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Labor Union

IUOE Local 150

Website:

local150.org/
Location:

Chicago, IL
Tax ID:

36-1581416
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(5)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $50,201,834
Expenses: $44,621,790
Assets: $120,458,084
Type:

Local Construction Workers Union
Parent Union:

International Union of Operating Engineers
President:

James M. Sweeney
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $56,863,910
Expenses: $57,100,359
Net Assets: $120,842,435

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IUOE Local 150 is a local union affiliated with the International Union of Operating Engineers representing construction workers in the Chicago area. The union has wielded significant political influence within Chicago politics since the 1980s and was led for many years by the late William Dugan, the longtime controversial president of the union. The union has been accused of various improprieties throughout its existence, and Dugan and the union were subject to a six-year FBI investigation that concluded in 2004 allegations that the union systematically vandalized equipment at non-union locations. The union represents workers throughout the greater Chicago area, including parts of northwest Indiana. 1

The union operates a political action arm called the Fight Back Fund, which acts as a lobbying arm for the union to oppose right-to-work laws and support increased state funding of construction projects, particularly related to funding for roads and infrastructure projects. 2

Background and History

IUOE Local 150 was founded in the late 1920s when the International Union of Operating Engineers, then called the International Union of Steam and Operating Engineers, consolidated the territory of multiple local unions that respectively represented different worker groups: “portable” locals of steam engineers who worked largely in the construction industry and “stationary” locals representing the engineers who maintained fixed boilers that served as power plants in buildings. 3

The union operates a large pension fund with over $2.7 billion in assets, partially due to the union’s “aggressive organizing of non-union workers” credited to longtime president Bill Dugan who took over leadership of the union in 1986. 4  

The union also notes that it has mobilized members to lobby for large capital improvement projects, which provided jobs and contracts throughout the 2008 economic downturn, including “Indiana’s ‘Major Moves’ and Illinois’ $31 billion capital program, which resulted in jobs for members during a period where the private sector was producing little to no employment opportunities.” 5

Political Advocacy

In 2015 IUOE Local 150 formed the Fight Back Fund, a political advocacy group that operates as the political lobbying arm of the IUOE Local 150 and is used by the union to run political advertisements, fund advocacy organizations and think tanks, and oppose right-to-work and other alleged anti-union policies. The organization has consistently lobbied for increased state funding of construction projects, especially roadways and bridges, highlighting the need for replacing many existing pieces of infrastructure. 6 7 8

Controversy

IUOE Local 150 is known as a powerful political force in the Chicago area and was led by William Dugan until his death in 2020. Dugan and Local 150 were subjects of FBI investigations that ended in 2004. The union was investigated for alleged violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and allegations of union members vandalizing construction equipment at non-union construction sites over several decades from the 1980s into the 2000s. 9

Redacted FBI files from the investigation noted that “Each victim has had virtually the same experience. At some point during the non-union contractor’s labor dispute with Local 150, the contractor’s equipment is damaged. The damage is usually the result of acid or some other substance being placed in the equipment’s hydraulics. The damage amounts have ranged from as little as $1,000 to as much as $500,000 or more per incident.” 10

The documents also noted that “Throughout the course of other investigations into activity by Local 150, witnesses have changed their stories, suddenly refused to cooperate, and one key witness in a bombing investigation allegedly committed suicide shortly before the trial. One man who testified against members of Local 150 in a civil matter awoke one morning to find [blacked out].” 11

No charges were filed in the investigation, however Dugan pled guilty in a different case for using connections with local police to identify license plates of non-union workers.  Dugan pled guilty to using his union post for personal gain and was sentenced to probation in 2010. 12

Leadership

James Sweeney is the principal officer of the Fight Back Fund according to tax filings. Sweeney is the president of IUOE Local 150 and worked for the union since 1987 when he was hired by William Dugan as the union’s first full-time organizer. Sweeney replaced Dugan as the president of the union upon Dugan’s death in 2020. Sweeney is also general secretary-treasurer of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which is the second-highest position in the international union. He was appointed to the Illinois state tollway board by Governor JB Pritzker (D). 13

References

  1. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
  2. “About.” Fight Back Fund. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://fightbackwithus.com/about
  3. “Our History.” IUOE Local 150. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://local150.org/local150/about/our-history/
  4. “Our History.” IUOE Local 150. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://local150.org/local150/about/our-history/
  5. “Our History.” IUOE Local 150. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://local150.org/local150/about/our-history/
  6. “About.” Fight Back Fund. Accessed August 20, 2023. https://fightbackwithus.com/about/
  7. “Investing in Education, Childcare & Public Works Will Grow Our Economy.” Fight Back Fund. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://fightbackwithus.com/investing-public-works/
  8. Fight Back Fund. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/475289211/202213139349302206/full
  9. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
  10. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
  11. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
  12. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
  13. Herguth, Robert. “FBI files detail dropped investigation of clout-heavy Chicago-area union.” Chicago Sun Times. December 16, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://chicago.suntimes.com/fbi-files/2022/12/16/23510398/fbi-files-william-dugan-operating-engineers-local-150-union-organized-labor
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1944

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $50,201,834 $44,621,790 $120,458,084 $1,968,763 N $0 $49,595,180 $204,570 $2,341,865
    2020 Dec Form 990 $48,271,402 $45,048,553 $118,185,293 $1,899,755 N $0 $47,611,270 $221,713 $2,064,407
    2019 Dec Form 990 $50,667,224 $52,297,999 $118,181,806 $2,042,900 N $0 $49,518,811 $274,196 $2,175,596 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $48,576,250 $54,265,486 $121,739,212 $1,941,419 N $0 $48,218,226 $404,624 $2,562,574 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $48,731,694 $48,064,378 $130,304,826 $1,728,257 N $0 $46,645,033 $559,283 $2,056,096 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $46,559,294 $44,180,364 $130,007,114 $1,629,996 N $0 $45,475,933 $545,154 $1,883,489 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $42,475,685 $35,455,595 $128,772,697 $1,290,284 N $0 $41,254,614 $584,367 $1,829,070 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $39,653,266 $31,363,814 $123,730,753 $1,236,511 N $0 $38,676,891 $374,268 $1,679,371 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $37,841,621 $29,629,772 $117,051,138 $1,117,578 N $0 $36,612,945 $255,351 $1,686,375 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $38,214,805 $28,450,786 $108,758,834 $944,603 N $0 $37,111,304 $203,442 $1,412,606 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $35,695,118 $27,140,684 $99,761,426 $828,313 N $0 $34,790,354 $129,774 $1,387,930 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    IUOE Local 150


    Chicago, IL