Delegates started the third day of the 41st IBEW International Convention with a speech from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a longtime partner of the IBEW.
“He stood shoulder to shoulder with us and signed a seven-year project labor agreement worth $635 million,” said Local 569 Business Manager Jeremy Abrams, who introduced Gloria with fellow Southern California Business Managers Nate Fairman of Local 465 and Colin Lavin of Local 47. “A PLA that is creating generational wealth, changing lives and developing more apprenticeship opportunities for our members.”
Gloria recalled that San Diego was long considered an anti-union stronghold, but thanks to decades of hard work by the labor movement, it has transformed into a place where workers can thrive.
“We recognize that when workers have a voice, earn fair wages and return home safely at the end of the day, our entire community is stronger,” he said.
Part of the revolution included Gloria signing the bill to create a city-wide PLA for nearly all city-funded construction, making San Diego the first major city in the U.S. to do so.
Gloria said the theme of the convention — “Powering a Brighter Future” — reflects the story of San Diego as it shed its anti-worker reputation and reinvented itself.
“This future will not build itself, nor will it power itself. Skilled workers will,” Gloria said. And as we modernize our electric grid, expand clean energy, build more housing and strengthen our infrastructure, the infrastructure our communities depend on, we will need highly trained electrical workers to make that happen.”
Gloria also thanked the delegates who participated in the Day of Service on Sept. 17, when hundreds of IBEW members cleaned up different areas of the city.
“On behalf of the people of San Diego, thank you for leaving our city even better than you found it,” Gloria said. “That spirit of service says a great deal about this union.”
