McLean County Labor History

What is a Laborers’ legacy?  It is built in concrete, stone, asphalt and brick?  It is the underground pipes we depend on, the roads we ride, the bridges we cross, the buildings that shelter us.  All of those serve the community today because of Laborers’ sweat, toil and some

On June 14, 2012,, the McLean County Historical Society held its first “History Makers” dinner at Illinois State University.

Public employees also began organizing unions. Normal Fire Fighters endured 42 days in jail in 1978, eventually winning a contract from the Town of Normal after a 56 day strike. Support for this action helped galvanize and revive local labor solidarity.

Excerpted from "Fiery Struggle" by Michael G. Matejka, 2001, published by the Illinois Labor History Society

Introduction

In 1961 GE workers represented by the IUE struck, but Bloomington workers continued to work and negotiated past their contract's expiration. Lodge 1000 tried unsuccessfully to get a union shop agreement with the national firm, but did win wage increases.

During World War II local unions took a no-strike pledge, which was honored for the war's duration. Union construction trades donated building a canteen at the C&A depot, which served coffee and donuts to military personnel on passing trains.