On April 2, 1903, Local 387 was chartered in Freeport, Illinois.  The Local became defunct on May, 1909.  The Local was re-chartered in Freeport, Illinois, on July 22, 1922.  The Local became defunct again on November 5, 1933.  On November 16, 1939, Local 387 was re-chartered in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Local's jurisdiction was Central Arizona Light & Power Company known as "Blood Alley".

CHARTER MEMBERS:

Earl Allison    Charles Bloomhuff    Charles Boyer   C. C. Christian
David Clark   John Otis Cogdill   George Crawford  Raymond Ewing
Emil Feaster  L.V. Foreman   Gerald Graham   George Granger
William Gulliver  R.E. Harshman   J.C. Hawley  Boyd Hough
Ralph Knotts  Joel Lord   Max Martin   C. J. Metcalf   Curtis Miller
Truman Miller   Ben Naylor   Bill Nye   E. M. Parker   J.D. Phillips
Phillip Rice   Claude Silvader   Carl R. Smith   Ned Snodgrass
L. Stevens   Ralph Watkins   Alma Weed

The IBEW was started in 1891 by Henry Miller and a band of like minded individuals in St. Louis, Missouri, when electrical workers had a 50% fatality rate and made as little as $8 a week. Two and a half dollars a day was considered high wages, but was far from the norm. This was at a time when workers were considered as an almost disposable commodity. Working conditions were deplorable in most skilled craft occupations and children working cheap in sweat shops was the norm. Unions changed all that.
Unions exist for the good of their members and families. Its as simple as that. Unions are democratic organizations where the membership has a say in how the Local Union proceeds. The Union uses the strength of the collective voices of all of its members to deal fairly and effectively with the employers our members work for.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has a reputation for being one of the best, most progressive, and capable employee advocates in the world.

JURISDICTION HISTORY FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA

DATED:  November 29, 1943

Written by:  Alfred Shackelford, International Representative  

I shall now attempt to give you the information which we discussed concerning the jurisdiction to be awarded Local Unions in Arizona .

 Starting in the Southeastern part of the State, it was my understanding that Local Union No. B-1254 would be awarded everything in Greenlee Co.  Both the Mining Industry and Construction-there being no Public Utility operating in the County except that owned and operated by Phelps Dodge.  

Local Union B-434 is to be awarded all of Cochise County , with the exception of the Mining Industry served by Local Union No. B-487 Bisbee, Ariz. , and the Public Utility (Arizona Edison Company) served by Local Union No. B-1011 of Bisbee , Ariz.   However, we should keep in mind that 434 does cover the smelter at Douglas , which might be considered a part of the Mining Industry.  434 should be given the smelter operations and all inside and outside construction in Cochise County .  The smelter at Douglas was the very foundation of 434 in the beginning.  

B-487 of Bisbee should be given the Mining Industry in Cochise County , excluding the smelter at Douglas .  

B-1011 should cover the operations of the Arizona Edison Company, Inc., within the County of Cochise .  

B-570 according to our understanding would have jurisdiction over all work in Pima, Graham, Santa Cruz and a part of Pinal (as agreed upon by and between 570 of Tucson and 640 of Phoenix) with the exception of the Public Utilities now being served by B-1116 (Tucson Gas, Electric Light and Power Company) Tucson, and B-737 of Miami, Arizona which covers the operations of the Arizona Edison Company in the eastern part of Pinal County.  Too, we would exclude the Mining Industry now served by Local B-523 of Ajo ( Pima County ).  I think we should also exclude the Citizens Public Utilities’ operation in Santa Cruz County .  This Company operates in Santa Cruz and Mohave Counties and it is my desire to organize them at some future date.  It would also be advisable, if possible to do so, to install a Mining Industry local in the extreme Northeastern part of Pinal County .  That is isolated territory and I am sure 570 would have no objections.  

B-1116 would have jurisdiction over the operation of the Tucson Gas, Electric Light and Power Company.  

B-737 of Miami would have jurisdiction over the operations of the Arizona Edison Company, Inc., operating in Gila, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma Counties .  

B-523 would have jurisdiction over Phelps Dodge Corporation operations in Pima County .  

B-640 of Phoenix would have jurisdiction over a part of Pinal County (as agreed to by and between 640 and 570 of Tucson ) all of Maricopa, Yuma , Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, and that part of Apache County lying South of Highway 66.  (That part of Apache County lying North of Highway 66 was previously awarded to 740 of Gallup , New Mexico .)  The exceptions would be as follows:  The Mining Industry now being served by Local B-657 of Jerome.  The Arizona Power Corporation’s operations now served by B-1100 of Prescott .  The Mining Industry now being served by Local B-518 in the northern part of Pinal County .  The Central Arizona Light and Power Company now served by Local B-387.  The Salt River Valley Water User’s Assn. now served by local B-266.  The Arizona Edison Company’s operations in Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma Counties and now covered by Local B-737.  In addition to this I would exclude the Public Utilities operating at Kingman, Flagstaff and Winslow , Arizona .  My reason for excluding the Mining Industry in Northern Pinal County from both 570 and 640, is first; a number of the Electrical Workers now employed at Superior are members of B-518 of Miami ; and secondly; that part which would fall into 570’s territory is isolated mountain country and I doubt if 570 would be interested in it.  

B-657 of Jerome would have jurisdiction over the Mining Industry and all operations of the Phelps Dodge Corporation in the Jerome-Clarkdale District, including the Upper Verde Utilities owned and operated by Phelps Dodge.  

B-1100 of Prescott would have jurisdiction over all operations of the Arizona Power Corporation.  

B-387 would have jurisdiction over all operations of the Central Arizona Light and Power Company.  

B-266 would have jurisdiction over all operations of the Salt River Valley Water User’s Assn.  

B-518 of Miami would have jurisdiction over all electrical work in Gila County , including the Mining Industry, but excluding the operations of the Arizona Edison Company.  In addition thereto they should have jurisdiction over the mining industry at Superior , Arizona , as they now have membership there.  

I have attempted to give you all detail both as to inclusion and exclusion of certain phases of the industry and as to boundaries as we discussed them in San Francisco .  I think it could have been said in more simple fashion, such as follows:    

Jurisdiction of Local Unions

 B-1011 Bisbee – All the operations of the Arizona Edison Company, Cochise County .

 B-737-Miami – All the operations of the Arizona Edison Company in Gila, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma Counties .

 B-1116 Tucson – All the operations off the Tucson Gas, Elect. Light & Power Company.

 B-387-Phoenix – All the operations of the Central Arizona Light and Power Company.  

B-266-Phoenix – All the operations of the Salt River Valley Water User’s Assn.  

B-1100-Prescott – All the operations of the Arizona Power Corporation.  

B-487-Bisbee – Mining Industry Cochise County , excluding smelter at Douglas .  

B-434-Douglas – All Electrical work in Cochise County , excluding Public Utilities and the Mining Industry covered by B-487.  

B-1254-Clifton – All Electrical Work in Greenlee County – no exclusions.  

B-518-Miami – All Electrical Work in Gila County , and the Mining Industry at Superior , Arizona , Pinal County , excluding Public Utilities operating in either county.  

B-657-Jerome – Mining Industry Yavapai County and all other operations of the Phelps Dodge Corporation including the Upper Verde Utilities Co., but excluding other Public Utilities operating within the County.  

B-523-Ajo – Mining and Milling operations of Phelps Dodge Corporation, Ajo.  

B-570-Tucson – All Electrical Work in Pima, Graham, Santa Cruz and the eastern part of Pinal County as may be agreed upon by and between 570 and 640, excluding all Public Utilities and the Mining Industry.  

B-640-Phoenix – All Electrical Work in Maricopa, Yuma, Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo and that part of Apache lying south of Highway 66, and the western part of Pinal County as may be agreed upon by and between 640 and 570, but excluding all Public Utilities and the Mining Industry.  

On second thought I would not include Yuma in the jurisdiction of B-737 as would almost be forced to put another charter in there if, and when, they decide to unionize.