THE HISTORY OF THE IUOE

1950s

After World War II, the federal government constructed many atomic energy installations, work in
which many members were actively engaged. When the Korean War broke out, this work was
stepped up. The work presented many problems since many of these were carved out of wilderness
or located far from centers of labor pools. Tremendous projects were built in Aiken, South Carolina,
Paducah, Kentucky, and at Oak Ridge, Tennessee to cite a few.

The 1950’s were years of progress and change for the International Union and for the labor
movement in general. The nation has enjoyed almost unprecedented prosperity. Expansion of
industry, increase in plant capacity, construction of new hotels, institutions, schools, etc., have all
made more and more work for those in our jurisdiction.

Labor also continued to build its united strength. The International was particularly active in these
years, helping to place labor’s position before Congress in matters of road and construction
legislation. November 1955 was marked by the merger convention of the AFL-CIO, which healed
a wound in the body of organized labor that had fester since 1934. George Meany was elected
president of the new AFL-CIO federation. As of December 31, 1955 IUOE had 241,391 active
members, an increase of almost 50,000 over the total in January 1952, just four years earlier.

In the field, operating engineers were at work on a multitude of projects. Some 3,000 Operating
Engineers held key roles in the joint U.S.-Canadian construction effort on the St. Lawrence Seaway,
which spanned nearly four years of work and cost nearly a billion dollars. Other IUOE members
worked on the Illinois State Tollway, a project costing $442 million.
At the close of the decade, Operating Engineers were reaping the benefits of its ambitious organizing
drive. The Monthly Labor Review reported that, while overall union membership in America had
dipped slightly between 1956 and 1958, IUOE topped the list of union making gains, with 80,000
membership additions in the two year period.

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