LOCAL 49er in the SPOTLIGHT

Basile “Buck” Brennan recognized for 55 years of loyal service –

And he’s not done yet!

For as long as 87-year-old Basile Brennan can remember, his friends and family have fondly called him “Buck.” While that nickname has certainly stuck, it seems he’s also earned a new designation: extraordinary Union member. According to The International Union of Operating Engineers - Local 49, Buck has been a member of the Local 49 for more than a half century. And while he officially retired from working heavy equipment almost two decades ago, Buck sure hasn’t stopped finding ways to support his Local 49 brothers and sisters. 

“To simply say ‘Buck’ Brennan has been loyal to us is not giving this skilled laborer enough credit,” stated Business Manager Glen Johnson. “Any time we’ve asked ‘Buck’ for anything, he’s never waivered.”

The latest example of Brennan’s unwavering dedication and surprising energy was seen near St. Cloud early this fall, when Local 49 entered into a labor dispute with Knife River & MDU Resources, Inc. One method the picketing members used to get their message across involved an oversize mobile billboard trailer: a clear statement of their position. Because they couldn’t just leave the billboard at Knife River’s main gate in Sauk Rapids each evening, members were spending a lot of time driving it home each evening. And, as you can imagine, all that moving could cause damage to the sign.

Well, as soon as Brennan heard of the situation, he immediately offered to help. Because he lives just a few miles from the Knife River plant, he instantly thought of his yard as a great overnight parking spot for the trailer. So he welcomed crews to his property to park the trailer for as long as they needed to.

This example is just one of many that have defined Brennan’s life and his union membership. Business Manager Glen Johnson recently recognized his commitment to serve Local 49 by presenting him with a special Local 49 denim jacket. Always humble, Brennan accepted the recognition by saying, “I don’t deserve this.”

A former heavy equipment operator who claims he helped to demolish about half of the city of St. Cloud in his heyday, Brennan worked his first highway project less than ten miles from his home in Benton County – earning $2.43 cents an hour. “From day one Local 49 has been a big part of my life. They’ve always been there looking out for my job safety and providing healthcare insurance that’s allowed me to live this long,” Brennan noted.

Immediately following the photo session and jacket ceremony, Brennan was asked, “So, where do you think you’ll wear your new jacket?” Buck replied without hesitation, “Oh, I’m going to save this jacket to wear in my casket. It’s too nice to wear around every day.” Well, we certainly hope that day’s a long way off.