Newsletter -April 2007
The founding of the Bricklayers Union of the United States of America in 1865 was the culmination of developments that began more than 4 decades earlier. Organizing in the masonry Trades in the U.S, began as early as 1823 when Journeyman Stone Cutters in New York City went on strike for the 10 hour day.

Two years later the same organization struck for an increase in wages to 2 dollars a day. However, further development of the New York City organization was curtailed by a statute that made organizing for the purpose of raising wages or working conditions a criminal conspiracy.

In Baltimore a decade later Bricklayers organized a city wide Building Trades strike for the10 hour day. At a public meeting in 1833, they took their stand; their statement at the time is a poignant reminder of the life workers once faced "WE are more exposed since we start earlier and stop later than any other mechanics and since a man after 15 hours exposed to the scorching rays of the summer sun, returns to his home worried and dejected, so that he feels no relish for society or improvement, but throws himself down to sleep till the light of the coming day calls him to renew his labors." They decided they would not start earlier than 6 am and would not work past 6 pm with I hour for breakfast and 1 hour for dinner. Their position prevailed and they maintained their organization for 3 years, calling themselves the Beneficial Society of Journeyman Bricklayers of Baltimore.

In 1850 the Baltimore organization united with the newly formed Bricklayers union of New York calling themselves the Bricklayers and Plasterers Protective Association. They resolved that no work would be done for less than 2 dollars per day. This was achieved without the need for a strike which they considered only as a last resort. The union tried to convince an organization called the Industrial Congress, made up of benevolent, protective and cooperative societies, that it would be more effective if it only accepted trade unions. Although failing in this attempt, the workers of New York followed the advice of the unionized Bricklayers. Before the year ended more than 30 protective trade unions had formed in the city.

In 1854 the New York Bricklayers tried to form a National Union of all Building Trades. But a slump in business activity and acceptance by employers of a $2.50 per day wage caused interest in a broader union base to dwindle.

In 1857, financial panic struck, wiping out many national unions and their locals. When the Civil war ended in 1865 there was a renewed interest in trade unions. Inflation had cut the real wages of labor, so workers turned to unions for relief. An agreement of 1865 set wages at 4 dollars per day. The mason contractors demanded that union members work only for their associations, or wages would be cut to $3.50 per day.

The union refused and struck against the wage reduction and effectively tied up the work. After the strike it was suggested that the Bricklayers unite in a national union locals agreed and sent delegates to a conference in Philadelphia for the purpose of forming a national organization on October 16th 1865 5 delegates from Baltimore and 4 from Philadelphia met there were 6 committee members and 1 chairman appointed to draft a constitution the next day the delegates adopted the first constitution. On October 17th 1865 the Bricklayers International Union of the United States of North America was formed. John A White was elected as the first President.

In 1866 other existing Bricklayer unions were invited to send delegates to the next convention 7 responded in all 9 local unions sent a total of 16 delegates on January 9th 1866 the ways and means committee at the convention estimated that there were 1,750 members in the unions and set a per capita tax of 13cents per member per year.

President White pointed out in his convention report that the question of the 8 hour day would become increasingly important during the coming year. The convention decided to shorten the workday through legislation rather than direct action. However they were not opposed to strikes for shorter hours. During 1866 the union grew considerably stronger, adding 15 new locals, this growth was remarkable since there was no paid organizer and each new local had to pay a charter fee and the expense of a delegate to install the local.

The convention in 1867 was attended by 35 delegates representing 18 local unions with a total membership of 3,500. An important change to the constitution limited the number of apprentices an employer could use to not more than 2 in order to prevent contractors from loading their jobs with semi-skilled labor under the pretence of training apprentices this remains a concern of the union today which is addressed through collective bargaining and apprentice ratios today. The per capita tax was also increased to 50 cents per member per year. There was also an amendment which allowed the President to levy an assessment in support of a union seeking aid. The first assessment was levied to support workers in New York where the employers said that no Bricklayer could be employed unless he surrendered his membership. The strike was successful. During 1867, despite strikes and other difficulties, 23 new local unions were chartered.

The most important question at 1868 convention was the 8 hour day the International Union decided not to encourage or discourage strikes for the 8 hour day. The unions name was changed again to the National Union of Bricklayers of the United States because there was little opportunity to organize outside of the U.S. In 1869 the membership had declined due to a lull in building activity but the depression of the 1870's proved to be an even harder time for the unions out of 30 National and International trade unions all but 9 were wiped out there are some that say there were only 3 that survived the Bricklayers Union was one of the survivors but our membership dropped from 6,075 members to 229 members.

In 1881 in an early anti-discrimination stand the convention adopted a motion that any "Colored Bricklayer" in good standing in any subordinate union would be entitled to full rights of membership regardless of race creed or color. The first Canadian locals were chartered.

In 1884 the union again changed its name to include the Canadian affiliates it became the Bricklayer and Masons International Union. In 1886 the convention made the 9 hour day mandatory and the push for the 8 hour day was stronger than ever. In 1887 it was reported that there was total membership of 20,119.

In 1890 the membership had grown to 33,823. In 1889 the first issue of Bricklayer and Mason appeared as the official news journal and the BAC Journal continues to this day.

In 1901 the battle for the 8 hour day was won. In 1903 the membership had grown to 46,236. In 1904 the Union established a permanent headquarters in Indianapolis.

In 1908 delegates voted to transfer 50,000 dollars from the general fund to the defense fund and to asses each member 1 dollar to fight the open shop activities.

In 1910 the delegates voted to establish a mortuary fund and every applicant as part of his membership paid 1 dollar. It was also when the International change its name to Bricklayers, Masons and Plasters International Union.

In 1916 the union made application to the AF of L and was granted a charter on October 12th of that same year.

In 1922 the delegates ordered the International to move its headquarters to Washington, D.C. The Depression of the 1930s had an enormous impact on the union from a total membership of 130,000; in 1928 the union plummeted to less than 35,000 in 1933.

In 1935 Harry Bates was elected as President of the union and he was not only a union leader but he served prominently both in the labor movement and in government service. His position on the Labor Advisory Committee to the Council for National Defense put him in a position to help solve labor problems arising out of the defense program. Bates was also involved in the AF of L receiving 95% control over all defense construction contracts. His most rewarding moment came after tireless efforts to achieve the unification of the AF of L and the CIO when he was appointed chairman of the merger convention. Harry Bates also had a friendship and working relationship with Dr. John Dunlop former Secretary of Labor and long time faculty of Harvard University. Harry even went to President Roosevelt to have design changes made at the Pentagon to make it a brick building when it was still in the planning stages he did manage to have brickwork included in the final design.

In 1952 the membership had grown to 127,557 the International at that time included Bricklayers, Stonemasons, Marble Masons, Cement Masons, Plasterers, Tile Layers, Terrazzo and Mosaic workers and Cleaners, Pointers and Caulkers. At the beginning of the 1960s the membership had risen to 156,000. Changes in the building industry, such as the shift of building markets from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and West, the introduction of competitive products and systems and architectural emphasis on glass, metal and plastic walls were already beginning to have a negative effect on the union and its members. The union responded in the 1970s with the forming of a Labor/Management Trust Fund called the International Masonry Institute it was developed to do National and International Market Promotion, Research and Development and to create jobs for members and our signatory employers it was also to develop relationships with the "Architectural and Engineering Professions" to educate Architects and Engineers and encourage the use of masonry products in the design of new buildings. Apprenticeship and Training also became one of the functions of the International Masonry Institute as they played a major role in setting up standardizing and implementing training programs in local unions across the US and Canada with the help of the Masonry Contactors Associations.

In 1975 the International union again changed its name to The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen.

The 1990s brought about yet more change so that all locals would have full time representation the International implemented a consolidation and restructuring program that has been controversial but necessary. The International Union again changed its name in 1995 to The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.

Today the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers has just under 100,000 members and has implemented a strategic plan that is showing signs of progress as we face the challenges of the 21st century.


REMINDER!


All BAC working members, it's important that you call the Hall whenever you're out of work. List are updated every Monday before noon; call the Union office in Oakland at 1-800-281-8781 to get on the out of work list. This is important, especially, for one who is collecting unemployment benefits, on disability, or on self-pays, etc. To qualify for self-pay, your name must be on the Union's out of work list during the time period you are not working.

Please inform your Local Union every time when you move to a new address or have a new phone number.