A lot of things have gone the IBEW's way since the Biden-Harris administration took office. But none of it happened magically. It took the hard work of thousands of our union brothers and sisters to help us achieve what we have.

As those of us in the U.S. gear up for Election Day, we owe it to our fellow IBEW members to cast ballots for candidates who share our union's values. It's the only way we keep our seat at the table and ensure that our accomplishments don't get wiped away by people who'd rather give tax breaks to corporations and billionaires than help put food on working families' tables.

Voting our IBEW values is crucial, but it's the least we can do. It's critical that you get involved in this election to send a message: We will keep what we've gained so far, and we're ready to tackle everything that still needs to be done.

Getting involved is easy. Ask if your local needs help with getting out the vote. Go to your building trades or AFL-CIO affiliate. Volunteer for a candidate. The folks there can find work for you, from knocking doors to making phone calls to stuffing envelopes. A little effort goes a long way, as Brother Bob Koerschner reminds us in A Guide to Talking With Co-Workers About Elections: "We're not going to change everyone's minds, and we don't have to. Each member just needs to try a few."

Then, get informed about every office and issue on your ballot. Presidential candidates get a lot of attention, but it took a majority of worker-friendly members of Congress to save our pensions and to pass the trillion-dollar infrastructure bills, which contained union worker incentives that continue to put thousands of IBEW members to work.

Local elections can bring plenty of local victories for working people, too — like in Michigan, which recently saw the repeal of so-called right-to-work, thanks in part to the help of IBEW volunteers, or in San Diego, where our activists helped elect a labor-friendly City Council that quickly enacted a city-wide project labor agreement.

The IBEW has lots of information to help you talk about the key issues and important races. Our union has district and state political coordinators, and every local has at least one registrar. These men and women work hard, for you, to identify candidates who support the IBEW's values.

You can also find a wealth of information on candidates and issues at ibewgov.org — click "Stay Informed" and select "Additional Resources."

Solidarity means that union members look out for one another. In these last few weeks before Election Day, please do your part to actively help protect your brothers' and sisters' livelihoods, as well as your own.

Also: Cooper: Protect Your Union