Our History:

Where we came from

A Local Union With A Rich History...

Local 547 began life in Detroit as Local 5 over a century ago.  The Local represented workers mostly in the boiler rooms of the city’s breweries.  Local 5 was one of 11 local unions that came together from around the country to found the National Union of Steam Engineers of America in 1896.  Over the years, as the trades and the times changed, the Union changed its name to the International Union of Operating Engineers.  

In 1944 the International reissued Local 5’s charter to the newly created Local 547. By the mid 1950’s, Local 547 had organized workers in area hotels, meat packing plants, the major newspapers, and major industrial power facilities.  Still, the biggest burst of growth for the Local Union was yet to come. 

Back in the 1950’s, besides Local 547, there were four other Operating Engineer Locals in Michigan:  Local 522 represented Detroit Board of Education engineers; Local 356 in Battle Creek; Local 357 in Jackson; and Local 331 in Grand Rapids.  Realizing that there is strength in unity, by the end of the 1960’s all these stationary operating engineer local’s in Michigan merged into Local 547 to create one strong and powerful union that was ready to go on an organizing blitz that made our Local what it is today.  Bolstered by the passage of the Public Employees Relations Act in 1965 that allowed collective bargaining for public employees, Local 547 organizers went out to organize members within dozens of school districts and municipalities throughout the state.  In 1968, Local 547 received statewide stationary jurisdiction from the International Union and also joined the Michigan State AFL-CIO. 

Today our Local has members in school districts, courthouses, auto parts shops, and even a guitar string factory.  Members of Local 547 reflect today’s diverse work force—many work in the traditional craft of stationary engineering, but there are also nurse’s aides, dietitians, janitors, EMS technicians and school bus drivers.  Our history shows that our union has been willing and able to create a better way of life for our members and our society in general.  We plan to keep that vision alive and growing.