By Kaniehtonkie

Michael Terrance made history on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 when he was sworn in as Ironworkers Local 33 president. Hailing from a long line of ironworkers Terrance took his oath under the watchful eye of his father Kenny Terrance and James Dean, Terrance's first apprentice teacher and former Local 33 president.

Michael has been a union member for the past thirty-three years. He has worked alongside his father Kenny and his uncles, Eddie, Pat, Ronnie, Ray, Jack and several nephews throughout the years.

Terrance has worked with several Akwesasronon over the years. But it wasn't his fellow Mohawks he had to win over, it was his fellow union brothers. Iron Workers Local No.33 was chartered on April 15, 1902 by the International Association with eighteen original members. Their jurisdiction covers all or part of twelve counties in the Western and Finger Lakes areas of New York. Local 33 has about 175 union members.

This is a significant moment in union history. This is the first time a Mohawk has been voted in as a president. According to Terrance, his father and other fellow Mohawk union members held various positions in the union over the years, but never in the role of 'president'. It took one hundred and eighteen years to vote in a Mohawk ironworker to lead a union. Often hailed to be "the best ironworkers on the planet", one has to wonder why it took so long.

Encouraged by his mentors Roy Tarbell Sr. and Harvey Boots, Terrance campaigned on his past thirty-three years of work experience in the union, his current position as an apprentice teacher and 'making sure the Local is progressive, transparent and easily accessible.' Terrance is an International Apprentice Instructor and certified to instruct OSHA 500, Structural Steel I and II, Cranes and Rigging, OSHA 10 and 30, Subpart R, Torch and Welding and Foreman's Training Class.

Michael Terrance being sworn in by James Dean, Terrance's first apprentice teacher and a former union president.

Terrance said, "Bruce Arquette, Francis Arquette, Dave Mitchell, Billy Woods, Harvey Boots, Mike Tarbell, and Roy Tarbell Sr. were some of the men who helped me become the man I am today, but my father was the greatest." 

Roy Tarbell Sr. added, "I've known Mike since he was an apprentice. He's such a good person and so hard working. It's been a long road for all of us. He deserves this."

Terrance will bring experience from the bottom up; from the boots on the ground as they say to run one of the largest unions in New York State.