Iron Workers Local 377

Organized Labor

Terry Stelly, Journeyman Local 377
Being an iron worker means a lot to me. I like putting things together and tearing stuff up. I have 32 years in the business. You have to keep on your toes. When I started, I saw guys fall, and we didn't have harnesses back then. The safety programs we have now are awesome. The rigs are a lot better, everything is a lot better. It's a lot safer. I worked on the Allied Bank Towers in Dallas, 63 stories. It was designed by I.M. Pei, one of the best architects in the world. We built a pyramid with different sides and unusual shapes. It was a lot more complicated than the TransAmerica Building. I like plumbing up buildings. Right after they hang the steel and before we snap the building, I go in and plumb it. When I'm done, I turn it loose so they can snap the bolts and weld it together. We use plumb cables, turn buckles, and a lot of pulling. It's a lot of fun. They give me a good strong kid to do all the cranking, and I do the shoeing. I tell them toward "in the house" or "outside the house."