About Iron Workers Local 8

Iron Workers Local 8 was chartered on January 1, 1901, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For 125 years, our members have built the steel skeleton of eastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Every highway overpass, every high-rise, every stadium and industrial plant in this region carries the work of Local 8 ironworkers in its bones.

We are part of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, one of the oldest building trades unions in North America. Our jurisdiction covers eastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, and our members live and raise families in the same communities where they work.

From the post-war building boom of the 1950s through the construction of Miller Park and the ongoing transformation of Milwaukee's skyline, Local 8 ironworkers have been on every major project. We take pride in the fact that our work stands for generations. The beams we connect today will hold weight for a hundred years.

Our training center in Milwaukee provides state-of-the-art apprenticeship education, certified welding programs, and continuing education for journeymen. We invest in our members because the work demands it. Ironwork is precise, physical, and safety-critical. There are no shortcuts.

What Ironworkers Do

Structural

Erecting the steel frameworks of buildings, bridges, and heavy infrastructure. Structural ironworkers read blueprints, connect beams with bolts and welds, and work at height to assemble the load-bearing skeleton of every major structure.

Ornamental

Installing stairs, railings, curtain walls, storefronts, and architectural metalwork. Ornamental ironworkers handle the visible steel and aluminum components that make a building functional and aesthetically complete.

Reinforcing

Placing and tying rebar inside concrete forms for foundations, walls, floors, and infrastructure. Reinforcing ironworkers (rodbusters) build the hidden tensile strength that prevents concrete from cracking under load.

Rigging

Planning and executing the movement of heavy steel, equipment, and materials using cranes, hoists, and rigging hardware. Riggers ensure every lift is calculated, safe, and precise.

Welding

Certified welding across multiple processes (SMAW, FCAW, GMAW) to create permanent structural connections. Welders hold specialized certifications and are tested regularly to maintain quality standards.

What We Stand For

Built to Last

We build structures that stand for generations. Our work is permanent, load-bearing, and done right the first time. There is no room for anything less.

Safety First

Ironwork is inherently dangerous. We train relentlessly, follow OSHA standards, and look out for every worker on the job. Everyone goes home.

Brotherhood

Local 8 is a community. We train the next generation, support our members, and show up for each other on the job and off it. That is what a union means.

Ready to Build Something Real?

Whether you want to start a career or need skilled ironworkers for your next project, Local 8 is here.