The Stone Mason's of Old Local 3 joined the International Union of America in 1903. At that time, there were four phases of the trade. Stone carvers and stone cutters, rubble masons, stone setters and marble setters. We had over one thousand members. We were in demand in commercial and residential work. In the early 1900's, many of our members worked on churches and housing. Terrazzo workers joined Old Local 3. At that time, there were different rates for each trade. Stone setters cold not work on marble inside buildings. Marble setters didn't work on the outside of buildings. Over the years of negotiations, we now earn the same wages. A Stone Mason can work on any phase of the trade doing marble, rubble, stone setting and terrazzo. Since the merger in 1994, our members can work in the five counties and the State of Delaware without any discrepancy. There is more unity now then in the early years. Our union is growing slowly and the average age is about 38 years right now.

History

On the 31st day of December 1993, several proud and respected unions were merged into a mega local union and again on the first day of February 1997, we were merged with local 1 and Delaware. We all were and still are proud of our old locals. We are a great union now with a very strong and respected heritage. We are a union with trades that were and still are the backbone of the construction industry. We are the Bricklayers, Stone Masons, Tile Setters, Finishers, Pointers, Cleaners & Caulkers and Terrazzo Workers that build your homes, offices, hospitals, and places of worship.

Historical Facts about Old Local 1 PA

It was said that the Declaration of Independence was written in the home of a Master Bricklayer from Philadelphia named Jacob Graf. Twenty years later one of his five sons named Henry Graf appeared as one of the incorporators of "The Bricklayers Company of the City and County of Philadelphia", in 1790. The company stated that a day's work consisted of 1,000 bricks a day from dawn till dark earning $1.70 per day. In 1827, the Bricklayers Company went on strike for a ten-hour day. The resolution was passed and the ten-hour day was established. In 1835, the General Trades Union of Philadelphia was formed. By 1864 Bricklayer Unions were established in Philadelphia and Baltimore. October 16, 1865 the International Union of Bricklayers of the United States of North America was launched, right here in Philadelphia in the Painters Hall.
Because of a disagreement, by 1900 the Philadelphia Local dropped out of the I.U. Local Chapter meetings were held once a week in Center City at the corner of 8th & Walnut and in bad weather at the houses of the members. Local 1' s first union hall was built before 1900 at 707 North Broad Street. The material was supplied by the contractors and was built by the members. We moved to 674 North Broad Street because the City wanted the property at 707 North Broad Street. From there we went to Hunting Park Avenue and Kensington Avenue. The hall was sold in 1994 after the merger.

After World War II there was a building boom in Philadelphia, Local 1 membership grew to 2000 members. The Health and Welfare Fund was started in 1952 and the Pension Fund was started in 1962.