Current News Stories
Buy America Stokes Stimulus Packages
Leading Republicans say that the administration’s $787 billion stimulus plan passed a year ago failed.
Vt. Union Leaders Rally for Power Plant, Jobs
Leaders of 15 building trades unions held a press conference this month to send a message to the Vermont state legislature: Keep Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant open.
New York Leads New Generation of High-Tech Manufacturing
The construction of a $4.2 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility north of Albany, N.Y., is solidifying the capital region’s reputation as a leading center for high-tech manufacturing and research – and that is translating into lots of jobs for members of Local 236.
IBEW 2008 Photo Contest Closes; Members Chose Winners
By capturing an iconic image of the Brotherhood, Huntington, W.Va., Local 317 member Danny Doss is the winner of the 2009 IBEW Photo Contest.
    
New Jersey Local Helps Win County Responsible-Contractor Policy
It’s a rare day when an IBEW local leader can find common cause with representatives of the Associated Builders and Contractors, an anti-union association.
Labor Answers Calls for Assistance to Haiti
The massive 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday evening is already being called the disaster of the century for this desperately poor Caribbean nation. The most powerful earthquake to ever be recorded in Haitian history was centered on the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, reducing large portions of the city to rubble.
New Federal Workers Labor Alliance Formed
Building on the success of the workers coalition that defeated the Bush administration personnel system at the Department of Defense last year, 21 labor organizations, including the IBEW, joined forces to form a new coalition dedicated to fighting for the interests of federal workers.
Joint Venture Strengthens Boston Minority Contractor
Ada Alfonso, an 11-year Boston Local 103 member who started her own electrical shop in 2005, was proud to see a story about her success in a late December issue of the Boston Globe.
Women of Labor Unite to Fight Cervical Cancer
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is helping spearhead an initiative this month to raise awareness of the No. 2 cause of cancer in women: cervical cancer.
IBEW Wins More Than $ 20 Million in Green Jobs Training Grants
IBEW members from throughout the United States are among those who will benefit from the announcement on Wednesday by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis of the release of nearly $100 million in renewable energy training grants.
Hill: Jobs Are No. 1 Priority for Florida’s Citizens
Florida has been hit especially hard by the recession, shedding the highest number of jobs across the country – nearly 17,000 – last November, making it one of the worst-hit states in the nation.
Niagara Falls Local Lights Up the Holidays
More than 70 volunteers from Niagara Falls, N.Y., Local 237 helped brighten the holidays by assembling and wiring this year’s United Way Holiday Lights of Niagara display.
Vermont Solar Contractors Prosper with IBEW
The Green Mountain State is getting greener as Montpelier Local 300 builds fertile relationships with influential, home-grown renewable energy contractors who are looking to expand with new support from the state legislature.
Tennessee ABC Leader Fired from N.Y. Project,
Undocumented Workers Arrested
Ernie Hartman, business manager of Elmira, N.Y., Local 139, had long advocated that Chemung County residents and others nearby should be given priority over out-of-state labor in local construction projects.
IBEW Locals Approve Constitutional Changes on Staff Compensation
n a referendum vote conducted between October 2 and December 1, 2009, IBEW locals approved a revised amendment to the Brotherhood’s constitution that alters the compensation formula for International officers, assistants, directors and representatives so that they will now resume making contributions to the pension plan.
Washington Roundup: IBEW Opposes Health-Care Tax, Supports ‘Buy America’
IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill has joined forces with the Communications Workers of America and the CEOs of the two top major telecommunications firms to oppose the provision in the Senate’s health-care reform bill that would levy a tax on existing health-care plans.
Obama Establishes Federal Labor-Management Council
An executive order by President Obama creating a National Council on Federal Labor-Management offers the IBEW and other unions representing federal workers a format for resolving some long-standing problems.
Give Your Career a Boost With An Online Telecommunications Degree
Looking to accelerate your career in telecommunications? The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL), in partnership with Pace University, offers online telecom degrees that can be completed from home.
Veterans Graduate from Rigorous Training Program, Land Jobs
A joint venture between Seattle Local 46 and the Puget Sound JATC has turned out its first crop of graduates whose military training helped fast-track them toward careers in the electrical trade.
IBEW Leader Co-chairs California Climate Change Panel
Pat Lavin, Seventh District IEC member and Business Manager of Diamond Bar, Calif., Local 47, has been selected to co-chair a state advisory panel on climate change, sponsored by the Pacific Council on International Policy, an elite think tank.
New England Locals Challenge Verizon’s Layoffs
As Verizon puts nearly 200 IBEW members on the street, mostly technicians assigned to fiber optic installation and service, locals are preparing to challenge the company’s decision in arbitration.
Help Fight for a Fair Health Care Reform Bill
Real health care reform should make union contractors and union workers more competitive with the nonunion sector. To make this happen, the IBEW and the Building and Construction Trades are asking union members to support an amendment to the health care reform bill in Congress.
The Henry Miller Story
Henry Miller, who died more than 110-years ago, was the founder, first president and driving force behind the first union of electrical workers in North America – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
It's Your Turn: 2009 Photo Contest Judging Commences
Pole setting in the high mountain desert or climbing 150-foot wind turbines may be just another day at the office for some members of the IBEW.
Northrop Grumman Shipyard Workers Approve Two-Year Contract Extension
IBEW members at Northrop Grumman’s Avondale and Ingalls shipyards in Louisiana and Mississippi have overwhelmingly approved a two-year extension of their current labor agreement.
U.S. Falling Behind in Green Jobs Growth
Throughout the 2008 election season, we were told that the green-energy economy would put our economy back on the road to recovery by creating tens of thousands of new jobs in wind, solar and other non-polluting energy sectors.
New Report Investigates Rise in Injuries to Aging Workers
More aging workers are staying on the job. Some would rather be retired, but have seen their retirement savings eroded. Others can afford to leave but are enticed to stay by employers who pay for their experience.
St. Louis Utility Locals Aid Unemployed Electricians
Staying true to the union’s deep roots in rendering financial assistance to electricians and their families in times of trouble, two utility locals in St. Louis have collected thousands of dollars to help unemployed electricians in Local 1 get through hard times.
Retired IBEW Director Mentors Teacher Unionist
Royetta Sanford, retired director of IBEW’s Human Services Department, has volunteered to share her knowledge and experience by providing mentoring to a recipient of the Union Leaders of the Future Scholarship.
‘Responsible Contractor Agreement’ to Boost Union Jobs in Pa.
Contractors bidding on large county jobs in northeastern Pennsylvania have a new agreement to follow that will greatly benefit IBEW members.
Retired IBEW Director Mentors Teacher Unionist
Royetta Sanford, retired director of IBEW’s Human Services Department, has volunteered to share her knowledge and experience by providing mentoring to a recipient of the Union Leaders of the Future Scholarship.
Thanksgiving Message from International President Edwin D. Hill
Many of us are looking forward to a cherished holiday centered on family, friends and food.
But this year, thousands of working families who always considered themselves middle class—not among those who rely upon charity—will enter the ranks of the impoverished.
IBEW Helps Bust Unscrupulous California Contractor
The IBEW is helping to lead a crackdown on California nonunion contractors who violate the state’s wage and benefit laws.
Company Backtracks on Using Stimulus Funds to Offshore Jobs
An American-Chinese consortium that was seeking more than $400 million in federal stimulus money for a wind farm project that would have created jobs in China, backtracked on its decision after public outcry.
AFL-CIO Unveils Jobs Agenda
More than 8 million jobs have been lost since the start of the recession, with the official unemployment rate at more than 10 percent -- the highest in nearly 25 years.
Bush Tax Cuts Much Costlier Than Health Care Bill
Republican Minority leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP members have argued that the Democrats’ health care proposal, which was passed by the House of Representatives on November 7, would place a costly burden on taxpayers and cause the national debt to balloon to record levels.
IBEW Condemns Police Attack on Mexican Electrical Workers Union
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has joined with unions around the world in condemning Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s anti-union assault on electrical workers at the Central Light and Power Company of Mexico.
Right-Wing Beat Back in N.Y. After Defeating Pro-Labor Republican
Dennis Affinati, business manager of Watertown, N.Y., Local 910—located near the Canadian border—doesn’t turn his back on his friends.
IBEW Activists Say: We Need a Strong Public Option, No Benefits Tax
As the battle for health care reform nears the finish line in Congress, IBEW members attending the union’s annual political and legislative conference in Washington, D.C. last month wanted to make sure their political representatives heard their message on health care reform loud and clear...
Illinois Local Lobbies for Wind Power Zoning
Located on a natural ridge with plentiful wind, Winnebago County, Ill. offered an opportunity for unemployed members of the building trades to get back to work on green energy projects.
Will Green Stimulus Money Go to China?
Developers of a massive 36,000-acre wind farm in West Texas will be seeking federal stimulus money for the project which will include 240 2.5-megawatt wind turbines - Made in China.
$138 Million Stimulus Grant to IBEW-Represented Nevada Utility
On October 27, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced a $138 million grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to NV Energy to implement smart grid technologies in his state.
Act Now for Health Care Reform: A Message from International President Edwin D. Hill
"The future of health care reform has come down to this moment. House Democrats introduced their version of health care reform last week and their Senate counterparts will be doing the same in a matter of days."

Convention 2006 Coverage
President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005

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