IBEW 1319 HISTORY

IBEW Local 1319 has a proud history rooted in the growth of Pennsylvania's utility and outside electrical construction industries. The local was officially chartered on June 3, 1942, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, during a period when electrical infrastructure was rapidly expanding across the region. Since its founding, Local 1319 has represented outside lineworkers, utility employees, telephone workers, cable television workers, line-clearance and tree-trimming professionals, and other skilled workers who build, maintain, and protect critical electrical and communications systems.

As part of the broader International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which was founded in 1891 in St. Louis, Missouri, Local 1319 has carried forward the IBEW's mission of promoting safety, fair wages, quality training, and strong representation for electrical workers. Over the decades, the local has expanded its reach to serve 32 counties across Pennsylvania, becoming a vital voice for workers throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Local 1319 has played an important role in major utility and transmission projects throughout Pennsylvania, helping provide skilled union labor for large-scale power infrastructure upgrades and reliability improvements. The local has also built a reputation for strong apprenticeship and training programs, emphasizing safety, professionalism, and craftsmanship.

Today, IBEW Local 1319 continues to uphold the values that have guided it since 1942—Safety, Pride, and Professionalism—while representing thousands of skilled workers who keep the region's electrical and communications networks operating safely and reliably.