Edwin D. Hill
Encyclopedia
Edwin D. Hill is an electrical worker, labor union
activist and labor leader in the United States
. Since January 2001, he has been president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(IBEW), AFL-CIO
.
, and graduated from Freedom High School in Freedom, Pennsylvania
. He took courses at Penn State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania
, but did not matriculate.
In 1956, Hill joined IBEW Local
712 in Beaver, Pennsylvania
as a journeyman wireman, graduating from the apprenticeship program in 1960. Becoming active in his local union, Hill was elected to the union's political action committee in 1961. In 1964, Hill was elected vice president of the local, eventually becoming president. He was elected the local's business manager in 1970.
During this time, Hill married his wife, Rosemary, and they had three children.
While serving as the union's business manager, Hill became active in larger labor movement issues. He was elected treasurer, then vice president and Committee on Political Education (COPE, the union's political action committee
) chairman. He resigned in 1978. Hill was also elected president of the Beaver County Central Labor Council (CLC) in 1972, serving until 1977. In 1976, Hill was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO. This position forced him to retire from his positions with the building trades council and CLC. He remained with the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO until 1997.
In 1982, IBEW president Charles Pillard appointed Hill to be an international representative with the national union. During his time with the international union, Hill completed a number of labor courses at Pennsylvania State University
and at the National Labor College
.
In 1992, Hill was appointed Third District Office International Representative. He served in that position until 1994, when he was named Third District Vice President, overseeing union activities in Pennsylvania
, New York
, New Jersey
and Delaware
.
In 1998, the IBEW membership, meeting in convention, voted to alter the IBEW constitution and combine that office of secretary with the office of treasurer. Hill now assumed the duties of both offices. Delegates also changed the constitution to require voting for president by secret ballot
.
Hill was an activist secretary-treasurer. He streamlined the union's accounting systems and updated its record-keeping and membership databases. He also oversaw an expansion of the union's training programs, and worked with Barry to pour new resources into organizing. Hill also built up the union's political action fund, and began its first grassroots member mobilization efforts. As a trustee, Hill also worked to improve the performance of the union's benefit
and pension funds
. Almost as soon as he took office as trustee
, he fired three managers of the $6.8 billion IBEW-National Electrical Contractors Association pension fund. The three had been part of the fund's investment staff, which had been established only a few years earlier.
Hill has a been a strong and public backer of AFL-CIO president John Sweeney
. During Sweeney's difficult re-election bid in 2005, Hill was a prominent Sweeney organizer and spokesman.
In 2011, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Edwin D. Hill was named the newest member of the AIL
/NILICO
Labor Advisory Board.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activist and labor leader in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Since January 2001, he has been president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is a labor union which represents workers in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Panama and several Caribbean island nations; particularly electricians, or Inside Wiremen, in the construction industry and linemen and other...
(IBEW), AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
.
Early life and local union career
Hill was born in Center Township, Beaver County, PennsylvaniaCenter Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania
Center Township is a township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States.Center Township is a rapidly growing community located approximately northwest of Pittsburgh...
, and graduated from Freedom High School in Freedom, Pennsylvania
Freedom, Pennsylvania
Freedom is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River northwest of Pittsburgh. In the early years of the twentieth century, the chief industries were the production of oil, caskets, and monuments. In 1900, 1,783 people lived in Freedom; in 1910, 3,060 people...
. He took courses at Penn State University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
, but did not matriculate.
In 1956, Hill joined IBEW Local
Local union
A local union, often shortened to local, in North America, or a union branch in the United Kingdom and other countries is a locally-based trade union organization which forms part of a larger, usually national, union.Local branches are organized to represent the union's members from a particular...
712 in Beaver, Pennsylvania
Beaver, Pennsylvania
Beaver is a borough in and the county seat of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, at the confluence of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,775, having dropped from 5,641 in 1940....
as a journeyman wireman, graduating from the apprenticeship program in 1960. Becoming active in his local union, Hill was elected to the union's political action committee in 1961. In 1964, Hill was elected vice president of the local, eventually becoming president. He was elected the local's business manager in 1970.
During this time, Hill married his wife, Rosemary, and they had three children.
While serving as the union's business manager, Hill became active in larger labor movement issues. He was elected treasurer, then vice president and Committee on Political Education (COPE, the union's political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
) chairman. He resigned in 1978. Hill was also elected president of the Beaver County Central Labor Council (CLC) in 1972, serving until 1977. In 1976, Hill was elected a vice president of the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO. This position forced him to retire from his positions with the building trades council and CLC. He remained with the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO until 1997.
In 1982, IBEW president Charles Pillard appointed Hill to be an international representative with the national union. During his time with the international union, Hill completed a number of labor courses at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and at the National Labor College
National Labor College
The National Labor College is the only accredited higher education institution in the United States devoted exclusively to educating union members, leaders and staff. It was established as a training center by the AFL-CIO in 1969 to strengthen union member education and organizing skills...
.
In 1992, Hill was appointed Third District Office International Representative. He served in that position until 1994, when he was named Third District Vice President, overseeing union activities in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
Appointment as international secretary
In March 1997, IBEW international secretary Jack F. Moore announced his retirement, effective April 1, 1997. IBEW President John Joseph "Jack" Barry appointed Hill to be secretary to fill Moore's unexpired term. The IBEW's executive council then confirmed his appointment. As secretary, Hill also was chair of the IBEW Committee on Political Education, and a trustee to the National Electrical Benefit Fund and the IBEW pension benefit fund.In 1998, the IBEW membership, meeting in convention, voted to alter the IBEW constitution and combine that office of secretary with the office of treasurer. Hill now assumed the duties of both offices. Delegates also changed the constitution to require voting for president by secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
.
Hill was an activist secretary-treasurer. He streamlined the union's accounting systems and updated its record-keeping and membership databases. He also oversaw an expansion of the union's training programs, and worked with Barry to pour new resources into organizing. Hill also built up the union's political action fund, and began its first grassroots member mobilization efforts. As a trustee, Hill also worked to improve the performance of the union's benefit
Employee benefit
Employee benefits and benefits in kind are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries...
and pension funds
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
. Almost as soon as he took office as trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
, he fired three managers of the $6.8 billion IBEW-National Electrical Contractors Association pension fund. The three had been part of the fund's investment staff, which had been established only a few years earlier.
Presidency
In 2000, Barry, then 76 and ailing, announced he would not seek re-election as president of the IBEW. Hill was appointed President on January 29, 2001 and easily won reelection to a 5 year term at the International convention, in September of that year. Jeremiah J. O'Connor, his running mate, was elected secretary-treasurer. It was the first presidential election in IBEW history which utilized the secret ballot.Hill has a been a strong and public backer of AFL-CIO president John Sweeney
John Sweeney (labor leader)
John Joseph Sweeney was the president of the AFL-CIO from 1995 to 2009.-Early years:Born in The Bronx, New York, Sweeney is the son of Joseph and Agnes , both Irish immigrants. The family moved to Yonkers in 1944, where Sweeney attended St. Barnabas Elementary School and graduated from Cardinal...
. During Sweeney's difficult re-election bid in 2005, Hill was a prominent Sweeney organizer and spokesman.
In 2011, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers President Edwin D. Hill was named the newest member of the AIL
American Income Life Insurance Company
American Income Life Insurance Company based in Waco, Texas, provides supplemental life insurance to labor unions, credit unions, and associations. American Income Life was founded in 1951. The company’s executive offices have been located in Waco, Texas, since 1959...
/NILICO
National Income Life Insurance Company
National Income Life Insurance Company , based in Liverpool, New York, provides supplemental life insurance to members of labor unions, credit unions, and associations. NILICO has State General Agents who have offices across New York state to serve working families throughout the Empire State. A.M...
Labor Advisory Board.