About Us

What Do Iron Workers Do?

Ironworkers are craftsmen who erect, assemble or install fabricated structural metal products, usually large metal beams, in the erection of industrial, commercial or large residential buildings. Structural Ironworkers erect the steel framework of bridges, buildings, and other structures including metal storage tanks and overhead crane runways that support heavy equipment. Reinforcing ironworkers (rodmen) set steel bars or steel mesh in concrete forms to strengthen concrete in buildings and bridges. Ornamental Ironworkers install metal stairways, catwalks, grating, grills, screens, fences, and decorative ironwork. They also do a variety of maintenance work in industrial plants. Ironworkers use a variety of hand and power-operated tools.

Heritage of Iron Workers Local Union 549 (previously Local 20)

As stated by Tom Montes in 1984, “A complete history of Ironworkers Local 20 and Local 549 would be difficult to construct in chronological order. To embrace every tremendously comic job story and union meeting incident would be desirable but impossible for one writer to set in print. To recall all of the tragedies that our brother ironworkers have suffered would cause pain and sad memories, for there are many buildings and bridges yet to build. This naturally incomplete history can only hope to recall to brother ironworkers their own history of hard physical labor and mental achievement that has created a better life for their fellow citizens and children.”

The International Association of Bridge and Structural Ironworkers was organized in 1896 in Pittsburgh, PA. Wheeling Ironworkers Local Union 20 was chartered only six years later. This indicates that Wheeling was very much a part of the early years of the labor movement. It was in 1937 that Local Union 20 became known as Local Union 549. The early members of Local 549 and previous members of Local 20 brought with them a set of core values and principles that are still exhibited today.

In 1902, when Local Union 20, Wheeling, WV received its charter from the International Association of Bridge and Structural Ironworkers, Wheeling received jurisdiction for union steel erection within the entire state of WV. Members of Wheeling, WV Ironworkers Local Union 20 traveled to work by horse, horse and wagon, some by railway, and yes, some even traveled to work on mule. Many men simply walked to work regardless if a job was reasonably close or miles away. These early ironworkers did not consider traveling to work any more of a hardship than present day ironworkers of Local 549 consider two and three hour automobile trips a hardship. Ironworkers have always been elated to have employment; the hardship of distance has forever been secondary.

Structural steel was not always erected with long boom Manitowoc cranes or cherry pickers, ringers, derricks, and other heavy-powered steel erection equipment. Years ago, structural steel was raised by horse powered bull wheel derrick and hand-line. Steel was also carried and lifted into place by the ironworkers, without assistance of power. Good old-fashioned “bull-work” was a significant part of the steel erection industry in the early years. Canton, OH, Youngstown, OH and Wheeling, WV Ironworkers all received around $3.00 a day in early 1908.

Ironworker Local Union 20 meetings were held at the Labor Temple, 1506 Market Street in Wheeling. Living members of Local Union 20 and certainly living members of Local Union 549 will never forget those tread worn stairs leading up to the hall at 1506 Market Street. Tread worn by ironworkers who felt sure that this would be the day that they would be sent out; tread worn stairs of angry ironworkers looking for the “business agent”. If the meeting hall and those tread worn steps at the Labor Temple could have spoken, they would have told of humor and tragedy countless times over.

Three significant and well-known steel erection projects constructed by the ironworkers in the early years of Local Union 20 were Benwood Wheeling Steel Works, the sixty-six inch strip mill in Steubenville, OH, and the Bellaire Bridge.

Local Union 549 has advanced and grown over time. There are currently 470 active members compared to a maximum of seventy-five members in 1934. Our men and women have constructed a great number of schools, hospitals, shopping centers, buildings, and bridges. The following is a short list of some projects that our union members have worked on over the past ten years:

Chester, WV: Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Center
Cresap, WV: Installation of SCR’s and Scrubbers at Mitchell Power Plant
Follansbee, WV: Coke Battery Rebuild
Morgantown, WV: The Recreation Center and the Life Science Building at WVU, The Eye Institute, and Mon General Hospital
Wheeling, WV: Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center, Cabelas, JC Penney’s, Kohl’s, Target, and Lowe’s
PA: Bridge at Mon Fayette Expressway
Brilliant, OH: Installation of SCR’s and Scrubbers at the Cardinal Plant
Straton, OH: Installation of SCR’s and Scrubbers at the Sammis Plant

Local Union 549 will continue to grow and increase its standards and core values. Local 549’s goal is to train its members to be productive and financially competitive; to enable them to receive wages and benefits for themselves and their families. We give thanks to the early members of Local 549 who left our present membership a legacy of brotherhood and self- discipline. They will always be remembered and honored for their hard work and dedication.