked with the cycles of ups and downs endemic to the construction industry. During the five-year period, 1924 through 1928, in addition to major commercial projects, 1,392 dwelling permits had been issued in Elgin. During the five-year period, 1932-1936, only 73 homes were built.
Despite a reduction of dues from $3 per month to $1 in 1932, the union's membership declined with the cut back in building. Many members couldn't even afford the dollar. Local 363 advanced the money which was to be repaid when the brothers found jobs. The wage scale was reduced by twenty percent, to $1.00 per hour, and in 1933 members were asked not to work beyond 40 hours in a five day week in order to spread out what jobs were available. The next year the salaries of some of the officers were halved.
In 1886 the national admitted to membership workers in mills turning out materials for the building industry, such as trim, doors windows and cabinets. One of the largest of these businesses in Elgin was Rinehimer Brothers Manufacturing Co., an architectural wood working firm. An employee, Sister Ethel Russell, in 1948 became the first woman to join Local 363.
The carpenters were the only local union in Elgin to have their own hall for meetings and an office for the business agent. A building at 181 South Grove Avenue was purchased in 1959 and was occupied until 1987, when it became part of the land clearance project that eventually became the site of the Grand Victoria casino.
Randy Meyer, the current business agent, is the son of Walter Meyer, a former president of Local 363, and grandson of an early day brother, Herman Meyer. Henry Krunfusz was a fifty year member. He served as president for several terms and also filled all other offices except that of financial secretary.
Carpenters Local 363 joined the Fox River Valley District Council in 1927. This regional unit was later merged into the ten-county Chicago and Northeast Illinois District Council of Carpenters. In addition to managing fringe benefit trust funds, the Council has assumed functions once performed by the locals. These include negotiating collective bargaining agreements, recommending acceptance or rejecting membership in the Brotherhood, framing work rules, and establishing dues and initiation fees.
Over the years the brothers have had to adapt to changes in architectural construction with the introduction of iron and steel framing, staircases, tile flooring, and mill-produced trim work. Their tools now included mortising machines, power saws, and electric drill. From time to time these innovations have led to disputes with other craftsmen. One of these occurred in 1945 when the District Council had to decide whether roofers or carpenters were to put on wood siding wood shingles.
Originally confined to Elgin and the immediate vicinity, Local 363's jurisdiction has expanded to include most of Kane County north of Aurora. The expansion has provided a greater area of uniform wages and benefits and lowered costs of administration. Membership in 1960 passed 500, about 410 were construction workers and 115 were mill men. Today membership is about 900. Although meetings are still held in Elgin, offices have been moved to Sugar Grove Il.
HIGHLIGHTS OF A HUNDRED YEARS, 1899-1999
Many of the homes and other buildings constructed in Kane County in the twentieth century are reminders of the craftsmanship of members of Local 363, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Through the years this union has worked toward higher standards of skill for consumers and both higher wages and greater job security for the "brothers".
The Brotherhood was organized at a Chicago convention in 1881. Peter J. McGuire, the first general secretary, originated the idea of Labor Day, first observed with a parade in New York City in 1882. It was made a national holiday in 1894. McGuire was also one of the founders of the American Federation of Labor in 1886.
When Henry Demarest Lloyd, a social reformer, addressed an Elgin audience on the subject of the eight-hour day in the spring of 1890, he noted the absence of labor unions in the city. The Panic of '93 and widespread unemployment, however, weakened the confidence of employees, and when the economy recovered, they embraced the security offered by union solidarity. Samuel Gompers, president of the AFL, came to Elgin to speak in 1898, and the next year several unions were formed. Among them was Carpenters Local 363, AFL.
Local 363 was organized on September 14, 1899. The first president was Philip Ultes, and the first meetings were held on the fifth floor of what is now the Commerce Building on the northeast corner of Spring and DuPage Streets. Henry Krunfusz, who was the eleventh to sign up, recalled that each member acted as an organizer, encouraging others to join for their mutual education and benefit. About thirty of the brothers marched in Elgin's first Labor Day parade in 1900.
Prodded by the carpenters, the city council in 1901 passed an ordinance requiring that union labor be employed on all city projects. Organization proceeded apace, an by 1903 there were more than forty trade and labor unions in Elgin with a combined membership of more than five thousand.
James H. Brower, a union carpenter, was business agent for the building trades in 1905, when a downturn in business conditions led to unrest and a test of union strength. He led a strike for a closed shop, a nine-hour day, and a limit on the number of apprentices to one for every four journeymen. Brower had been the Socialist candidate for mayor in 1903 and was also the promoter of a visionary co-operative plan to establish stores selling only goods bearing the union label.
Brower was both an idealist and an aggressive union leader. "If you want farm hands, kids and pick-ups to do your mechanical work," he declared, "we would refer you to the Employers' association." The work stoppage was opposed by the contractors. Although Local 363 was the last union to hold out, the strike failed. The brothers went back to work for 35 cents per hour and a ten hour day with union and non-union men employed on the same job. Brower left town.
Wages increased during the First World War and the building boom that followed. In 1922 the brothers were making $1.00 per hour, had achieved a 44-hour week, and were employing their own part time business agent. Contractors that year, in order to reduce labor disputes, put forward on Open Town Plan. Union men of one craft would remain at work on the same job with non-union men of another craft, but were not asked to work with non-union men of their own trade. Local 363, along with the other trade unions, accepted this arrangement because of the prosperous times.
By 1924 there were more than a hundred members in good standing, wages were up to $1.10, and all who were able bodies were employed. In 1926 the scale rose to $1.25, and by the end of the decade, the national Brotherhood was able to provide a $15 per month pension for all those who had served 30 years.
The fortunes of Local 363 have been closely linked with the cycles of ups and downs endemic to the construction industry. During the five-year period, 1924 through 1928, in addition to major commercial projects, 1,392 dwelling permits had been issued in Elgin. During the five-year period, 1932-1936, only 73 homes were built.
Despite a reduction of dues from $3 per month to $1 in 1932, the union's membership declined with the cut back in building. Many members couldn't even afford the dollar. Local 363 advanced the money which was to be repaid when the brothers found jobs. The wage scale was reduced by twenty percent, to $1.00 per hour, and in 1933 members were asked not to work beyond 40 hours in a five day week in order to spread out what jobs were available. The next year the salaries of some of the officers were halved.
In 1886 the national admitted to membership workers in mills turning out materials for the building industry, such as trim, doors windows and cabinets. One of the largest of these businesses in Elgin was Rinehimer Brothers Manufacturing Co., an architectural wood working firm. An employee, Sister Ethel Russell, in 1948 became the first woman to join Local 363.
The carpenters were the only local union in Elgin to have their own hall for meetings and an office for the business agent. A building at 181 South Grove Avenue was purchased in 1959 and was occupied until 1987, when it became part of the land clearance project that eventually became the site of the Grand Victoria casino.
Randy Meyer, the current business agent, is the son of Walter Meyer, a former president of Local 363, and grandson of an early day brother, Herman Meyer. Henry Krunfusz was a fifty year member. He served as president for several terms and also filled all other offices except that of financial secretary.
Carpenters Local 363 joined the Fox River Valley District Council in 1927. This regional unit was later merged into the ten-county Chicago and Northeast Illinois District Council of Carpenters. In addition to managing fringe benefit trust funds, the Council has assumed functions once performed by the locals. These include negotiating collective bargaining agreements, recommending acceptance or rejecting membership in the Brotherhood, framing work rules, and establishing dues and initiation fees.
Over the years the brothers have had to adapt to changes in architectural construction with the introduction of iron and steel framing, staircases, tile flooring, and mill-produced trim work. Their tools now included mortising machines, power saws, and electric drill. From time to time these innovations have led to disputes with other craftsmen. One of these occurred in 1945 when the District Council had to decide whether roofers or carpenters were to put on wood siding wood shingles.
Originally confined to Elgin and the immediate vicinity, Local 363's jurisdiction has expanded to include most of Kane County north of Aurora. The expansion has provided a greater area of uniform wages and benefits and lowered costs of administration. Membership in 1960 passed 500, about 410 were construction workers and 115 were mill men. Today membership is about 900. Although meetings are still held in Elgin, offices have been moved to Sugar Grove Il.