Like America itself, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers was born of a farsighted search for the better way of life.

It was 80 years ago, over--of a century. Across the Atlantic a continent was engulfed in a war to quell the oppression of an avaricious few. Its reverberations and ever darkening shadows were moving westward toward a free America.

At the same time, there began to emanate upon the members of a great profession--a few members--an awareness that not all injustice was far removed and impersonal.

By the time of World War I, the concerted forceful and decisive actions of mechanics, laborers, carpenters, etc., had opened to them doors of advancement and remuneration that remained tightly barred against the professional and technical employees’ talent and education.

But, for the professional and technical employees, these doors were destined to open slowly and cautiously -- but had to open. Such was the resolve of the pioneers of those early days. It was a revolutionary movement and was, not surprisingly, met with bewilderment and chagrin. Professional engineers organized and that was accepted, assuming, of course, that they were organized into ethical societies for social advancement and educational progress. But professional engineers organized in a labor union? Unthinkable! Yet, some had considered it seriously.

Recognition, of course, was the answer. When they chose their profession they thought they had insured that. Now they had to look for a new answer. It was apparent that the only answer available was union organization, and group action.

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