On Saturday, October 25, 2025, the members of IBEW Local 98 proudly celebrated the 125th Anniversary of our Local Union’s founding.
On January 5, 1900, after several unsuccessful attempts to formally organize electrical workers in the Delaware Valley a group of 17 courageous men came together to establish what would become IBEW Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. These 24 pioneers became our Charter Members, setting the foundation for generations of union electricians to come.
From our humble beginnings at Broad and Cherry Streets, IBEW Local 98 has grown into a powerhouse representing more than 5,800 members which includes retirees, active electrical workers, broadcast professionals, manufacturing employees, teachers, and more. Since 1900, the priorities of Local 98 and its officers have remained the same, listening to our members, fighting for fair wages and ensuring safe working conditions.
Today, IBEW Local 98 is more than just a union, it’s a political force that has helped elect Presidents, Governors, Mayors, Judges, and countless federal, state, and local officials. As the saying goes, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Local 98 not only has a seat at every table but we often help set the agenda.
Under the leadership of Business Manager Mark Lynch Jr., President Jim Foy, Apprentice Training Director Brian Myers, and the Apprentice Training Committee, the future of our Union is secure. The acquisition of our new, state-of-the-art Apprentice Training Center and the stunning new Union Hall at the Philadelphia Navy Yard marks a new era for Local 98. These facilities are a testament to the hard work and vision of the members who came before us and a symbol of the strong foundation our current leadership has built for the next 125 years and beyond.
### **Reflections from Leadership**
**Mark Lynch Jr., Business Manager**
_"This Anniversary is not just a celebration of milestones but a recognition of the sacrifices and victories of the men and women who built this legacy. Their hard work and dedication created a movement that ensured job site protection, healthcare benefits, and retirement security that we all enjoy today. It was their resilience that connected neighborhoods, powered the city’s growth, and made Philadelphia a place where progress and community have always gone hand and hand. As we celebrate our past, we step forward with confidence into the future. Representing more than 5,000 members, Local 98 stands more united and more powerful than ever._
**Jim Foy, President
**
_“It feels like only yesterday that my father, Local 98 President Harry Foy, served as Master of Ceremonies for our 100th Anniversary. I remember how proud he was to honor our past while looking forward to the bright future he knew awaited IBEW Local 98._
_Now, 25 years later, I share that same pride as I stand before you as President of this great Union. Like my father, I’ve always listened to our members and have never forgotten where we came from, while working tirelessly to ensure our future remains strong and secure._
_In recent years, we’ve accomplished more for our members than ever before. Through pension reform, improved health benefits, responsible reductions in dues, and focusing on putting our members first, we’ve restored a sense of Pride to this Union, and everyone can see it._
_There was never any chance that Business Manager Lynch, our team, or I would allow this Union to falter, and we’ve only just begun. Local 98 is stronger, more united, and more prepared than ever for the future, and that future is bright.”_