HR0295 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0295 LRB097 11585 GRL 54597 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Steamfitters Local 353 was granted a charter for membership from the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada on June 10, 1911 in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Steamfitters Local 353 started humbly with a membership of 12 men; in the last 100 years, the organization has grown to a membership of 621 journeymen and apprentices; and

WHEREAS, In 1949, Steamfitters Local 353 was instrumental in the organization of the refrigeration industry, welcoming those organized members into Local 353; and

WHEREAS, Steamfitters Local 353 merged with Local 528 from Pekin on January 1, 1978 and Local 579 from Canton on October 1, 1981; these mergers increased the jurisdictional area of Local 353 to encompass 11 counties in central Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The members of Steamfitters Local 353 work tirelessly in many fields, including pipefitting, refrigeration, HVAC, food processing plants, chemical plants, powerhouses, hospitals, and green awareness projects, thereby helping to make their communities comfortable, safe, and healthy; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for a well-trained workforce, Steamfitters Local 353 started the Joint Apprentice Training Committee in 1948; the Local 353 apprenticeship program strives to equip their members with the skills, certifications, and training necessary to become valuable members of the work-force in central Illinois and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the need to create a proactive and well-trained workforce, Steamfitters Local 353 broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility on September 17, 1998; the organization moved into their present location in July of 1999; and

WHEREAS, Steamfitters Local 353 has worked to create a sense of solidarity among their members by promoting numerous union causes, including labor rallies, the Peoria Labor Day Parade, and job fairs at local area schools; Local 353 also participates in "Get out to Vote" by manning phone banks; and

WHEREAS, Steamfitters Local 353 contributes to humanitarian causes in its community; Local 353 sponsors an annual charity golf outing which contributes to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, providing scholarships for handicapped students and the Children's Miracle Network; members of the Local man phone lines at the Children's Miracle Network telethon; the Local also hosts an annual blood drive for the Red Cross, which encourages their members to "give the gift of life" and actively supports the United Way, both financially and through volunteer work; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of Steamfitters Local 353 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the organization's charter with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the members of Steamfitters Local 353 as a symbol of our esteem and respect.