History

IBEW Local #31 is a Professional and Industrial Union located in Duluth, MN. Our Members are directly employed with the companies they work for – they are hired by and receive their wages and benefits from the employer. Local #31 is the bargaining agent and representative for our Contract Bargaining Agreements and their administration. We strive to support workers by securing strong wages and benefits, cohesive working conditions and environments, and a platform for their needs and ideas.



The original organization of the Electrical Workers of the IBEW occurred November 21, 1891, known then as Local Union #25. The Local was composed of Utility Workers and Construction Inside Wiremen. Later, on August 20, 1899, becoming known as IBEW Local Union #31.

April 1, 1976, Local #31 was divided – Local #31 came to represent the Utility Workers, and the Construction Inside Wiremen became Local #242 with a new charter.

In our long history, though some events are lost to history with the loss or destruction of early records, the Local #31 charter has persevered since August 23, 1899.

Shortly after the formation of the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (NBEW) first Union in St Louis, MO, a group of inside wiremen and linemen working for the Zenith City Telephone Company, Duluth General Electric Company, and contractors formed our first independent Union. This Union functioned for several years until an organizer came to Duluth via the “side door pullman.” He placed the group under a charter of the NBEW.

The signatures on that charter are:

  • · Clifford Higgins, Virginia

  • · Emil A Nelson, MA Hibbard, First Recording Secretary

  • · TE Marks

  • · Otto Almquist

  • · JH McLaughlain

  • · Fred Fisher

  • · Adolph Otto

  • · Robert Jennings

Among the few records intact are agreements with closed shop clauses (1902, 1903, 1905, and 1906), including signatures by CE Van Bergen, former General Manager of the Duluth General Electric Company, which eventually became Minnesota Power.

During this time, our Union belonged to the Collins-McNulty faction, and it was eventually one of the last electrical unions to go over to the Reid-Murphy faction - then recognized by the American Federation of Labor.

A duplicate charter was granted on January 11, 1913 and has since been amended to a “mixed and B Class” status on May 25, 1937. This latest change permitted affiliation of factory and other employees in the electrical industry.

In 1919, Brother William Munian was elected a City Commissioner of Duluth and served, with merit, through a most arduous term when the open shoppers (through the Builders Exchange and the notorious Citizens Alliance) made a concerted battle against union labor. Strife was not new to the Brotherhood; our history had been previously marked by a general lockout in 1907.

The real Members of the Union remained steadfast in their determination to hold their gains. In 1933, with 12 inside wiremen and 6 utility workers as the total Membership, a drive for recruitment was made.

Today we have over 800 Members in good standing. Our Membership is comprised of employees from investor-owned utilities, municipals, rural electrical cooperatives. We welcome new Members from all industries – we seek opportunity to welcome diversity in our Membership and their professions.

Local #31 currently represents:

      • · Allete Renewable Resources, Inc.

      • · Arrowhead Electric Cooperative

      • · Bayfield Electric Co-op

      • · City of Brainerd - Administrative Support

      • · City of Brainerd - Water and Light Department

      • · City of Moose Lake - Lake Water & Light

      • · City of Staples - Water & Light Commission

      • · City of Two Harbors - Water & Light Department

      • · City of Wadena - Electric Water Department

      • · Cooperative Light & Power of Lake County

      • · Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light

      • · Itasca Mantrap Cooperative Electric Association

      • · Lake Country Power

      • · Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative

      • · Minnesota Energy Resources

      • · Minnesota Power

      • · Public Utility Commission of Proctor

      • · Superior Water Light & Power

      • · Todd-Wadena Electric Co-Op