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Current News IBEW Showcases New Look in Cyberspace The newly-overhauled IBEW.org is a one-stop shop for union information. International and Local Communicators Win 2014 Awards The International Labor Communications Association’s 2014 Labor Media Awards honored the union’s accomplishments in print, video and Web productions. New Season of Brotherhood Outdoors Premiers Jan. 4 The seventh season of Brotherhood Outdoors kicks off Jan. 4, featuring a member of the Sheet Metal Workers union on a big hunt for moose and deer in the wilds of Idaho. PLA Victory in Northern California The first project labor agreement in Contra Costa County, north of San Francisco, was signed in November between the city of Martinez and Local 302. Win Trip to CMA Music Awards Courtesy of Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Carhartt and the Union Sportsmen Alliance are giving away an all-inclusive trip to the 2015 CMA Music Awards. Neutrality Agreement Won at L.A. Rail Car Manufacturer L.A Local 11, community groups and a national coalition have won a neutrality agreement covering taxpayer-funded rail car manufacturing using local residents. Mo. GOP Lawmakers Admit Right-to-Work Lowers Wages Anti-worker lawmakers in Missouri admit that right-to-work lowers wages – but they’re still in favor of it. Maine Bands to Host Benefit Concert for FairPoint Strikers Popular musical acts in Maine are teaming up with union activists to help raise money for FairPoint strikers this holiday season. Ky. Asplundh Win Makes a Baker’s Dozen Asplundh’s tree trimmers in Kentucky are joining co-workers in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Virginia voting for IBEW-negotiated protections and benefits. Calif. Local Meets Desalination Plant’s Challenges Members of San Diego Local 569 are helping overcome their state’s water scarcity, building the largest seawater desalination project in the Western Hemisphere. Minneapolis Volunteers Help Build Home for Wounded Warrior Nearly 40 members of Minneapolis Local 292 are helping build a wheelchair-accessible home for a Marine who was seriously injured in Afghanistan. Protesters Target D.C. Trade Negotiations Activists are calling on Congress to reject fast track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global free trade bill that will costs jobs and drive down working conditions. Right-to-Work-for-Less on Wis. GOP’s Agenda Wisconsin Republicans are threatening to pass right-to-work-for-less in 2015. Commemorating Tragedy: N.Y. Member’s Flag Flies at 9/11 Museum After his firsthand glimpse of 9/11’s devastation, a Local 3 member memorialized fellow union members in a flag displayed at the New York museum. Must-Win La. Senate Runoff Saturday IBEW members throughout Louisiana are mobilizing to re-elect pro-worker Sen. Mary Landrieu this Saturday. Union Plus Mortgage Program Helps Philly Member The Union Plus mortgage assistance program has helped workers like Philadelphia Local 98 member Eric Hudson during lean financial times. Ohio Utility Locators Overcome Distance to Vote ‘Union Yes’ Gas line locators at an infrastructure construction company prevailed in a unique campaign to join Toledo, Ohio, Local 245. Solid First Contract at Greenlee Textron Tools After a celebrated organizing campaign, aided by volunteers from California, workers at Greenlee Textron Tools have overwhelmingly ratified a first contract. FairPoint Workers Rally for a Fair Deal As FairPoint strike turns five weeks old, workers rally for fair treatment in New Hampshire and Boston. After Surgery, Union Plus had His Back San Antonio Local 60 member Leon Smith received a $2,700 Union Plus disability grant when he was sidelined by back surgery, one of the many benefits IBEW members are eligible for when they hold a Union Plus credit card. Win A Dream Wyoming Antelope Hunt The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is offering a Wyoming hunting trip with a new rifle to one lucky winner. TV Ads Tell FairPoint: Respect New England Workers Augusta, Maine – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers released four new television ads featuring FairPoint Communications employees and retirees calling on the company to return to the bargaining table and give workers a “fair deal.” IBEW Helps Win $10 Million Settlement at American Water On Oct. 30, with the signing of a settlement, American Water has agreed to pay nearly $10 million in lost benefits to members of 19 unions representing workers at the company. The settlement was ratified by union members by a margin of 2 to 1. IBEW Tells Congress: Time to Approve Keystone The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is urging Congress to support Sen. Mary Landrieu’s bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. FairPoint , Unions Return to Mediation Talks Union negotiators and FairPoint executives will resume federal mediation Nov. 18. Almost 2,000New England IBEW and Communication Workers have been on strike since Oct. 17, two months after negotiations broke down. IBEW Linemen Bring Safety and Solidarity to Suriname Four linemen traveled to Suriname in October, bringing safety equipment and training to linemen employed by the nation’s state-run utility. Senate GOP Fast Tracks Free Trade Senate Republicans vow to make passage of job-killing free trade agreements one of their top priorities in the coming year. IBEW Member Elected to Congress Folsom, N.J., Local 351 member Donald Norcross was elected to Congress Nov. 4 Asplundh Tree Trimmer Campaign Rolls through Appalachia Asplundh Tree Expert Co. trimmers are voting in large numbers for a voice on the job, hoping to join other workers who already belong to the IBEW. Wealth Inequality Indicator Highest Since Great Depression The ultra-rich are seeing their wealth increase to the highest levels in decades. Two new reports show just how bad that is for the U.S. economy. Conn. Members Say No to a ‘Wisconsin Moment’ Bridgeport, Conn., Local 488 members have been hitting the streets every Saturday, knocking on doors of union members encouraging them to vote for pro-worker candidates like Gov. Dannel Malloy. Ohio Manufacturing Workers Call Off Strike, Win New Contract Hundreds of union members working for France-based Schneider Electric voted for a new contract. Remember ‘Wichita Lineman’? Still on the Line, After Almost 50 Years Released in 1968, ‘Wichita Lineman,’ written by Jimmy Webb and sung by Glen Campbell, became an anthem for workers who climb poles for a living. Retired IBEW VP Honored for World War II Service Retired Eighth District Vice President Lawrence Farnan received France’s highest honor, the Légion d'honneur, in remembrance of his World War II service. Latest Spot Marks New Phase of IBEW’s National Campaign Three years ago, the IBEW launched a national television advertising campaign with a simple goal: tell America who we are and what we do. FairPoint Strikers Stand United Nearly 2,000 FairPoint workers remain on strike, protesting the company’s refusal to collectively bargain. Calif. Manufacturing Workers Score First Contract Calif. “green collar” manufacturing workers voted overwhelmingly Sept. 9 for their first collective bargaining agreement. Union Busting Stalls Wage Growth Unemployment is dropping, but critics ask why workers’ incomes aren’t rising. New England FairPoint Members Strike Nearly 2,000 employees of FairPoint Communications in Northern New England went on strike on Oct. 17. Rolling Back Workers’ Rights, But Fight not Over The secretive American Legislative Exchange Council was behind a June measure to end collective bargaining in Fort Wayne, Ind. But lawmakers are not done fighting. Yearly Contest Challenges Apprentices in Tasks, Theory Seventh District apprentices have been competing in yearly contests in the Seventh District since 1962, bringing members together with union and contractor leaders. Locals Help Save Osprey Illinois and Connecticut IBEW members are helping save and restore endangered osprey (fish-hawks) in their states. Ohio Manufacturing Workers Strike to Save Pensions, Raise Pay Hundreds of Ohio members working for France-based Schneider Electric went on strike Oct. 5. Asplundh’s Mich. Workers Win Voice Tree trimmers employed by Asplundh Tree Expert Co. in Southwest Michigan voted 69 to 11 for representation by Grand Rapids Local 876 on Oct. 2. President Hill Honors 77-Year Member Jimmy Kice, a Kansas City Local 124 member, in Washington, D.C. visiting the World War II Memorial, was presented with his 75 year pin by International President Edwin D. Hill. Anti-Union ABC Ready to Fight Protections, Rights on the Job The anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors is challenging a recent White House executive order ensuring fair standards and working conditions on federally-contracted jobs. N.C. IBEW Member Calls for Payroll Fraud Crackdown A North Carolina IBEW activist says lawmakers shouldn’t give companies a contract to cheat. At Women’s Conference, Taking Action for Pro-Worker Candidates IBEW members participated in a get-out-the-vote postcard campaign for pro-labor Texas candidates during the Women’s Conference in San Antonio. Canadian National Electrician Wins Community Service Award Railroad local Business Manager Charles Cox says his award for community service in Memphis is accompanied by the satisfaction of helping youth succeed. Retired Portland IBEW Leader: ‘Still in the Dogfight’ Ed Barnes, retired Portland, Ore., Local 48 business manager, is a hometown hero to citizens fighting for more responsive political leadership. Union Program Opens Up Opportunities for Women in the Trades Despite some progress in increasing gender diversity in construction, women still represent only 4 percent of the total industry workforce. Oregon Diversity Program Wins Accolades Bridget Quinn will receive a Woman of Vision award for her success bringing diverse, effective apprentices to Portland, Ore., Local 48’s training program. Day of Action Energizes Third District Youth Young members are an important part of Third District Progress meetings, strategizing over how to increase peer involvement in the union and volunteering for community service projects. British Columbia Locals Help Teachers Win Eight unions, including the IBEW supported striking teachers in British Columbia with an interest-free loan of $8 million, helping them win a long strike Asplundh Trimmers Vote ‘Yes’ in W.Va. Asplundh, the nation’s largest tree trimming firm, has 30,000 employees and has negotiated 80 collective bargaining units. But more of the company’s workers want to work union. Unions, Business Team Up to Fight Payroll Fraud In Texas, law-abiding corporations, labor unions and workers’ rights advocates are lobbying for laws that punish companies that mislabel workers as independent contractors. IBEW Photographers Fight for Retirement Security IBEW broadcast members demand equal treatment at N.H. TV station. Schneider Electric Employees Picket During Tough Negotiations Contentious contract talks between Schneider Electric and its union employees prompted an informational picket from IBEW activists this week. Executive Order Strikes Blow Against Crooked Federal Contractors Obama’s latest pro-worker executive order requires federal contractors to maintain clean labor and safety records. N.Y. Apprenticeships Win Solar Accreditation Thirteen Electrical Training Alliance centers in New York have received accreditation from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council for their inside wireman program. New York State Comptroller Intervenes in FairPoint Labor Dispute CWA and IBEW members at FairPoint Communications aren’t surrendering after the company imposed a concessionary contract. They are making their voices heard even in the board room. Volunteers Build a Shed in Georgia and Open up the Skies IBEW volunteers make life a lot easier for Georgia park rangers by building a lakeside home for two-dozen kayaks. Portland Local First to Join Electrical Vehicle Challenge In 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy set a goal to make plug-in electrical vehicles as affordable and convenient for the American family as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years. Jayhawk Voters Rejecting the Right? Maybe right-wing prescriptions for “improving” the Kansas economy should come with warnings? The state’s gubernatorial/ U.S. Senate campaigns are in turmoil over their failures. Texas Nuclear Workers Vote ‘Yes’ to Win Improved Health Care Looking to boost their health care coverage, 100 Texas nuclear plant workers voted this summer to join Houston Local 66. Nova Scotia IBEW Defeats Utility’s Outsourcing Plan Activists at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Local 1928 successfully fought off a company’s outsourcing attempt, saving hundreds of union jobs. FairPoint Walks Away from Bargaining Table FairPoint Communications declared a bargaining impasse Aug. 27, refusing to reach agreement with union workers. IBEW Helps Save High School Electrical Training The IBEW is partnering with the Chicago Public Schools to save electrical training for high school students. Following the Money in Alaska Senate Race Alaska Senate candidate Dan Sullivan is getting financial help from shadowy groups and donors looking to elect anti-worker lawmakers Nov. 4. A Special Message from President Hill: Honoring Labor Day’s Heroes Look forward, not backward on Labor Day, says President Hill. But honor the sacrifices of our predecessors by joining hands in common efforts. NACTEL Offers Virtual Open House NACTEL is offering a virtual open house for potential students Sept. 16. IBEW Responds to Napa Earthquake IBEW members respond to earthquake that rocked Napa Valley, Calif. Aug. 24. Ill. Candidate Channels Reagan’s Union Busting Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner tells supporters that he wouldn’t hesitate to use Ronald Reagan-style tactics against striking public employees. Kentucky Locals All in to Send Mitch McConnell Packing Ky. IBEW activists are mobilizing to help defeat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Nov. 4. RENEW Members Boost Leadership Skills, Look to Future For any budding journeyman wireman looking to advance in the trade, training is always the key. The Race to Replace Labor Hero Tom Harkin IBEW activists in Iowa are mobilizing to help elect Senate candidate Bruce Braley, who supports PLAs and collective bargaining. Hundreds of FairPoint Workers Picket in New England Hundreds of union FairPoint workers picketed last week in New England to protect middle-class jobs as the company considers the unions’ latest proposal. In Tenn., Looking Back for Organizing Inspiration After losing a high-profile organizing election in February, the UAW is looking to different ways to help represent Volkswagen workers in Tennessee. Wisconsin Locals Target Job-Killing Gov. Walker Wisconsin IBEW activists are mobilizing to help defeat Gov. Scott Walker on Election Day, Nov. 4. IBEW Joins Natural Gas Methane Reduction Initiative Methane gas escaping from aging natural gas pipelines is undermining the fuel’s environmental and cost benefits. The IBEW is working to help find a solution. Enter the 2014 Photo Contest Writers over the centuries have used soaring language and gripping eye-witness accounts to extol the virtues of labor history. Saskatchewan Local Fights for Mineworker Rights Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Local 529 filed an unfair labour practice application against Alliance Energy Industrial Ltd. in June, accusing the company of intimidating pro-IBEW workers at its Agrium pot ash mine in northern Saskatchewan. In Calif., A Solar-Powered Leg Up For many Bakersfield Local 428 members, California’s thriving solar industry is an opportunity for job growth and stability. For some of the local’s newest members, it’s a second chance. NJATC Transitions into the Electrical Training Alliance IBEW members often say that the union’s apprenticeship training, delivered by the NJATC, is the union’s best-kept secret. Ore. Members Build Portland’s New ‘Auto-Free’ Bridge Popular songs and advertisements have inspired generations of Americans to get behind the wheel and step on the gas pedal. Anti-Worker Koch Brothers Loom Large in Mich. Senate Race One of the biggest stories already shaping up in this year’s election cycle is the influence of deep-pocketed, extremist organizations and their fight against everyday American workers. Ohio Locals Aim to Defeat Anti-Labor Gov. Kasich Two years ago, IBEW locals in Ohio played a critical role in winning a ballot initiative to defeat legislation supported by Republican Gov. John Kasich which would have taken away the right of firefighters, teachers and other public workers to collectively bargain. Kansas City Manufacturer Earns Plaudits It turns out the first, second and third time is the charm, at least for members of El Dorado, Ark., Local 2284. Union Members Rally Against EPA Carbon Rule Thousands of union members rallied in Pittsburgh July 31 to protest the Environmental Protection Act’s Clean Power plan, which they say will kill good jobs and weaken the electrical grid. PRESS RELEASE August 3, 2014: FairPoint Deadline Passes With No Resolution FairPoint Deadline Passes With No Resolution A six-year contract between FairPoint Communications and 1,700 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and 300 members of the CWA expired at midnight Aug. 2, as the parties agreed to continue talks to forge a new agreement. Alaska Mayor: Union Dues are ‘Slavery’ Thugs. Goons. Bullies. Anti-worker politicians love to use colorful language when talking about unions and their members. In Chicago, New Trains and Job Growth The 400 members of Chicago Local 134 who maintain the city’s bustling railways are looking forward to some major changes in the next few years. Union Plus Announces Scholarship Awards IBEW members and family members were awarded $10,000 of scholarships from the Union Plus Educational Fund. Helping the Homeless The number of homeless children in rural Whatcom County, Wash., has doubled in the past two years. Most of these children are being raised by a single parent. PRESS RELEASE: IBEW Speaks Out Against EPA Carbon Emission Rule IBEW members are testifying this week in four cities in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan. Jobs Safe, But for How Long? Crumbling bridges. Damaging potholes. Dangerous traffic that contributes to fatalities. Tiny Chips, Massive Job If you’re reading this on your computer or your phone, you have local unions like Portland, Oregon, Local 48 to thank. Tracking Tuna on TV If Mark Brochu is an adrenaline junkie, his friends and co-workers will tell you he’s one of the best one they know, putting adventurous exploits into productive work. Summit Promotes Working Families Americans live in the only developed nation that does not guarantee paid parental leave. To make matters worse, 40 million workers in the country do not have access to paid sick leave to take care of themselves, their children or aging parents. U.S. Affirms South Korea ‘Dumping’ The U.S. Department of Commerce is charging South Korean producers of steel tubing with unfairly “dumping” their products below their fair market value in the U.S. Strike Averted A looming strike at the Long Island Railroad – the busiest commuter rail system in the nation – was averted July 17 when IBEW leaders and other union activists announced a tentative deal with the transit agency’s management. Congress Takes Action on Wage Theft It’s common sense. Federal money shouldn’t line the pockets of known law-breakers. But many government contractors routinely violate labor and wage and hour laws, costing employees – and taxpayers – millions of dollars Strike Looms for Long Island Railroad Every weekday, more than 335,000 passengers ride the Long Island Railroad, flowing into Manhattan in the morning and back out to Long Island at the end of the day. IBEW Lights Up Planetarium This Fourth of July, the St. Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium celebrated with a light spectacle much closer to the ground. IBEW: EPA Plan Targets Jobs, Grid The IBEW, along with other unions that represent energy workers, are criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, saying it will kill jobs and put the electrical grid at risk. Bye Bye, Collective Bargaining Republican legislators in Fort Wayne, Ind., voted June 24 to terminate collective bargaining for 500 public employees who help maintain services and infrastructure in the state’s second largest city. Union Volunteers Refurbish Sanctuary Thanks to the hard work of members from the IBEW and other unions, visitors can remain safe while appreciating the beauty of the Horicon Marsh wildlife refuge in Wisconsin. Railroad’s Safety Culture Gets Overhaul CSX Transportation’s Selkirk repair shop is a massive, loud throwback to America’s industrial past. Who’s Messing with My Cash? It has cost 5.8 million American jobs and millions in Canada, too. It’s called currency manipulation, a tricky device by which one country (like China) plays around with the price of its currency and hurts its trading partners (like the U.S. and Canada). Fla. Comcast Sales Reps Vote ‘Yes’ More than 700 technicians working for Comcast across the U.S. enjoy better wages and a voice on the job, thanks to the collective bargaining agreements they have negotiated. Supreme Court Ruling Hurts Workers Thousands of home care workers were already burdened by trying circumstances on their jobs before a Supreme Court ruling on June 30 made their lives and their service to disabled persons more difficult. Jack Daniel’s and IBEW Team Up in Ala. Northwest Alabama has been a hard place for union workers for decades. McConnell Campaigns for Low Wages The United States’ transportation infrastructure is in desperate need of massive federal investment to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges. Seattle IBEW: ‘Raise the Wage’ When the Seattle City Council started considering proposals to raise the city’s minimum wage, Seattle Local 46 knew it was their duty to step right up to help. IBEW Rips Developers’ Distortions Last year, a public policy center at Northeastern University in Boston released a report stating that the lack of affordable housing in Beantown could hurt the city’s e conomic recovery. In San Jose, Higher Minimum Wage Means More Jobs Critics of raising the minimum wage claim it will hurt businesses and cost jobs, but the experience of one California city is refuting the naysayers. N.C. Fights Extremist Agenda North Carolinians from all walks of life continue their Monday protests against the state GOP’s extremist agenda. Grads Prepped for Change In the race of advancing telecommunications technology, the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning is helping workers keep up the pace. IBEW Helps Win Veterans Housing IBEW Locals in California are standing up for housing rights for our nation’s veterans. 2014 IBEW Women’s Conference Sept. 17-20 Hundreds of IBEW sisters are expected in San Antonio Sept. 17-20 for the Seventh IBEW International Women’s Conference. Greenbrier Workers Join Neb. IBEW Manufacturing workers at Greenbrier Rail Service in Hershey, Neb., are the newest members of the IBEW family after voting to join North Platte Local 1920. Obama Ends Philly Rail Strike President Barack Obama announced the creation of a presidential emergency board June 15 to end four years of stalled contract negotiations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the IBEW and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. Goodwill Wins Calif. Work Through helping residents, building a reputation as a good neighbor and working in coalition with other community organizations, Modesto Local 684 is winning new work. Union Volunteers Build Roof Union members recently volunteered to build a roof on the youth archery range at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area’s Everglades Youth Conservation Camp in West Palm Beach, Fla. Bill Would Create Jobs, Save Energy When it comes to renewable energy, Rhode Island lags far behind its neighboring New England states. Last NLC Class Graduates Two hundred and ten graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from the National Labor College at the end of this spring semester. It was the institution’s largest graduating class, and also its last. Report Highlights Danger of Outsourcing Outsourcing by state and local governments increasingly means that the middle-class jobs of today are becoming the poverty-level jobs of tomorrow. Walmart Moms Go on Strike Moms employed by the mega-retailer Walmart walked off the job in more than 20 cities last week to protest continuing low pay and disrespect. Responsible Contracting Law Passed In Minnesota, everyone agrees that when it comes to taxpayer-funded construction projects, contractors must obey the law. IBEW Storm Service Praised Summer is here, but only a few months ago, North America was suffering through record freezing artic temperatures, ice storms and massive snow flurries. Outside Opportunities in Transmission Billions of dollars of new transmission work is coming to the Midwest and Great Plains, making outside line construction one of the hottest job fields in the country. IBEW on EPA Emissions Rules The EPA has a track record of underestimating the impact of its rules, making faulty predictions that have cost tens of thousands of good jobs. ADT Techs Seek Contract Nearly 2,000 ADT employees across the U.S. and Canada enjoy better job security, fair wages and other benefits of an IBEW contract. Give Road Crews a Break As you get ready to hit the highway this summer, crews working on or near roads have a request: slow down and stay alert. Union Volunteers Refurbish Park Approximately 30 skilled tradesmen donated their time to rehabilitate a fishing pier at Houston’s Sheldon Lake State Park May 3. IBEW Restores Power to Town A power outage… A college graduation. They mix about as well as electricity and water. One Local’s Volcanic Problem A big crowd at a local meeting is often one of the most reliable signs of a union’s strength. Concerns Vindicated on 'Free' Trade Agreements In 2007, as Congress considered approval of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the IBEW joined 10 other unions in a letter opposing the pact with the most dangerous country in the world for unions, with 72 trade unionists assassinated the year before. Anti-Worker Legislation Fails in Mo. The 2014 legislative session in Missouri ended May 16 with the defeat of two major anti-labor bills long sought after by anti-worker special interests. Download the New IBEW App IBEW members are usually on the go. Many depend on their phones or tablets to check the latest news and keep in contact. Aiding Wash. Mudslide Recovery In the days and weeks after March’s tragic and sudden mudslide that devastated the small Washington community of Oso, the nation watched as newscasters and reporters piled up grim figures. Trade Deal = Pricier Health Care The Trans-Pacific Psartnership – a trade agreement under negotiation by the United States, Canada and 11 other Pacific Rim nations – could end up making it harder for consumers to fill their prescriptions. Empowering Women, Building IBEW A popular button often seen at labor rallies and conferences reads, “A woman's place is in her union.” Philly Transit Agency Forces Impasse The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rejected federal efforts to end four years of stalled contract negotiations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the IBEW on May 8. Locals Address FairPoint Shareholders On May 12, executives and shareholders of Charlotte, N.C.-based FairPoint Communications gathered for the company’s annual shareholders meeting. The meeting took place amid widespread rumors, reported on www.ibew.org, the company is seeking a merger or sale. Pa. Local Gives Vietnam Vets Their Due The Erie County Vietnam Veterans Memorial is shining a little brighter after a new set of lights were unveiled May 3 Labor Secretary Praises IBEW Apprenticeships For years, high-school students have been told there is one path to success – a four-year college degree. Business/Labor Kick Off Infrastructure Week Business and labor may not agree on everything, but when it comes to investing in America’s aged industrial infrastructure, both sides are sounding the alarm. Raffle Nets Thousands for Veterans Group Members attending the 2014 Broadcasting, Manufacturing and Telecommunications Conference in Connecticut in late April loudly applauded after hearing from George Farrell, a retired fire chief who coordinates Rhode Island’s “honor flights” program. Student Apprenticeship = Opportunity Like many high school seniors, Brian Hobbs and Jacob Bates weren’t looking forward to four more years of sitting in the classroom – all while racking up major college debt. Bye-Bye, Factory Jobs Talgo is vacating its factory in Wisconsin, four years after Gov. Scott Walker rejected millions in federal stimulus money to create a commuter line. Tell Obama to Protect American Jobs During President Obama’s recent tour of Asia, many issues were discussed with foreign heads of state. At the top of Obama’s agenda was the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade agreement among the United States and 12 other Pacific Rim nations. Small Chips, Big Jobs GlobalFoundries ,the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, is building a new manufacturing campus in upstate New York. Letter Carriers’ Food Drive Letter carriers across the country are getting ready for the 22nd annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. In Mo., More Anti-Worker Bills Just weeks after failing to garner enough support to put right-to-work-for-less on the Missouri ballot, anti-worker state legislators are resurrecting another bill aimed at weakening workers’ rights. FairPoint Vs. Fair Deal for Workers? When telecom company FairPoint Communications first bid to take over Verizon’s New England landline service in 2008, there were both promises and worries. Business, Labor Cheer Federal Skills Investment Business and labor leaders are in agreement that President Obama’s April 16 announcement of $600 million in federal grant programs to boost workforce training is the right decision for the economy. Pulitzer Prize Honors Series Exposing Black Lung Denials As president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka hears and reads a lot of horror stories about workers being abused by employers. Last year, one story struck home in a uniquely personal way for Trumka, a former coal miner whose father, grandfathers and uncles died from black lung disease, suffocating from the effects of years of breathing coal dust. Unionists Beautify Ga. Park Vistas at Providence Canyon State Park, known to locals as Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon, will be enhanced by seven miles of restored trails, thanks to union members. Saving Electricity, Winning Friends IBEW and NECA are recognized for their concern for the environment and support for their cities. Powering Cars, Empowering the Future Matt Harlow, an inside journeyman wireman member of Birmingham, Ala., Local 136, learned a lot about the value of on-the-job training during his five years as an apprentice instructor. IBEW’s Solar Power in California After Dan Sullivan topped out of San Diego Local 569’s apprenticeship program in 2001, he went back to the training center for the class that changed his life. Hollow Recovery Seven years after the onset of the Great Recession, nearly all economists agree that we are in an economic recovery. IBEW Expands Kan., Mo. Auto Plants Drive down any wide, open highway across Missouri and you’ll see something big, heavy and plentiful on the plains. IBEW to Senate: Ensure Grid Reliability An IBEW request has helped initiate a timely hearing to discuss how the shutdowns of coal-fired power plants will affect the nation’s electrical grid, especially during extreme weather emergencies. Technology Opens Horizons in Saskatchewan Automated electricity meters have been a double-whammy for many locals. Meter reader jobs disappear and the replacement work has proven extremely resistant to organizing on both sides of the border. House Mulls Benefits Extension The U.S. Senate voted April 7 to restore unemployment benefits for the 2.8 million Americans who have been out of work for six months or longer. Right-to-Work-for-Less Fails in Mo. Efforts to make Missouri the 25th right-to-work-for-less state came up short April 9, with anti-worker state legislators failing to garner enough votes to send their bill to the state Senate. Mich. Local Uses YouTube to Organize Muskegon, Mich., Local 275 invested in a camcorder and asked the local’s new members to say on camera why they decided to join the IBEW – in their own words. FCC Votes To Save TV News Jobs Leading union activists representing broadcasting employees cheered a move that will help promote diversity in local media markets while saving jobs. Secure Your Future with NACTEL With technology moving so quickly, success in the telecommunications industry requires commitment to lifelong learning. Honoring Our Nation’s Linemen Lineman put their lives on the line every day to ensure that electricity is safely delivered to our homes and businesses. Still Fighting for the Eight-Hour Workday Flat wages have been pushing American workers backward for decades, but Minneapolis Local 292 member Kent Blachowiak’s employer was trying to push him all the way back to the 19th century. Organizers Save Okla. Family from Fire Trentice Hamm and Robert Bausch started out their day hoping to inspire some nonunion Oklahoma construction workers during an organizing blitz. Report Shows Need for Action on Unemployment It is unlikely that most of the long-term unemployed will find their way back into the labor market without an effort by Congress and business leaders, a new report says. New IBEW Ad Celebrates American Manufacturing It can seem tougher these days to find products on store shelves that don’t have a “Made in China” label. New Report Challenges Outsourcing Myths It’s one of the inevitable laugh lines in tens of thousands of workplaces, public and private. A senior manager tells workers that some of their duties will be outsourced to cut costs. Around the water cooler employees snicker about how contracting out work often backfires, costing employers more than they save. Bipartisan Support for IBEW on Grid Reliability U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, are actively supporting a request from IBEW, the United Mineworkers Union, the Utility Workers and others to hold a hearing on the stability and reliability of the nation’s electrical grid. IBEW Unity Fund Critical to Fighting Anti-Worker Agenda The Koch brothers are trying to buy elections. Anti-labor lobbyists helped defeat VW workers’ effort to organize in Tennessee. And right-to-work may be coming to states like Missouri, Ohio and Maine if anti-union lawmakers succeed in carrying out their corporate donors’ wishes. Westex Joins with NJATC to Boost High-Tech Learning The industry leader in the manufacture of arc-rated fabrics is helping to create a program to help train the next generation of electrical workers. California Local Helps Finance Rosie the Riveters’ Trip to D.C. Many World War II factories operated with the assistance of women, some of whom are coming to Washington, with the help of IBEW members. The Best Live Music Brought to Your Home by the IBEW There is one television concert show where the technical engineers behind the broadcast are as talented as the people on the stage. Union Plus Helps Members in Need You never know when you could use a helping hand. Hardships can hit at any time: layoffs, natural disasters, medical emergencies or a strike. This bill: ‘Paid for by Union Wages’ Activists in Missouri are working to remind businesses that everyone in the Show Me state benefits from good union jobs – every time a member makes a purchase. Five Labor Leaders with Irish Roots Each St. Patrick’s Day, we honor North America’s Irish heritage. Report Points to Danger of Delaying Infrastructure Investment Franklin Roosevelt was in office and Mickey Mouse first hit the screen when most of New York City’s sewer mains were installed. The Cold War was just starting and home TVs were still a rarity around the time when most schools were built in the five boroughs. Billboards Are Just the Beginning for Ill. Local Collinsville, Ill., Local 309 has launched an unprecedented, multiplatform advertising campaign that Business Manager Scott Hassall expects will dramatically raise the profile of the local and its signatory contractors throughout their southwest Illinois jurisdiction. Unions Denounce Administration’s Privatization Plan for TVA America’s building trades unions are strongly opposing President Obama’s recommendation to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority, calling it a budget gimmick that would set back a model institution that has improved the lives of millions. Hatzel & Buehler, Inc. 130 Years Young Every economic sector reserves a special place for pioneering companies. Respect grows when, more than a century after the formation of an enterprise, it continues to provide innovative leadership in its industry. IBEW Calls for End to Kellogg’s Lockout The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers joins the growing number of labor unions, community and civil rights activists and lawmakers in calling for an end to Kellogg Co.’s four-month lockout of more than 220 workers at the company’s Memphis, Tenn., plant. Ontario Activists Push for Living Wages Union members and pro-worker activists took to the heart of Toronto’s retail district Feb. 15 to call on Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to raise the provincial minimum wage. End Currency Manipulation, Create Jobs Politicians talk a lot about jobs, but there is one surefire way Congress can help create millions of jobs according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute: crack down on currency manipulation. Pa. Locals Rally to Stop Labor Assaults When legislators in Pennsylvania decided to follow the lead of Wis. Gov. Scott Walker and propose a bill to weaken the state’s public sector unions, so many unionists showed up at Harrisburg’s capitol rotunda on Jan. 28, many were forced to stand outside in the freezing cold. Nashville-Area Electrical Licensing Law Promotes Safety, Local Hiring With a New York Bank data center project, upgrades to a General Motors auto plant and a new convention center job on the books, leaders of Nashville Local 429 figured the time was right to move an electrical licensing law through the Davidson County Council, a 40-member body that covers the celebrated music city and surrounding suburbs. Vancouver Local Funds Cutting-Edge Burn Research For nearly 125 years, the IBEW has relentlessly fought to improve on-the-job safety for electrical workers, and the positive impact of the Brotherhood’s advocacy is unquestionable. IBEW Stands with UAW, Calls for New Volkswagen Vote The United Auto Workers is asking the National Labor Relations Board to set aside the results of the certification election at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tenn. assembly plant decided after a three-day vote Feb. 14. Miami Local, Contractors Help Cancer Patient On Valentine’s Day, while much of the nation faced frigid temperatures, in Cape Coral, Fla., cancer patient Frances Ballester wasn’t just struggling with a lack of air conditioning. Her breathing machine, too, was shut down after the local utility turned off her electrical power over landlord’s unpaid bills. Maine Bill Will Protect Call Center Jobs Less than 200 Maine residents earn their living catching lobsters. But nearly 20,000 state inhabitants work in call centers, like legendary retailer L.L. Bean’s, employing 2,000. New York Local 3 Member Rises to Bass Fishing Elite Tens of thousands of people enjoy bass fishing. When they are not on their favorite lakes, many watch fishing tournaments on TV. Court Upholds Rule Protecting U.S. Workers’ Wages In a victory for American jobs and fair pay, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld Department of Labor wage rules requiring non-agricultural foreign workers be paid prevailing wages. IBEW: Caution Urged in Comcast Merger The IBEW is asking regulators to carefully review the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner. Activists Ask Mike Rowe to Drop Walmart Talk about a dirty job. TV host Mike Rowe is the voice for Walmart’s new TV ad campaign promoting American manufacturing On the Bright Side, Solar Sees Record Job Growth in 2013 If you want to know where the jobs are, follow the sun. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the Solar Foundation, which says solar employment in 2013 grew by 20 percent over the previous year. That’s 10 times faster than the national average employment growth rate. IBEW Dad Cheers on Daughter’s Olympic Dreams Last week, we reported on Worcester, Mass., Local 96 member Ekaterina Pashkevitch, who is in Sochi, Russia, playing center for the Russian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. Manufacturing Member Makes Tapestry of Solidarity At any gathering of union members, you can always count on one thing: T-shirts. Bearing the union’s colors and announcing--often quite loudly and creatively –their cities or towns, T-shirts help members express their pride. Study: Unions Are Key to Reducing Income Inequality. The skewing of national income to the top 1 percent of the country threatens upward mobility, which is the core of the American dream, says a new study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Labor and Employment Relations. IBEW Member Recounts Fight for Civil/Worker’s Rights in Miss. For IBEW member Charles Horhn, the fight for civil rights, voters’ rights and workers’ rights are one. In honor of black history month, he told his story to the AFL-CIO blog. Canada’s Highest Court Upholds Pensioner Rights The Supreme Court of Canada struck a blow for pensioner rights Jan. 30, reinstating a lower court’s decision that a $43 million pension surplus that existed when Manitoba Telephone was privatized in 1997 belonged exclusively to retirees. The East Coast’s Real Sunshine State: New Jersey When most people think about solar power, New Jersey doesn’t immediately come to mind. They might think of thousands of photovoltaic panels sprawling across barren stretches Southwestern desert. Solar, many people suppose, thrives not in New Jersey but where New Jersey goes on vacation. Member Makes Olympic Appearance Ekaterina Pashkevitch is taking to the ice in Sochi, Russia this week, playing center for the Russian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team. Unions and Management Team Up to Save Classic Company You’ve heard the reasons why union manufacturing can’t make it in America anymore: Union workers get paid too much. American manufacturers can’t afford to build here. Unions just get in the way of management. Code is Key to Pa. Utility PLAs Four project labor agreements between IBEW and PPL Electric Utilities in Pennsylvania to upgrade miles of aging power lines will soon require 400 to 500 outside journeymen linemen. This is good news for Keystone State members and for travelers from as far away as Alaska. IBEW Electrician Highlights Fight Against Long-Term Unemployment Vacaville, Calif. Local 1245 member Erick Varela was at the White House Jan. 31 to introduce President Barack Obama at a discussion with the heads of some of America’s top corporations about combating long-term unemployment – something the two-tour combat veteran is all too familiar with. Mo. IBEW Activists Fight Right-to-Work Push Is the Show-Me State about to get a new motto? As in, “Show me a smaller paycheck?” IBEW Fighting to Save U.S. Nuclear Manufacturing The outlook for more than 50,000 American jobs in manufacturing could be determined by a bill under consideration in Congress that places more than a dozen significant new restrictions on the export of civilian nuclear technology. Oops. Pa. Unemployment Benefit Cuts Backfire Two years ago, the Pennsylvania legislature, looking to keep the state’s unemployment benefit fund solvent, came up with a plan to alter an eligibility rule for collecting benefits. Boston Broadcasting Techs Overwhelmingly Vote IBEW More than 30 freelancers working for Program Productions, Inc., voted overwhelmingly to be represented by Boston Local 1228 in an NLRB-certified election Jan. 8. N.C. Activists Take on State GOP’s Anti-Democratic, Anti-Worker Agenda Clergy, civil rights activists, union members and education advocates from throughout North Carolina are converging on Raleigh Feb. 8 for what is expected to be the largest ever “Moral Monday” march. Want to be a Contractor? Sign up Now for IBEW’s Contracting Class IBEW members who become electrical contractors have the advantage of knowing not just a trade and an industry, but how to unleash the powerful contributions of the men and women who work on their projects. Stop Job-Killing ‘Fast-Track’ Trade Deal Activists are calling on Congress to say no to fast-track legislation that would take away its ability to negotiate the biggest free-trade agreement since NAFTA – the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Raising the Roof: Device Jacks High Wires A new system to increase the capacity of transmission lines is being used for the first time by members of Syracuse, N.Y. Local 1249. Corporate Exec Praising Unions? Yep Who said it? “[Unions] are a key driver in the creation of the middle-class, for the reduction of work hours, paid vacation, all sorts of benefits that we all enjoy.” Voters Pick 16th IBEW Photo Contest Winners Contrasting the chilly stillness of winter with the energy of a lineman in action, Casper, Wyo., Local 322 member Levi Gossard’s photo won top honors in the 16th IBEW Photo Contest. Ontario Local’s Scholarship Award Forges School Board Alliance The best apprenticeship programs depend upon students who are well-prepared at the secondary education level for success in the academic rigors of the electrical trade. PBS’s ‘American Woodshop’ Goes IBEW Solar For 20 seasons, “American Woodshop” has been a favorite show on PBS channels across the U.S. IBEW Helps Maritime School Provide High-Tech Education It’s an innovative idea in education – a maritime-trade focused school for students in the 5th to 12th grades. Calif. ‘Green Collar’ Workers Vote IBEW Following a dramatic campaign that tapped the resources and verve of workers and organizers, 78 employees at Sunoptics – a Sacramento-based manufacturer of high-tech skylights – are the newest members of Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245. President Hill Urges Open Internet, Broadband Expansion We support the Jan. 14 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirming the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to regulate broadband access. Wis. GOP Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Weekends Like your weekend? Well if you live in Wisconsin, a pair of Republican state legislators has an unpleasant surprise for you. Study: Workers Misclassification Hurts Everyone A policy think tank has a new fact sheet that shows that worker misclassification is a serious problem everywhere – even in states with relatively strong labor protections, like Oregon. EWMC Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Kansas City As Kansas City and Local 124 host the 24th annual leadership conference of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus on Jan. 16, members will reflect upon the legacy of one of the longest-standing minority caucuses in the labor movement formed 40 years ago in the same city during the 30th IBEW Convention. Operating Engineers Re-Affiliate with Building Trades The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers welcomes the decision by the International Union of Operating Engineers to formally re-affiliate with the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO. Court Cases Threaten Unions and Working Families One of the main arguments in favor of voting and engaging in the political process is the importance of electing friends who will appoint fair-minded judges. When we fail, important gains won at the bargaining table or in legislation can be negated by the courts. Tell Congress: Extend Long-Term Unemployment Benefits The U.S. Senate narrowly voted to extend unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed Jan. 6. These expired at the end of last year for 1.3 million workers who have been unemployed for 26 weeks or longer. Community Engagement Wins Rebirth of N.Y. Power Plant Since 1950, New York State’s substantial hunger for energy has historically been quenched by big servings of coal-fired steam generation. And, since 1950, one of the largest plants was Dunkirk Station, on the shore of Lake Erie, 55 miles southwest of Buffalo, employing members of Syracuse Local 97. Workers’ Rights Victory in Saskatchewan Supporters of workers’ rights won an important legal victory Nov. 21, after the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board found contractor Magna Electric Corp. guilty of unfairly terminating pro-union employees. Maine Verizon Business Techs Join IBEW Verizon Business technicians in Andover, Maine, voted overwhelmingly to join Augusta Local 2327 Dec. 11. Study: Infrastructure Investment, Not Cuts, Key to Job Creation While some members of Congress continue to push for further cuts to federal spending, one government watchdog group says our elected leaders need to focus on a more pressing debt: the industrial investment deficit. Vote Now for the 2013 IBEW Photo Contest Winners From contemplative landscapes to jaw-dropping heights, participants in this year’s IBEW photo contest showcased an array of stunning images – displaying that our membership’s talent extends far beyond the tool belt. Utility Workers Return to Work After Lockout The lockout that forced the 225 members of Vancouver, British Columbia, Local 213 out of their jobs at FortisBC is over after nearly six months. EWMC Coat Drive Warms Kids and Hearts in St. Louis St. Louis Local 1 electricians Sylvester Taylor and Leon Arties were ready for the cold weather, adhering to the advice of all workers who brave the elements on their jobs: “You can always put on more clothes than you need and take off what you don’t.” Panorama Photo Now Available President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005

Current News

IBEW Showcases New Look in Cyberspace

The newly-overhauled IBEW.org is a one-stop shop for union information.

International and Local Communicators Win 2014 Awards

The International Labor Communications Association’s 2014 Labor Media Awards honored the union’s accomplishments in print, video and Web productions.

New Season of Brotherhood Outdoors Premiers Jan. 4

The seventh season of Brotherhood Outdoors kicks off Jan. 4, featuring a member of the Sheet Metal Workers union on a big hunt for moose and deer in the wilds of Idaho.

PLA Victory in Northern California

The first project labor agreement in Contra Costa County, north of San Francisco, was signed in November between the city of Martinez and Local 302.

Win Trip to CMA Music Awards Courtesy of Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

Carhartt and the Union Sportsmen Alliance are giving away an all-inclusive trip to the 2015 CMA Music Awards.

Neutrality Agreement Won at L.A. Rail Car Manufacturer

L.A Local 11, community groups and a national coalition have won a neutrality agreement covering taxpayer-funded rail car manufacturing using local residents.

Mo. GOP Lawmakers Admit Right-to-Work Lowers Wages

Anti-worker lawmakers in Missouri admit that right-to-work lowers wages – but they’re still in favor of it.

Maine Bands to Host Benefit Concert for FairPoint Strikers

Popular musical acts in Maine are teaming up with union activists to help raise money for FairPoint strikers this holiday season.

Ky. Asplundh Win Makes a Baker’s Dozen

Asplundh’s tree trimmers in Kentucky are joining co-workers in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Virginia voting for IBEW-negotiated protections and benefits.

Calif. Local Meets Desalination Plant’s Challenges

Members of San Diego Local 569 are helping overcome their state’s water scarcity, building the largest seawater desalination project in the Western Hemisphere.

Minneapolis Volunteers Help Build Home for Wounded Warrior

Nearly 40 members of Minneapolis Local 292 are helping build a wheelchair-accessible home for a Marine who was seriously injured in Afghanistan.

Protesters Target D.C. Trade Negotiations

Activists are calling on Congress to reject fast track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a global free trade bill that will costs jobs and drive down working conditions.

Right-to-Work-for-Less on Wis. GOP’s Agenda

Wisconsin Republicans are threatening to pass right-to-work-for-less in 2015.

Commemorating Tragedy: N.Y. Member’s Flag Flies at 9/11 Museum

After his firsthand glimpse of 9/11’s devastation, a Local 3 member memorialized fellow union members in a flag displayed at the New York museum.

Must-Win La. Senate Runoff Saturday

IBEW members throughout Louisiana are mobilizing to re-elect pro-worker Sen. Mary Landrieu this Saturday.

Union Plus Mortgage Program Helps Philly Member

The Union Plus mortgage assistance program has helped workers like Philadelphia Local 98 member Eric Hudson during lean financial times.

Ohio Utility Locators Overcome Distance to Vote ‘Union Yes’

Gas line locators at an infrastructure construction company prevailed in a unique campaign to join Toledo, Ohio, Local 245.

Solid First Contract at Greenlee Textron Tools

After a celebrated organizing campaign, aided by volunteers from California, workers at Greenlee Textron Tools have overwhelmingly ratified a first contract.

FairPoint Workers Rally for a Fair Deal

As FairPoint strike turns five weeks old, workers rally for fair treatment in New Hampshire and Boston.

After Surgery, Union Plus had His Back

San Antonio Local 60 member Leon Smith received a $2,700 Union Plus disability grant when he was sidelined by back surgery, one of the many benefits IBEW members are eligible for when they hold a Union Plus credit card.

Win A Dream Wyoming Antelope Hunt

The Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is offering a Wyoming hunting trip with a new rifle to one lucky winner.

TV Ads Tell FairPoint: Respect New England Workers

Augusta, Maine – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers released four new television ads featuring FairPoint Communications employees and retirees calling on the company to return to the bargaining table and give workers a “fair deal.”

IBEW Helps Win $10 Million Settlement at American Water

On Oct. 30, with the signing of a settlement, American Water has agreed to pay nearly $10 million in lost benefits to members of 19 unions representing workers at the company. The settlement was ratified by union members by a margin of 2 to 1.

IBEW Tells Congress: Time to Approve Keystone

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is urging Congress to support Sen. Mary Landrieu’s bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

FairPoint , Unions Return to Mediation Talks

Union negotiators and FairPoint executives will resume federal mediation Nov. 18. Almost 2,000New England IBEW and Communication Workers have been on strike since Oct. 17, two months after negotiations broke down.

IBEW Linemen Bring Safety and Solidarity to Suriname

Four linemen traveled to Suriname in October, bringing safety equipment and training to linemen employed by the nation’s state-run utility.

Senate GOP Fast Tracks Free Trade

Senate Republicans vow to make passage of job-killing free trade agreements one of their top priorities in the coming year.

IBEW Member Elected to Congress

Folsom, N.J., Local 351 member Donald Norcross was elected to Congress Nov. 4

Asplundh Tree Trimmer Campaign Rolls through Appalachia

Asplundh Tree Expert Co. trimmers are voting in large numbers for a voice on the job, hoping to join other workers who already belong to the IBEW.

Wealth Inequality Indicator Highest Since Great Depression

The ultra-rich are seeing their wealth increase to the highest levels in decades. Two new reports show just how bad that is for the U.S. economy.

Conn. Members Say No to a ‘Wisconsin Moment’

Bridgeport, Conn., Local 488 members have been hitting the streets every Saturday, knocking on doors of union members encouraging them to vote for pro-worker candidates like Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Ohio Manufacturing Workers Call Off Strike, Win New Contract

Hundreds of union members working for France-based Schneider Electric voted for a new contract.

Remember ‘Wichita Lineman’? Still on the Line, After Almost 50 Years

Released in 1968, ‘Wichita Lineman,’ written by Jimmy Webb and sung by Glen Campbell, became an anthem for workers who climb poles for a living.

Retired IBEW VP Honored for World War II Service

Retired Eighth District Vice President Lawrence Farnan received France’s highest honor, the Légion d'honneur, in remembrance of his World War II service.

Latest Spot Marks New Phase of IBEW’s National Campaign

Three years ago, the IBEW launched a national television advertising campaign with a simple goal: tell America who we are and what we do.

FairPoint Strikers Stand United

Nearly 2,000 FairPoint workers remain on strike, protesting the company’s refusal to collectively bargain.

Calif. Manufacturing Workers Score First Contract

Calif. “green collar” manufacturing workers voted overwhelmingly Sept. 9 for their first collective bargaining agreement.

Union Busting Stalls Wage Growth

Unemployment is dropping, but critics ask why workers’ incomes aren’t rising.

New England FairPoint Members Strike

Nearly 2,000 employees of FairPoint Communications in Northern New England went on strike on Oct. 17.

Rolling Back Workers’ Rights, But Fight not Over

The secretive American Legislative Exchange Council was behind a June measure to end collective bargaining in Fort Wayne, Ind. But lawmakers are not done fighting.

Yearly Contest Challenges Apprentices in Tasks, Theory

Seventh District apprentices have been competing in yearly contests in the Seventh District since 1962, bringing members together with union and contractor leaders.

Locals Help Save Osprey

Illinois and Connecticut IBEW members are helping save and restore endangered osprey (fish-hawks) in their states.

Ohio Manufacturing Workers Strike to Save Pensions, Raise Pay

Hundreds of Ohio members working for France-based Schneider Electric went on strike Oct. 5.

Asplundh’s Mich. Workers Win Voice

Tree trimmers employed by Asplundh Tree Expert Co. in Southwest Michigan voted 69 to 11 for representation by Grand Rapids Local 876 on Oct. 2.

President Hill Honors 77-Year Member

Jimmy Kice, a Kansas City Local 124 member, in Washington, D.C. visiting the World War II Memorial, was presented with his 75 year pin by International President Edwin D. Hill.

Anti-Union ABC Ready to Fight Protections, Rights on the Job

The anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors is challenging a recent White House executive order ensuring fair standards and working conditions on federally-contracted jobs.

N.C. IBEW Member Calls for Payroll Fraud Crackdown

A North Carolina IBEW activist says lawmakers shouldn’t give companies a contract to cheat.

At Women’s Conference, Taking Action for Pro-Worker Candidates

IBEW members participated in a get-out-the-vote postcard campaign for pro-labor Texas candidates during the Women’s Conference in San Antonio.

Canadian National Electrician Wins Community Service Award

Railroad local Business Manager Charles Cox says his award for community service in Memphis is accompanied by the satisfaction of helping youth succeed.

Retired Portland IBEW Leader: ‘Still in the Dogfight’

Ed Barnes, retired Portland, Ore., Local 48 business manager, is a hometown hero to citizens fighting for more responsive political leadership.

Union Program Opens Up Opportunities for Women in the Trades

Despite some progress in increasing gender diversity in construction, women still represent only 4 percent of the total industry workforce.

Oregon Diversity Program Wins Accolades

Bridget Quinn will receive a Woman of Vision award for her success bringing diverse, effective apprentices to Portland, Ore., Local 48’s training program.

Day of Action Energizes Third District Youth

Young members are an important part of Third District Progress meetings, strategizing over how to increase peer involvement in the union and volunteering for community service projects.

British Columbia Locals Help Teachers Win

Eight unions, including the IBEW supported striking teachers in British Columbia with an interest-free loan of $8 million, helping them win a long strike

Asplundh Trimmers Vote ‘Yes’ in W.Va.

Asplundh, the nation’s largest tree trimming firm, has 30,000 employees and has negotiated 80 collective bargaining units. But more of the company’s workers want to work union.

Unions, Business Team Up to Fight Payroll Fraud

In Texas, law-abiding corporations, labor unions and workers’ rights advocates are lobbying for laws that punish companies that mislabel workers as independent contractors.

IBEW Photographers Fight for Retirement Security

IBEW broadcast members demand equal treatment at N.H. TV station.

Schneider Electric Employees Picket During Tough Negotiations

Contentious contract talks between Schneider Electric and its union employees prompted an informational picket from IBEW activists this week.

Executive Order Strikes Blow Against Crooked Federal Contractors

Obama’s latest pro-worker executive order requires federal contractors to maintain clean labor and safety records.

N.Y. Apprenticeships Win Solar Accreditation

Thirteen Electrical Training Alliance centers in New York have received accreditation from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council for their inside wireman program.

New York State Comptroller Intervenes in FairPoint Labor Dispute

CWA and IBEW members at FairPoint Communications aren’t surrendering after the company imposed a concessionary contract. They are making their voices heard even in the board room.

Volunteers Build a Shed in Georgia and Open up the Skies

IBEW volunteers make life a lot easier for Georgia park rangers by building a lakeside home for two-dozen kayaks.

Portland Local First to Join Electrical Vehicle Challenge

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy set a goal to make plug-in electrical vehicles as affordable and convenient for the American family as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years.

Jayhawk Voters Rejecting the Right?

Maybe right-wing prescriptions for “improving” the Kansas economy should come with warnings? The state’s gubernatorial/ U.S. Senate campaigns are in turmoil over their failures.

Texas Nuclear Workers Vote ‘Yes’ to Win Improved Health Care

Looking to boost their health care coverage, 100 Texas nuclear plant workers voted this summer to join Houston Local 66.

Nova Scotia IBEW Defeats Utility’s Outsourcing Plan

Activists at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Local 1928 successfully fought off a company’s outsourcing attempt, saving hundreds of union jobs.

FairPoint Walks Away from Bargaining Table

FairPoint Communications declared a bargaining impasse Aug. 27, refusing to reach agreement with union workers.

IBEW Helps Save High School Electrical Training

The IBEW is partnering with the Chicago Public Schools to save electrical training for high school students.

Following the Money in Alaska Senate Race

Alaska Senate candidate Dan Sullivan is getting financial help from shadowy groups and donors looking to elect anti-worker lawmakers Nov. 4.

A Special Message from President Hill: Honoring Labor Day’s Heroes

Look forward, not backward on Labor Day, says President Hill. But honor the sacrifices of our predecessors by joining hands in common efforts.

NACTEL Offers Virtual Open House

NACTEL is offering a virtual open house for potential students Sept. 16.

IBEW Responds to Napa Earthquake

IBEW members respond to earthquake that rocked Napa Valley, Calif. Aug. 24.

Ill. Candidate Channels Reagan’s Union Busting

Illinois gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner tells supporters that he wouldn’t hesitate to use Ronald Reagan-style tactics against striking public employees.

Kentucky Locals All in to Send Mitch McConnell Packing

Ky. IBEW activists are mobilizing to help defeat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Nov. 4.

RENEW Members Boost Leadership Skills, Look to Future

For any budding journeyman wireman looking to advance in the trade, training is always the key.

The Race to Replace Labor Hero Tom Harkin

IBEW activists in Iowa are mobilizing to help elect Senate candidate Bruce Braley, who supports PLAs and collective bargaining.

Hundreds of FairPoint Workers Picket in New England

Hundreds of union FairPoint workers picketed last week in New England to protect middle-class jobs as the company considers the unions’ latest proposal.

In Tenn., Looking Back for Organizing Inspiration

After losing a high-profile organizing election in February, the UAW is looking to different ways to help represent Volkswagen workers in Tennessee.

Wisconsin Locals Target Job-Killing Gov. Walker

Wisconsin IBEW activists are mobilizing to help defeat Gov. Scott Walker on Election Day, Nov. 4.

IBEW Joins Natural Gas Methane Reduction Initiative

Methane gas escaping from aging natural gas pipelines is undermining the fuel’s environmental and cost benefits. The IBEW is working to help find a solution.

Enter the 2014 Photo Contest

Writers over the centuries have used soaring language and gripping eye-witness accounts to extol the virtues of labor history.

Saskatchewan Local Fights for Mineworker Rights

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Local 529 filed an unfair labour practice application against Alliance Energy Industrial Ltd. in June, accusing the company of intimidating pro-IBEW workers at its Agrium pot ash mine in northern Saskatchewan.

In Calif., A Solar-Powered Leg Up

For many Bakersfield Local 428 members, California’s thriving solar industry is an opportunity for job growth and stability. For some of the local’s newest members, it’s a second chance.

NJATC Transitions into the Electrical Training Alliance

IBEW members often say that the union’s apprenticeship training, delivered by the NJATC, is the union’s best-kept secret.

Ore. Members Build Portland’s New ‘Auto-Free’ Bridge

Popular songs and advertisements have inspired generations of Americans to get behind the wheel and step on the gas pedal.

Anti-Worker Koch Brothers Loom Large in Mich. Senate Race

One of the biggest stories already shaping up in this year’s election cycle is the influence of deep-pocketed, extremist organizations and their fight against everyday American workers.

Ohio Locals Aim to Defeat Anti-Labor Gov. Kasich

Two years ago, IBEW locals in Ohio played a critical role in winning a ballot initiative to defeat legislation supported by Republican Gov. John Kasich which would have taken away the right of firefighters, teachers and other public workers to collectively bargain.

Kansas City Manufacturer Earns Plaudits

It turns out the first, second and third time is the charm, at least for members of El Dorado, Ark., Local 2284.

Union Members Rally Against EPA Carbon Rule

Thousands of union members rallied in Pittsburgh July 31 to protest the Environmental Protection Act’s Clean Power plan, which they say will kill good jobs and weaken the electrical grid.

PRESS RELEASE August 3, 2014: FairPoint Deadline Passes With No Resolution

FairPoint Deadline Passes With No Resolution

A six-year contract between FairPoint Communications and 1,700 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and 300 members of the CWA expired at midnight Aug. 2, as the parties agreed to continue talks to forge a new agreement.

Alaska Mayor: Union Dues are ‘Slavery’

Thugs. Goons. Bullies. Anti-worker politicians love to use colorful language when talking about unions and their members.

In Chicago, New Trains and Job Growth

The 400 members of Chicago Local 134 who maintain the city’s bustling railways are looking forward to some major changes in the next few years.

Union Plus Announces Scholarship Awards

IBEW members and family members were awarded $10,000 of scholarships from the Union Plus Educational Fund.

Helping the Homeless

The number of homeless children in rural Whatcom County, Wash., has doubled in the past two years. Most of these children are being raised by a single parent.

PRESS RELEASE: IBEW Speaks Out Against EPA Carbon Emission Rule

IBEW members are testifying this week in four cities in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan.

Jobs Safe, But for How Long?

Crumbling bridges. Damaging potholes. Dangerous traffic that contributes to fatalities.

Tiny Chips, Massive Job

If you’re reading this on your computer or your phone, you have local unions like Portland, Oregon, Local 48 to thank.

Tracking Tuna on TV

If Mark Brochu is an adrenaline junkie, his friends and co-workers will tell you he’s one of the best one they know, putting adventurous exploits into productive work.

Summit Promotes Working Families

Americans live in the only developed nation that does not guarantee paid parental leave. To make matters worse, 40 million workers in the country do not have access to paid sick leave to take care of themselves, their children or aging parents.

U.S. Affirms South Korea ‘Dumping’

The U.S. Department of Commerce is charging South Korean producers of steel tubing with unfairly “dumping” their products below their fair market value in the U.S.

Strike Averted

A looming strike at the Long Island Railroad – the busiest commuter rail system in the nation – was averted July 17 when IBEW leaders and other union activists announced a tentative deal with the transit agency’s management.

Congress Takes Action on Wage Theft

It’s common sense. Federal money shouldn’t line the pockets of known law-breakers. But many government contractors routinely violate labor and wage and hour laws, costing employees – and taxpayers – millions of dollars

Strike Looms for Long Island Railroad

Every weekday, more than 335,000 passengers ride the Long Island Railroad, flowing into Manhattan in the morning and back out to Long Island at the end of the day.

IBEW Lights Up Planetarium

This Fourth of July, the St. Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium celebrated with a light spectacle much closer to the ground.

IBEW: EPA Plan Targets Jobs, Grid

The IBEW, along with other unions that represent energy workers, are criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, saying it will kill jobs and put the electrical grid at risk.

Bye Bye, Collective Bargaining

Republican legislators in Fort Wayne, Ind., voted June 24 to terminate collective bargaining for 500 public employees who help maintain services and infrastructure in the state’s second largest city.

Union Volunteers Refurbish Sanctuary

Thanks to the hard work of members from the IBEW and other unions, visitors can remain safe while appreciating the beauty of the Horicon Marsh wildlife refuge in Wisconsin.

Railroad’s Safety Culture Gets Overhaul

CSX Transportation’s Selkirk repair shop is a massive, loud throwback to America’s industrial past.

Who’s Messing with My Cash?

It has cost 5.8 million American jobs and millions in Canada, too. It’s called currency manipulation, a tricky device by which one country (like China) plays around with the price of its currency and hurts its trading partners (like the U.S. and Canada).

Fla. Comcast Sales Reps Vote ‘Yes’

More than 700 technicians working for Comcast across the U.S. enjoy better wages and a voice on the job, thanks to the collective bargaining agreements they have negotiated.

Supreme Court Ruling Hurts Workers

Thousands of home care workers were already burdened by trying circumstances on their jobs before a Supreme Court ruling on June 30 made their lives and their service to disabled persons more difficult.

Jack Daniel’s and IBEW Team Up in Ala.

Northwest Alabama has been a hard place for union workers for decades.

McConnell Campaigns for Low Wages

The United States’ transportation infrastructure is in desperate need of massive federal investment to rebuild crumbling roads and bridges.

Seattle IBEW: ‘Raise the Wage’

When the Seattle City Council started considering proposals to raise the city’s minimum wage, Seattle Local 46 knew it was their duty to step right up to help.

IBEW Rips Developers’ Distortions

Last year, a public policy center at Northeastern University in Boston released a report stating that the lack of affordable housing in Beantown could hurt the city’s e conomic recovery.

In San Jose, Higher Minimum Wage Means More Jobs

Critics of raising the minimum wage claim it will hurt businesses and cost jobs, but the experience of one California city is refuting the naysayers.

N.C. Fights Extremist Agenda

North Carolinians from all walks of life continue their Monday protests against the state GOP’s extremist agenda.

Grads Prepped for Change

In the race of advancing telecommunications technology, the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning is helping workers keep up the pace.

IBEW Helps Win Veterans Housing

IBEW Locals in California are standing up for housing rights for our nation’s veterans.

2014 IBEW Women’s Conference Sept. 17-20

Hundreds of IBEW sisters are expected in San Antonio Sept. 17-20 for the Seventh IBEW International Women’s Conference.

Greenbrier Workers Join Neb. IBEW

Manufacturing workers at Greenbrier Rail Service in Hershey, Neb., are the newest members of the IBEW family after voting to join North Platte Local 1920.

Obama Ends Philly Rail Strike

President Barack Obama announced the creation of a presidential emergency board June 15 to end four years of stalled contract negotiations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the IBEW and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

Goodwill Wins Calif. Work

Through helping residents, building a reputation as a good neighbor and working in coalition with other community organizations, Modesto Local 684 is winning new work.

Union Volunteers Build Roof

Union members recently volunteered to build a roof on the youth archery range at the J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area’s Everglades Youth Conservation Camp in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Bill Would Create Jobs, Save Energy

When it comes to renewable energy, Rhode Island lags far behind its neighboring New England states.

Last NLC Class Graduates

Two hundred and ten graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas from the National Labor College at the end of this spring semester. It was the institution’s largest graduating class, and also its last.

Report Highlights Danger of Outsourcing

Outsourcing by state and local governments increasingly means that the middle-class jobs of today are becoming the poverty-level jobs of tomorrow.

Walmart Moms Go on Strike

Moms employed by the mega-retailer Walmart walked off the job in more than 20 cities last week to protest continuing low pay and disrespect.

Responsible Contracting Law Passed

In Minnesota, everyone agrees that when it comes to taxpayer-funded construction projects, contractors must obey the law.

IBEW Storm Service Praised

Summer is here, but only a few months ago, North America was suffering through record freezing artic temperatures, ice storms and massive snow flurries.

Outside Opportunities in Transmission

Billions of dollars of new transmission work is coming to the Midwest and Great Plains, making outside line construction one of the hottest job fields in the country.

IBEW on EPA Emissions Rules

The EPA has a track record of underestimating the impact of its rules, making faulty predictions that have cost tens of thousands of good jobs.

ADT Techs Seek Contract

Nearly 2,000 ADT employees across the U.S. and Canada enjoy better job security, fair wages and other benefits of an IBEW contract.

Give Road Crews a Break

As you get ready to hit the highway this summer, crews working on or near roads have a request: slow down and stay alert.

Union Volunteers Refurbish Park

Approximately 30 skilled tradesmen donated their time to rehabilitate a fishing pier at Houston’s Sheldon Lake State Park May 3.

IBEW Restores Power to Town

A power outage… A college graduation. They mix about as well as electricity and water.

One Local’s Volcanic Problem

A big crowd at a local meeting is often one of the most reliable signs of a union’s strength.

Concerns Vindicated on 'Free' Trade Agreements

In 2007, as Congress considered approval of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the IBEW joined 10 other unions in a letter opposing the pact with the most dangerous country in the world for unions, with 72 trade unionists assassinated the year before.

Anti-Worker Legislation Fails in Mo.

The 2014 legislative session in Missouri ended May 16 with the defeat of two major anti-labor bills long sought after by anti-worker special interests.

Download the New IBEW App

IBEW members are usually on the go. Many depend on their phones or tablets to check the latest news and keep in contact.

Aiding Wash. Mudslide Recovery

In the days and weeks after March’s tragic and sudden mudslide that devastated the small Washington community of Oso, the nation watched as newscasters and reporters piled up grim figures.

Trade Deal = Pricier Health Care

The Trans-Pacific Psartnership – a trade agreement under negotiation by the United States, Canada and 11 other Pacific Rim nations – could end up making it harder for consumers to fill their prescriptions.

Empowering Women, Building IBEW

A popular button often seen at labor rallies and conferences reads, “A woman's place is in her union.”

Philly Transit Agency Forces Impasse

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rejected federal efforts to end four years of stalled contract negotiations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the IBEW on May 8.

Locals Address FairPoint Shareholders

On May 12, executives and shareholders of Charlotte, N.C.-based FairPoint Communications gathered for the company’s annual shareholders meeting. The meeting took place amid widespread rumors, reported on www.ibew.org, the company is seeking a merger or sale.

Pa. Local Gives Vietnam Vets Their Due

The Erie County Vietnam Veterans Memorial is shining a little brighter after a new set of lights were unveiled May 3

Labor Secretary Praises IBEW Apprenticeships

For years, high-school students have been told there is one path to success – a four-year college degree.

Business/Labor Kick Off Infrastructure Week

Business and labor may not agree on everything, but when it comes to investing in America’s aged industrial infrastructure, both sides are sounding the alarm.

Raffle Nets Thousands for Veterans Group

Members attending the 2014 Broadcasting, Manufacturing and Telecommunications Conference in Connecticut in late April loudly applauded after hearing from George Farrell, a retired fire chief who coordinates Rhode Island’s “honor flights” program.

Student Apprenticeship = Opportunity

Like many high school seniors, Brian Hobbs and Jacob Bates weren’t looking forward to four more years of sitting in the classroom – all while racking up major college debt.

Bye-Bye, Factory Jobs

Talgo is vacating its factory in Wisconsin, four years after Gov. Scott Walker rejected millions in federal stimulus money to create a commuter line.

Tell Obama to Protect American Jobs

During President Obama’s recent tour of Asia, many issues were discussed with foreign heads of state. At the top of Obama’s agenda was the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade agreement among the United States and 12 other Pacific Rim nations.

Small Chips, Big Jobs

GlobalFoundries ,the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, is building a new manufacturing campus in upstate New York.

Letter Carriers’ Food Drive

Letter carriers across the country are getting ready for the 22nd annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive.

In Mo., More Anti-Worker Bills

Just weeks after failing to garner enough support to put right-to-work-for-less on the Missouri ballot, anti-worker state legislators are resurrecting another bill aimed at weakening workers’ rights.

FairPoint Vs. Fair Deal for Workers?

When telecom company FairPoint Communications first bid to take over Verizon’s New England landline service in 2008, there were both promises and worries.

Business, Labor Cheer Federal Skills Investment

Business and labor leaders are in agreement that President Obama’s April 16 announcement of $600 million in federal grant programs to boost workforce training is the right decision for the economy.

Pulitzer Prize Honors Series Exposing Black Lung Denials

As president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka hears and reads a lot of horror stories about workers being abused by employers.

Last year, one story struck home in a uniquely personal way for Trumka, a former coal miner whose father, grandfathers and uncles died from black lung disease, suffocating from the effects of years of breathing coal dust.

Unionists Beautify Ga. Park

Vistas at Providence Canyon State Park, known to locals as Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon, will be enhanced by seven miles of restored trails, thanks to union members.

Saving Electricity, Winning Friends

IBEW and NECA are recognized for their concern for the environment and support for their cities.

Powering Cars, Empowering the Future

Matt Harlow, an inside journeyman wireman member of Birmingham, Ala., Local 136, learned a lot about the value of on-the-job training during his five years as an apprentice instructor.

IBEW’s Solar Power in California

After Dan Sullivan topped out of San Diego Local 569’s apprenticeship program in 2001, he went back to the training center for the class that changed his life.

Hollow Recovery

Seven years after the onset of the Great Recession, nearly all economists agree that we are in an economic recovery.

IBEW Expands Kan., Mo. Auto Plants

Drive down any wide, open highway across Missouri and you’ll see something big, heavy and plentiful on the plains.

IBEW to Senate: Ensure Grid Reliability

An IBEW request has helped initiate a timely hearing to discuss how the shutdowns of coal-fired power plants will affect the nation’s electrical grid, especially during extreme weather emergencies.

Technology Opens Horizons in Saskatchewan

Automated electricity meters have been a double-whammy for many locals. Meter reader jobs disappear and the replacement work has proven extremely resistant to organizing on both sides of the border.

House Mulls Benefits Extension

The U.S. Senate voted April 7 to restore unemployment benefits for the 2.8 million Americans who have been out of work for six months or longer.

Right-to-Work-for-Less Fails in Mo.

Efforts to make Missouri the 25th right-to-work-for-less state came up short April 9, with anti-worker state legislators failing to garner enough votes to send their bill to the state Senate.

Mich. Local Uses YouTube to Organize

Muskegon, Mich., Local 275 invested in a camcorder and asked the local’s new members to say on camera why they decided to join the IBEW – in their own words.

FCC Votes To Save TV News Jobs

Leading union activists representing broadcasting employees cheered a move that will help promote diversity in local media markets while saving jobs.

Secure Your Future with NACTEL

With technology moving so quickly, success in the telecommunications industry requires commitment to lifelong learning.

Honoring Our Nation’s Linemen

Lineman put their lives on the line every day to ensure that electricity is safely delivered to our homes and businesses.

Still Fighting for the Eight-Hour Workday

Flat wages have been pushing American workers backward for decades, but Minneapolis Local 292 member Kent Blachowiak’s employer was trying to push him all the way back to the 19th century.

Organizers Save Okla. Family from Fire

Trentice Hamm and Robert Bausch started out their day hoping to inspire some nonunion Oklahoma construction workers during an organizing blitz.

Report Shows Need for Action on Unemployment

It is unlikely that most of the long-term unemployed will find their way back into the labor market without an effort by Congress and business leaders, a new report says.

New IBEW Ad Celebrates American Manufacturing

It can seem tougher these days to find products on store shelves that don’t have a “Made in China” label.

New Report Challenges Outsourcing Myths

It’s one of the inevitable laugh lines in tens of thousands of workplaces, public and private. A senior manager tells workers that some of their duties will be outsourced to cut costs. Around the water cooler employees snicker about how contracting out work often backfires, costing employers more than they save.

Bipartisan Support for IBEW on Grid Reliability

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, are actively supporting a request from IBEW, the United Mineworkers Union, the Utility Workers and others to hold a hearing on the stability and reliability of the nation’s electrical grid.

IBEW Unity Fund Critical to Fighting Anti-Worker Agenda

The Koch brothers are trying to buy elections. Anti-labor lobbyists helped defeat VW workers’ effort to organize in Tennessee. And right-to-work may be coming to states like Missouri, Ohio and Maine if anti-union lawmakers succeed in carrying out their corporate donors’ wishes.

Westex Joins with NJATC to Boost High-Tech Learning

The industry leader in the manufacture of arc-rated fabrics is helping to create a program to help train the next generation of electrical workers.

California Local Helps Finance Rosie the Riveters’ Trip to D.C.

Many World War II factories operated with the assistance of women, some of whom are coming to Washington, with the help of IBEW members.

The Best Live Music Brought to Your Home by the IBEW

There is one television concert show where the technical engineers behind the broadcast are as talented as the people on the stage.

Union Plus Helps Members in Need

You never know when you could use a helping hand. Hardships can hit at any time: layoffs, natural disasters, medical emergencies or a strike.

This bill: ‘Paid for by Union Wages’

Activists in Missouri are working to remind businesses that everyone in the Show Me state benefits from good union jobs – every time a member makes a purchase.

Five Labor Leaders with Irish Roots

Each St. Patrick’s Day, we honor North America’s Irish heritage.

Report Points to Danger of Delaying Infrastructure Investment

Franklin Roosevelt was in office and Mickey Mouse first hit the screen when most of New York City’s sewer mains were installed. The Cold War was just starting and home TVs were still a rarity around the time when most schools were built in the five boroughs.

Billboards Are Just the Beginning for Ill. Local

Collinsville, Ill., Local 309 has launched an unprecedented, multiplatform advertising campaign that Business Manager Scott Hassall expects will dramatically raise the profile of the local and its signatory contractors throughout their southwest Illinois jurisdiction.

Unions Denounce Administration’s Privatization Plan for TVA

America’s building trades unions are strongly opposing President Obama’s recommendation to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority, calling it a budget gimmick that would set back a model institution that has improved the lives of millions.

Hatzel & Buehler, Inc. 130 Years Young

Every economic sector reserves a special place for pioneering companies. Respect grows when, more than a century after the formation of an enterprise, it continues to provide innovative leadership in its industry.

IBEW Calls for End to Kellogg’s Lockout

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers joins the growing number of labor unions, community and civil rights activists and lawmakers in calling for an end to Kellogg Co.’s four-month lockout of more than 220 workers at the company’s Memphis, Tenn., plant.

Ontario Activists Push for Living Wages

Union members and pro-worker activists took to the heart of Toronto’s retail district Feb. 15 to call on Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to raise the provincial minimum wage.

End Currency Manipulation, Create Jobs

Politicians talk a lot about jobs, but there is one surefire way Congress can help create millions of jobs according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute: crack down on currency manipulation.

Pa. Locals Rally to Stop Labor Assaults

When legislators in Pennsylvania decided to follow the lead of Wis. Gov. Scott Walker and propose a bill to weaken the state’s public sector unions, so many unionists showed up at Harrisburg’s capitol rotunda on Jan. 28, many were forced to stand outside in the freezing cold.

Nashville-Area Electrical Licensing Law Promotes Safety, Local Hiring

With a New York Bank data center project, upgrades to a General Motors auto plant and a new convention center job on the books, leaders of Nashville Local 429 figured the time was right to move an electrical licensing law through the Davidson County Council, a 40-member body that covers the celebrated music city and surrounding suburbs.

Vancouver Local Funds Cutting-Edge Burn Research

For nearly 125 years, the IBEW has relentlessly fought to improve on-the-job safety for electrical workers, and the positive impact of the Brotherhood’s advocacy is unquestionable.

IBEW Stands with UAW, Calls for New Volkswagen Vote

The United Auto Workers is asking the National Labor Relations Board to set aside the results of the certification election at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tenn. assembly plant decided after a three-day vote Feb. 14.

Miami Local, Contractors Help Cancer Patient

On Valentine’s Day, while much of the nation faced frigid temperatures, in Cape Coral, Fla., cancer patient Frances Ballester wasn’t just struggling with a lack of air conditioning. Her breathing machine, too, was shut down after the local utility turned off her electrical power over landlord’s unpaid bills.

Maine Bill Will Protect Call Center Jobs

Less than 200 Maine residents earn their living catching lobsters. But nearly 20,000 state inhabitants work in call centers, like legendary retailer L.L. Bean’s, employing 2,000.

New York Local 3 Member Rises to Bass Fishing Elite

Tens of thousands of people enjoy bass fishing. When they are not on their favorite lakes, many watch fishing tournaments on TV.

Court Upholds Rule Protecting U.S. Workers’ Wages

In a victory for American jobs and fair pay, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld Department of Labor wage rules requiring non-agricultural foreign workers be paid prevailing wages.

IBEW: Caution Urged in Comcast Merger

The IBEW is asking regulators to carefully review the proposed merger between Comcast and Time Warner.

Activists Ask Mike Rowe to Drop Walmart

Talk about a dirty job. TV host Mike Rowe is the voice for Walmart’s new TV ad campaign promoting American manufacturing

On the Bright Side, Solar Sees Record Job Growth in 2013

If you want to know where the jobs are, follow the sun. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the Solar Foundation, which says solar employment in 2013 grew by 20 percent over the previous year. That’s 10 times faster than the national average employment growth rate.

IBEW Dad Cheers on Daughter’s Olympic Dreams

Last week, we reported on Worcester, Mass., Local 96 member Ekaterina Pashkevitch, who is in Sochi, Russia, playing center for the Russian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.

Manufacturing Member Makes Tapestry of Solidarity

At any gathering of union members, you can always count on one thing: T-shirts. Bearing the union’s colors and announcing--often quite loudly and creatively –their cities or towns, T-shirts help members express their pride.

Study: Unions Are Key to Reducing Income Inequality.

The skewing of national income to the top 1 percent of the country threatens upward mobility, which is the core of the American dream, says a new study from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Labor and Employment Relations.

IBEW Member Recounts Fight for Civil/Worker’s Rights in Miss.

For IBEW member Charles Horhn, the fight for civil rights, voters’ rights and workers’ rights are one. In honor of black history month, he told his story to the AFL-CIO blog.

Canada’s Highest Court Upholds Pensioner Rights

The Supreme Court of Canada struck a blow for pensioner rights Jan. 30, reinstating a lower court’s decision that a $43 million pension surplus that existed when Manitoba Telephone was privatized in 1997 belonged exclusively to retirees.

The East Coast’s Real Sunshine State: New Jersey

When most people think about solar power, New Jersey doesn’t immediately come to mind. They might think of thousands of photovoltaic panels sprawling across barren stretches Southwestern desert. Solar, many people suppose, thrives not in New Jersey but where New Jersey goes on vacation.

Member Makes Olympic Appearance

Ekaterina Pashkevitch is taking to the ice in Sochi, Russia this week, playing center for the Russian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team.

Unions and Management Team Up to Save Classic Company

You’ve heard the reasons why union manufacturing can’t make it in America anymore: Union workers get paid too much. American manufacturers can’t afford to build here. Unions just get in the way of management.

Code is Key to Pa. Utility PLAs

Four project labor agreements between IBEW and PPL Electric Utilities in Pennsylvania to upgrade miles of aging power lines will soon require 400 to 500 outside journeymen linemen. This is good news for Keystone State members and for travelers from as far away as Alaska.

IBEW Electrician Highlights Fight Against Long-Term Unemployment

Vacaville, Calif. Local 1245 member Erick Varela was at the White House Jan. 31 to introduce President Barack Obama at a discussion with the heads of some of America’s top corporations about combating long-term unemployment – something the two-tour combat veteran is all too familiar with.

Mo. IBEW Activists Fight Right-to-Work Push

Is the Show-Me State about to get a new motto? As in, “Show me a smaller paycheck?”

IBEW Fighting to Save U.S. Nuclear Manufacturing

The outlook for more than 50,000 American jobs in manufacturing could be determined by a bill under consideration in Congress that places more than a dozen significant new restrictions on the export of civilian nuclear technology.

Oops. Pa. Unemployment Benefit Cuts Backfire

Two years ago, the Pennsylvania legislature, looking to keep the state’s unemployment benefit fund solvent, came up with a plan to alter an eligibility rule for collecting benefits.

Boston Broadcasting Techs Overwhelmingly Vote IBEW

More than 30 freelancers working for Program Productions, Inc., voted overwhelmingly to be represented by Boston Local 1228 in an NLRB-certified election Jan. 8.

N.C. Activists Take on State GOP’s Anti-Democratic, Anti-Worker Agenda

Clergy, civil rights activists, union members and education advocates from throughout North Carolina are converging on Raleigh Feb. 8 for what is expected to be the largest ever “Moral Monday” march.

Want to be a Contractor? Sign up Now for IBEW’s Contracting Class

IBEW members who become electrical contractors have the advantage of knowing not just a trade and an industry, but how to unleash the powerful contributions of the men and women who work on their projects.

Stop Job-Killing ‘Fast-Track’ Trade Deal

Activists are calling on Congress to say no to fast-track legislation that would take away its ability to negotiate the biggest free-trade agreement since NAFTA – the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Raising the Roof: Device Jacks High Wires

A new system to increase the capacity of transmission lines is being used for the first time by members of Syracuse, N.Y. Local 1249.

Corporate Exec Praising Unions? Yep

Who said it?

“[Unions] are a key driver in the creation of the middle-class, for the reduction of work hours, paid vacation, all sorts of benefits that we all enjoy.”

Voters Pick 16th IBEW Photo Contest Winners

Contrasting the chilly stillness of winter with the energy of a lineman in action, Casper, Wyo., Local 322 member Levi Gossard’s photo won top honors in the 16th IBEW Photo Contest.

Ontario Local’s Scholarship Award Forges School Board Alliance

The best apprenticeship programs depend upon students who are well-prepared at the secondary education level for success in the academic rigors of the electrical trade.

PBS’s ‘American Woodshop’ Goes IBEW Solar

For 20 seasons, “American Woodshop” has been a favorite show on PBS channels across the U.S.

IBEW Helps Maritime School Provide High-Tech Education

It’s an innovative idea in education – a maritime-trade focused school for students in the 5th to 12th grades.

Calif. ‘Green Collar’ Workers Vote IBEW

Following a dramatic campaign that tapped the resources and verve of workers and organizers, 78 employees at Sunoptics – a Sacramento-based manufacturer of high-tech skylights – are the newest members of Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245.

President Hill Urges Open Internet, Broadband Expansion

We support the Jan. 14 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirming the authority of the Federal Communications Commission to regulate broadband access.

Wis. GOP Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Weekends

Like your weekend? Well if you live in Wisconsin, a pair of Republican state legislators has an unpleasant surprise for you.

Study: Workers Misclassification Hurts Everyone

A policy think tank has a new fact sheet that shows that worker misclassification is a serious problem everywhere – even in states with relatively strong labor protections, like Oregon.

EWMC Celebrates 40th Anniversary in Kansas City

As Kansas City and Local 124 host the 24th annual leadership conference of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus on Jan. 16, members will reflect upon the legacy of one of the longest-standing minority caucuses in the labor movement formed 40 years ago in the same city during the 30th IBEW Convention.

Operating Engineers Re-Affiliate with Building Trades

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers welcomes the decision by the International Union of Operating Engineers to formally re-affiliate with the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Court Cases Threaten Unions and Working Families

One of the main arguments in favor of voting and engaging in the political process is the importance of electing friends who will appoint fair-minded judges. When we fail, important gains won at the bargaining table or in legislation can be negated by the courts.

Tell Congress: Extend Long-Term Unemployment Benefits

The U.S. Senate narrowly voted to extend unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed Jan. 6. These expired at the end of last year for 1.3 million workers who have been unemployed for 26 weeks or longer.

Community Engagement Wins Rebirth of N.Y. Power Plant

Since 1950, New York State’s substantial hunger for energy has historically been quenched by big servings of coal-fired steam generation. And, since 1950, one of the largest plants was Dunkirk Station, on the shore of Lake Erie, 55 miles southwest of Buffalo, employing members of Syracuse Local 97.

Workers’ Rights Victory in Saskatchewan

Supporters of workers’ rights won an important legal victory Nov. 21, after the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board found contractor Magna Electric Corp. guilty of unfairly terminating pro-union employees.

Maine Verizon Business Techs Join IBEW

Verizon Business technicians in Andover, Maine, voted overwhelmingly to join Augusta Local 2327 Dec. 11.

Study: Infrastructure Investment, Not Cuts, Key to Job Creation

While some members of Congress continue to push for further cuts to federal spending, one government watchdog group says our elected leaders need to focus on a more pressing debt: the industrial investment deficit.

Vote Now for the 2013 IBEW Photo Contest Winners

From contemplative landscapes to jaw-dropping heights, participants in this year’s IBEW photo contest showcased an array of stunning images – displaying that our membership’s talent extends far beyond the tool belt.

Utility Workers Return to Work After Lockout

The lockout that forced the 225 members of Vancouver, British Columbia, Local 213 out of their jobs at FortisBC is over after nearly six months.

EWMC Coat Drive Warms Kids and Hearts in St. Louis

St. Louis Local 1 electricians Sylvester Taylor and Leon Arties were ready for the cold weather, adhering to the advice of all workers who brave the elements on their jobs: “You can always put on more clothes than you need and take off what you don’t.”

Panorama Photo Now Available

President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005

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