William Neal Coleman was General Organizer and International Representative for the Iron Workers International Union, and a member of Iron Workers Local 509.

In the late 1800s, the increased number of railroads around the United States, combined with the use of new materials such as cast iron and steel, led to stronger, safer forms of bridges being built to support them. At the same time, these new materials also allowed for innovative forms of building construction to be developed. The face of the construction industry was changing, and a specialized type of iron worker was born. Structural and ornamental ironworkers were responsible for the construction of some of the most famous structures in North America, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Sears Tower, and the World Trade Center.

The extremely dangerous nature of the work, and the lack of workmen's rights, led to the formation of The International Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers of America on February 4, 1896. Today the union represents 120,000 ironworkers across America who work on bridges, structural steel, ornamental, architectural, and miscellaneous metals, rebar, and in shops.