INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 17

What INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 17 does

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17 is a labor union local chartered under the International Union of Operating Engineers, representing approximately 2,000 members across six and a half counties in Western New York (Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Orleans, Wyoming, and Western Genesee). Founded circa 1900 and headquartered in Lake View, New York, the local operates from a small staff base of 1-10 administrative employees and delivers collective bargaining, member benefits administration, and trade training to two distinct membership cohorts: Operating Engineers, who serve as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors in construction; and Stationary Engineers, who maintain building facilities.

The local's core product is skilled-trade labor representation, delivered through Collective Bargaining Agreements (21 of which cover Stationary Engineers alone) and a 4-year, 5,000-hour minimum Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship program that combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Supplementary services include member benefits administration through the Central Pension Fund and Upstate NY Engineers Benefit Fund, regulatory advocacy via AFL-CIO WNY, and member engagement through the 'Beyond the Cab' podcast and a Members Only online portal that supports dues payment and registration.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through member dues, a recurring subscription-style model that funds bargaining, training, and benefits operations. The local is governed by an elected leadership team headed by Business Manager William Fekete, with President Josh Williams, Vice President and Administrative Manager James Smolinski Jr., and a slate of business agents, treasurers, and stewards. Distribution is direct to members and signatory employers, with no third-party resellers or external sales channels evident in the source material.

Name

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 17

Legal name

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17

Website

https://iuoe-17.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17 is a Western New York labor union local representing approximately 2,000 Operating Engineers and Stationary Engineers across six and a half counties, delivering collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, and member benefits since circa 1900.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union / Skilled Trades Representation

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor Relations & Union Management Training (EDABAIAK)

Keywords

• Labor union representation
• Heavy equipment operator training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Collective bargaining services
• Stationary engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

LAKEVIEW, New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Union members pay membership dues, which can be paid online through the IUOE17 Online Payment system. Dues support union operations, representation services, and member benefits.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IUOE Local 17 is a chartered labor union local that represents approximately 2,000 operating engineers, stationary engineers, heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors across six and a half counties in Western New York. It provides union membership, collective bargaining representation, a 4-year Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship Training Program (minimum 5,000 hours), and member benefits including health care, pension, and an online Members Only portal for dues payment and resource access.

Product overview

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17 is a labor union offering union membership programs for Operating Engineers (heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors in construction) and Stationary Engineers (building facility maintenance). The organization provides a four-year Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship Training Program with classroom and on-the-job components. Members gain access to a Members Only Section portal with form downloads and benefit information. The union covers six and a half counties in Western New York and has partnerships with approximately 2,000 members and 21 employers for Stationary Engineer agreements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Membership - Operating Engineers Union membership for Operating Engineers (heavy equipment operators, mechanics, and surveyors) in the construction industry across Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Orleans, Wyoming, and Western Genesee Counties. Provides collective bargaining, wages, family health care, pension, training, and lifetime career opportunities.
• Stationary Engineers Membership (Local 17S) Union membership for Stationary Engineers working inside buildings performing facility maintenance (boiler operation, HVAC, refrigeration, electronics). Available to individuals employed by one of 21 employers with a Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 17S.
• Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship Training Program Four-year apprenticeship program (minimum 5,000 hours) training individuals to become heavy equipment operators. Combines classroom and shop instruction with on-the-job training at signatory contractor sites and includes OSHA regulatory compliance training.
• Members Only Portal (IUOE17 Online Payment) Members-only online portal providing form downloads, member benefit information, online dues payment (via unionmembercenter.com), and a membership registration request workflow reviewed and approved by the IUOE-17 administrative office.

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing national union affiliation, support, and collective bargaining power for Local 17 members. The IUOE is the international labor union representing operating engineers.
• Upstate NY Engineers Benefit FundcoreOthersHealth and benefit fund providing healthcare coverage for union members and their families in the upstate New York region.
• Central Pension FundcoreOthersPension fund providing retirement benefits for IUOE members across the country.
• AFL-CIO WNYmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern New York chapter of the AFL-CIO labor federation, providing broader labor movement support and advocacy.
• WNY Labor TodayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor news publication serving Western New York, providing media coverage and visibility for union activities.
• Buffalo Niagara TradesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional labor-management partnership organization supporting skilled trades workforce development in the Buffalo Niagara region.
• NY Fair ContractingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition promoting fair contracting practices and responsible bidder policies in New York State construction.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542: IUOE Local 542 represents operating and stationary engineers in the Mid-Atlantic and operates trade training and employer-engagement programs. Its mix of construction labor, facility engineering, and apprenticeship services closely parallels Local 17's offering in a different territory.
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150: IUOE Local 150 is a substantially larger operating-engineers local with membership, apprenticeship training, contractor signatory relationships, and workforce placement. It provides a useful same-model, greater-scale regional benchmark.
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825: IUOE Local 825 serves operating engineers and related crafts across New York and New Jersey, combining apprenticeship training with signatory-employer labor relationships. Its operating-engineer focus and nearby Northeastern footprint make it a strong regional comparator to Local 17.
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66: IUOE Local 66 represents heavy-equipment operators, mechanics, and related skilled workers across a multi-state territory, with training and contractor relationships. Its craft mix and labor-union operating model are directly comparable to Local 17 despite the geographic difference.

Direct peers

• United Association Local 22: UA Local 22 represents plumbers, pipefitters, and related trades in the Buffalo area and operates apprenticeship and signatory-contractor programs. It compares closely as a regional craft union built around trained labor, collective bargaining, benefits, and employer placement.
• Laborers International Union of North America Local 91: LIUNA Local 91 is a Western New York construction labor local that recruits members, provides training and benefits, and works with signatory employers. It shares Local 17's regional labor-supply and apprenticeship model, although it represents laborers rather than operating engineers.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 41: IBEW Local 41 is a Buffalo-area craft labor organization with membership services, benefits, bargaining relationships, and apprenticeship training. Its same-region union structure and training-led workforce model make it a relevant local operating peer.

Others

• North America's Building Trades Unions: North America's Building Trades Unions is a national federation that coordinates apprenticeship, workforce development, and policy advocacy for affiliated construction trades. It provides a broader ecosystem comparator for the labor, training, and contractor relationships central to Local 17.
• Buffalo Niagara Trades: Buffalo Niagara Trades is a regional labor-management partnership focused on skilled-trades workforce development. Local 17 is a listed strategic participant, making the organization relevant as an ecosystem peer for recruitment, training, and employer engagement.
• New York State AFL-CIO: The New York State AFL-CIO is the statewide umbrella organization for affiliated labor unions, including Local 17's broader labor network. It is an ecosystem comparator for advocacy, affiliation, and statewide labor-policy exposure rather than a direct operating competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Local17Buffalo
• Facebookfacebook.com/146174459172064
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-union-of-operating-engineers-local-17

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 17