Insulators Local 24 Marks Centennial

More than 450 turned out last Saturday, October 6 for Insulators Local 24’s 100th anniversary celebration. The local was first chartered in 1907 by just 11 organized insulation and asbestos workers from the metro area. The local successfully increased wages for heat, frost, asbestos and insulator workers, as well as advocating an 8-hour day, shorter work week and benefits including healthcare and pensions. “Our craftsmanship can be seen in the government buildings, monuments, sports venues and grand tourist attractions,” the local reported in its centennial adbook. “Every construction worker shares a special pride in re-visiting a job they have helped build. That’s especially true in a city built to demonstrate the freedoms our members cherish.” In addition to many community-based activities, the local has been active in raising funds for mesothelioma and other cancer research; mesothelioma is the cancer that claims the lives of many insulators and asbestos workers annually.