The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #146 was founded on June 26th, 1912 in Decatur Illinois. By 1917 wages for the construction electrician in Decatur went from 45 cents to 50 cents per hour. Business around town was very good and unless all of the boys were called to serve the flag, all would be working all summer. In March 1934, Local #146 was amalgamated with Local #193 in Springfield, Illinois due to the demands World War II had made on our young men of the community. We were re-chartered on July 22, 1936 and have remained a viable part of Decatur and the surrounding counties.
IBEW Local #146 has jurisdiction that covers all or parts of twelve counties – Christian, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Effingham, Fayette, Macon, Montgomery, Moultrie, Piatt and Shelby. Our current membership of active and retired members is approximately 890 individuals. We have collective bargaining agreements that represent not only the construction electrician, but residential electricians, telecommunication technicians, motor shops, sign electricians, wind and solar electricians, university electricians and prison maintenance electricians.
As has always been the founding principle of the IBEW, we continue to strive to fight for workers rights which include good wages for a good days work. As part of the wage packages, benefits have been included to pay for health & welfare costs and pensions to secure a decent standard of living once retired from the industry. As all IBEW members are also members of the community in which they live, these good wages result in dollars spent within our communities for groceries, gasoline, clothing, automobiles, homes or home improvement items. The good wage and benefit packages and negotiated working hours, also allow our members more time to devote to their families and communities. This is evident through the countless hours donated to numerous events such as the Decatur Celebration, the Macon County Fair, 911 Memorial, DMH Lodge, Easter Seals Playground, Pana Boy Scout Camp, 3 Degree donations, Decatur / Macon County Senior Center, and the lighting of Central Park at Christmas time, just to name a few. Our members serve as scout leaders, church and civic organization officers and hold numerous political offices all with the hopes of giving back to those in need and making a difference in our future.
While the jurisdiction of Local #146 may only cover 12 counties, the IBEW has locals all over the United States and Canada and are moving forward to representing individuals from other parts of the world.