Powering Down
Calif.'s last nuclear plant
to close

Living by the Code
Las Vegas utility partnership fuels cooperation

How to Win in Organizing
Persistence and a good message

What's the NLRB?
Don't know? You should.
Here's why.

High Visibility Plea
Del. local seeks
kidney for member

Water, Rest, Shade
The key to a safe
summer outside

North of 49°
B.C. Local Wins Contract on Province's Largest Hydro Dam Project

Au nord du 49° parallèle
La section locale en Colombie-Britannique remporte le plus grand contrat de projet de barrages hydrologiques dans la province

Does Trump Build Union?
AN IBEW INVESTIGATION

EDITOR'S NOTE: To assure members of the accuracy of the information included in this article, it contains endnotes. The rest of the information and quotes are from our interviews with IBEW leaders.

At the height of the real estate boom in 2005, Donald Trump announced a colossus would rise in central New Orleans. The 70-story Trump Tower would be the tallest building on the Gulf Coast outside of Houston and the highest point in the state of Louisiana.

The development ultimately failed. But before it did, New York City Local 3 Business Manager Chris Erikson hosted a meeting in Donald Trump's office to talk about the job. In Manhattan, Trump's home and the site of many of his developments, the building trades are strong and nearly every steel beam and electrical wire was put in place by union hands.

Former Local 3 business representative Austin McCann — who was the shop steward on the original Trump Tower — arranged the meeting with Trump, not for Erikson, but for New Orleans Local 130 Business Manager Robert "Tiger" Hammond.

"We were pitching Trump on using the same union in New Orleans that he has been using for decades in New York City," Hammond said. "I went with good intentions and thought we had an honest chance."

Trump, Erikson, McCann and Hammond met in the executive suite of the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, and Hammond made his pitch. Local 130 did all the work on Harrah's $1.6 billion casino on the waterfront and does every electrical job in the city over $1 million. He had a stack of letters from customers saying Local 130 did its work on time and on budget. Would Trump consider a project labor agreement?

Trump's response: Why me?

"He said 'There are 10 projects on that block. Why do I have to be union? Why are you picking on me?'" Hammond said.

Trump, Hammond said, thought unions only did 10 percent of jobs in New Orleans.

Stephenson & Chilia:
Why We Endorsed Clinton

Joseph J. Penna

Modesto Local Hears Call, Raises Flagpole Over Community Center;
Boston Local Hosts
First-Ever Trade
Conference for Girls;
Michigan Retirees Step Up to Miller Museum Challenge;
Eighth District RENEW Prepares for Election Season

Election 2016: The Debate

June 2016

Trailblazer Still Opening Doors for Others