Bill Text: IL SR0621 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Eric M. Dean on the occasion of his retirement as president of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. Thanks him for his continued service and dedication to the union and its members. Wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2026-02-19 - Resolution Adopted [SR0621 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SR0621-Introduced.html

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SR0621 LRB104 20880 LAW 34547 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
congratulate Eric M. Dean on the occasion of his retirement as
president of the International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; and
WHEREAS, Eric Dean, born and raised in Chicago, began his
career as an ironworker after joining the apprenticeship
program as a fourth-generation member of Local Union No. 63 in
December 1980, completing his apprenticeship in 1984; he
worked as a journeyman, foreman, and apprentice instructor
before becoming a local union officer in 1989, and he
ultimately held various offices within Local Union No. 63; and
WHEREAS, Eric Dean was appointed general organizer of the
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental
and Reinforcing Iron Workers in 1999, working in the
Department of Ornamental, Architectural and Miscellaneous
Metals; he became president of the Chicago and Vicinity
District Council of Iron Workers in 2005; he was appointed 9th
general vice president in 2008; he was elected as general
secretary of the International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers by
delegates to the union's 42nd International Convention in
2011; during his tenure, he graduated from the Harvard Labor

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Trade Program in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Eric Dean was unanimously elected general
president by the General Executive Council of the
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental
and Reinforcing Iron Workers on April 22, 2015, which became
effective on July 1, 2015; he was then elected as general
president for a five-year term by the delegates to the 43rd
International Convention in August 2016; and
WHEREAS, Eric Dean further served the union through his
work as secretary of the National Coordinating Committee for
Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP), a position he was elected to in
2015, and as a member on the Governing Board of Presidents of
North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and the
Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor and
Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), representing
130,000 union ironworkers; and
WHEREAS, Eric Dean provided more than four decades of
dedicated service to the International Association of Bridge,
Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, during
which his unwavering leadership strengthened the union,
expanded opportunities for working families, and raised the
bar for safety and solidarity across North America before
concluding his tenure on December 31, 2025; and

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WHEREAS, Eric Dean is the husband of Judy, and they are the
proud parents of three and grandparents of six; therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Eric
M. Dean on his retirement as president of the International
Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing
Iron Workers, thank him for his continued service and
dedication to the union and its members, and wish him all the
best in his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Eric Dean as an expression of our esteem and
respect.