A good history of the local bricklayer's union is included in the article “Heyday! The Labor Movement in 19th-Century Grand Rapids” by Michael Johnston in Grand River Valley History, Volume 22. This summary is based on that article.

Unions were first organized in Grand Rapids around the time of the Civil War. The Bricklayers Local No. 1 was the first bricklayers union in the state and was established right after the Civil War. After experiencing an initial boom, the chapter faltered due to unpaid member's dues. It was re-established in October 1884 and grew quickly.

The Bricklayers Local No. 1 was active in two strikes in the 1890s. The first strike, in March 1891, sought to increase wages to 45 cents an hour instead of a scale of 35-45 cents per hour. The strike lasted only 45 days before contractors submitted to the union's demands.

The second strike, beginning in early 1893, sought an 8-hour workday. This strike lasted substantially longer, partially due to economic conditions. After the strike began, local contractors advertised in out of state newspapers for help. However, Bricklayers Local No. 1 had recently joined with the Bricklayers and Masons International Union and, with this association, kept all union bricklayers out of Grand Rapids. The strike was nearly successful when the nation plunged into a depression and new construction crawled to a stop. With jobs short, local members began to break the strike and the union ran out of money for strike pay. The local union sought assistance from the International Union and, after an initial refusal, were given help with strike pay. The strike ended on September 1894, with the 8 hour day granted but with wages down to 25 cents an hour.

Bricklayers Local No. 1 continued until 1993 when they merged with Local 9 of Lansing due to a shrinking membership.