Union History Continues To Be Made At The Washington Monument

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Twenty-seven experienced members of Carpenters Locals 132, 1078 and 1145 (DC), 101 (Baltimore) and 1556 and 1846 (New York) recently completed the assembly of the structural scaffolding now surrounding the 555-foot tall Washington Monument. This is the first stage of repairs to the Monument’s stonework, damaged by the earthquake two years ago.  The sub-contractor, Universal Builders Supply Inc, a company with offices in Cheverly that also did the scaffolding for the Statue of Liberty, engineered the steel and aluminum 500-ton structure, which includes movable platforms, a lift for people and materials to the top of the shaft, and lots of places to snap on mandatory safety harnesses.  And though the scaffolding is now complete, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters Business Agent Scott Brumbaugh says that 1-2 members will remain on the project to adjust the platforms, and if any repairs are needed, 5-6 members will come back for this work. There have been no grievances and no accidents on the project and “we’ve made sure that it has been an extremely safe job,” reports shop steward Paul Meheem. “It’s exciting to work on a project that involves maintaining and preserving our American history.” The Monument, built between 1848 and 1884, contains another union connection: a plaque along the inside staircase placed by the Columbia Typographical Union – a Metro Washington Council affiliate – in 1849 which reads “Presented by the Columbia Typographical Society - Instituted January, 1815 - as a Memento of the Veneration of Its Members for the Father of His Country.” Columbia Typo, now part of CWA, is America’s oldest continuing local union. Though the Monument is tall by local standards, “This is nothing!” says foreman Andreus Canola, also a union member.  “We did a 1500 foot project in London at Canary Wharf three times the size of this project.” Click here for a vertigo-inducing video of the local work captured by Canola’s helmet cam.  Stay tuned for an update once the Stone Masons, members of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, get started on their part of the repairs. - report by Kathleen McKirchy; photo (above right) from Canola's video; (below left): union carpenters who worked on erecting the Washington Monument scaffolding, by Kathleen McKirchy