IBEW History – Click here to be re-directed to the IBEW International website where you can begin your historical journey in the year 1890. The history tells the story of the courageous men and women who made the IBEW what it is today. The legacy of our founders reflects the unwavering goal of today’s leaders: joining electricians in a common organization to make a better life for all. We hope this story inspires you with the spirit of trade unionism as we build the IBEW of the future.

April 22, 1947 – Tentative Proposal for Affiliation of the Illinois Union of Telephone Workers with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL)

September 1, 1998 – The IBEW International amalgamates the five System Council T-4 local unions into a single local union – IBEW Local Union 21. A new charter was issued and the former locals are now united as one. The former locals that made up the System Council T-4 were: IBEW Local 165, IBEW Local 188, IBEW Local 336, IBEW Local 383, and IBEW Local 399