Local 1260

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Hawaii

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers first appeared in Hawaii. Representing employees of Hawaiian Electric Company, the Navy Yard, and the Mutual Telephone Company in 1901 as IBEW Local 111 and again in 1919 as IBEW Local 545. It wasn’t until the Wagner Act gave workers the right to organize and bargain together that Hawaii’s labor movement began to expand, spreading quickly between the electrical and utility industries.

During this increase, eighty-four workers of the Hawaiian Electric Company organized and IBEW1260 was chartered on June 2, 1941. Led by our first Business Manager Joseph Zasymovitch, IBEW1260 negotiated with the Hawaiian Electric Company until its first agreement was signed on May 3, 1943. Major gains were made during these lengthy negotiations including a four-step grievance procedure, eleven unpaid holidays, vacation time and wage increases of about ten cents per hour.

Shortly after IBEW1260 and Hawaiian Electric reached an agreement, the employees at the Maui Electric Company, Hilo Electric Company, Hilo Gas Company and Molokai Electric Company organized and became IBEW members in 1944.  ​​

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS ON TELEVISION

In June of 1954, KGMB-TV became the first television station represented by IBEW1260 and shortly thereafter all privately owned television stations in the state followed suit.

WELCOME ABOARD GUAM

On February 1, 2002, IBEW1260 was certified by the NLRB as the bargaining agent for employees on the Air Force and Naval bases in the Territory of Guam. On this day we welcomed nearly 700 members into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers family.

Today, IBEW1260 represents over 3500 members, working under 37 agreements, at 44 companies, and continues to advocate for all workers throughout the Pacific, both organized and not, through workplace and legislative action.

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