John Quackenbush
WRITER

John entered the elevator industry June 30, 1958, in Washington, DC, Local 10. He brought with an Associate Applied Science Electrical degree he received from State University of New York at Canton in upstate New York. Haughton Elevator had recruited John and several others to work in various cities. He has worked as a helper, temporary mechanic, mechanic and mechanic-in-charge.

Education continued for John with completion of a one-year U.S. Department of Labor Supervisor Safety Training Program for the Construction Industry. John has a sincere concern in safety due to Local #10 having a high number of accidents and fatalities. These deaths, and a five-day hospital stay in August of 1960 for John when he suffered an electrical shock, instilled an interest in him for safety for our members. In pursuit of his interest President Wayne Williams selected John to attend the thirty-two week Safety and Health Program of OSHA. John represented the IUEC on the Building Trades Department Safety and Health Committee. He has also served as a member of the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Commission.

John served in various appointed and elected positions with Local #10, including Business Representative and Business Manager. As a Labor Leader, John completed Labor and Safety Courses at American University, Washington, DC; University of Washington, Seattle, WA. He has also completed nine courses at the George Meany Center, Silver Spring, MD. John was active in the Washington, DC, AFL-CIO Council serving as trustee and Executive Board member. He was an Executive Board member of the Virginia AFL-CIO. He served as Organizer and Secretary-Treasurer of the Washington Building Trades Council. John worked for the IUEC as Organizer from 1991 to 1997. He is a member of ASME, A17 Committee on Maintenance, Repair and Replacement; the A10 Construction Safety Committee, and the National Association of Vertical Transportation Professionals.


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