The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 223 was founded on January 22, 1902. Eleven men signed the Charter, which began IBEW Local 223. They joined together to bring fair wages, safety on the job, and trained workers in the electrical industry. As the years went by electrical workers from all over Southeastern Massachusetts were forming IBEW Locals. In the years to come, there were IBEW Locals in the cities of New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton Massachusetts. In 1988 the IBEW needed to consolidate all of the Local unions from the Southeastern Massachusetts area into one, based in Lakeville Massachusetts.