LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of The Inter-
national Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1249

WHEREAS, Labor unions, through the integrity and dedication of their
leadership, have assumed an essential and integral role in ensuring the
welfare, safety and economic stability of the workers of this State and
Nation; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 75th
Anniversary of The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
1249 to be celebrated with a party on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at Turning
Stone Casino Event Center, Verona, New York; and
WHEREAS, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Local 1249 was chartered on May 1, 1941, in Syracuse, New York; the
Local's first office was a rented space in the Eckel Theater Building; a
decade later, in 1952, the first Tree Trimming Contract was signed with
1249; and
WHEREAS, This started a chapter that would rapidly develop into an
integral part of the Local; in 1959, realizing the potential of the
Local, a building was purchased on West Washington Street in Syracuse; a
few years later, in 1965, Outside Telephone work was another unit added
to 1249; and
WHEREAS, Seeing how fast the Local was growing, it was apparent 1249
was going to need its own property, not just its own building; in 1969,
a brand new building was built at the current location in East Syracuse,
on Fremont Road; and
WHEREAS, By the end of the 1980s, the building that had been proudly
constructed only a few decades earlier had also become too small for
Local 1249; in 1989 a new, larger building was put up at the same site;
and
WHEREAS, Appreciating the need for the organizing of smaller units,
Local 1249 started representing Municipal Units around the state in
1980; the units that are represented by Local 1249 today include: Frank-
fort Power & Light, the Village of Ilion, the Village of Lake Placid,
the Town of Massena, the Village of Mohawk, the City of Plattsburgh and
the City of Watertown; and
WHEREAS, Each municipality carries their own officers and each negoti-
ate their own independent contract; and
WHEREAS, After 75 years, Local 1249 has grown into a remarkable part
of the IBEW, now representing nearly 2,000 members throughout the State
of New York; and
WHEREAS, Remaining true to its mission to enhance the quality of life
of its members, Local 1249 is proud to represent each and every one of
its members, and looks forward to representing new generations of IBEW
members; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of The International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Local 1249; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local
1249.