Happy 100th Birthday to a Long-Time Union Member
Paul Pimentel, research director for the Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), pays tribute to an extra special union brother.
On May 28, George Dirig will celebrate his 100th birthday and in August, his 75th year of continuous service as a member of SMWIA Local 20.
Dirig started working in 1923 for CV Dirig Sheet Metal at age 14. The shop where he worked fabricating furnaces belonged to his brother. The shop later evolved into a specialty shop with a long list of repeat clients throughout the Indianapolis area.
Dirig filed his official application to join the SMWIA on May 1, 1934, at age 24. The original application form, which is still on file at Local 20’s Fort Wayne office, indicates he was earning 60 cents per hour before joining the union. His pay would rise to 80 cents per hour after his application was accepted.
