U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a journeyman inside wireman with Folsom, N.J., Local 351, who has represented New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District since 2014, delivered an inspiring and challenging message Sept. 22 to delegates of the 41st IBEW International Convention.
“It is remarkable that, somehow, a kid growing up in Pennsauken, who didn’t go to college, ends up as a member of Congress,” said the former Local 351 business representative as he proudly showed convention delegates his IBEW membership card.
Norcross credited the union and the larger labor movement for getting him to where he is today, considering how a lot of elected officials don’t understand what electrical workers do.
“So many politicians think they understand what labor wants, versus what workers actually know they need,” he said. “When they start talking about cutting OSHA — how it’s just overhead and it’s no good — I get really passionate about this, because in my career in the field, unfortunately, three times, somebody on my job didn’t go home.”
Norcross, who sits on the House Labor and Education Committee, also co-chairs the 125-member Congressional Labor Congress, which works on putting issues important to working people in the forefront.
The congressman noted that in June, his Faster Labor Contracts Act passed the House of Representatives. The bill aims to speed the process for newly created bargaining units to reach a first contract.
“Now we’ve got to get it to our friends in the Senate,” he said.
Norcross also encouraged members to run for local office whenever possible.
“Things change when you’re in the room,” he said. “You understand what it means to be on the job, and you bring those experiences whether it’s to a board of education, local town council, mayor, commissioner, state legislator or even to a member of Congress.
“You know the dignity of going to work with your hands and your brain,” he added. “And the values that you grew up with in the IBEW, about working hard and learning the craft, will make a difference that helps to change the course of American history.”
