Not everyone can or wants to run for office, but everyone should want to use their power as a citizen and a union member to improve their own lives, their families’ lives and the lives of other working men and women.
That means getting involved in politics.
“Just like power on the grid, political power can’t be stored. You either use it or it’s gone. There are no batteries in politics. All of us in the IBEW need all of us in the IBEW to do something and do it now,” said International President Kenneth W. Cooper. “When our active and retired members unite and speak, it’s extremely hard to ignore us.”
The people who want to take away our rights to organize and bargain collectively try to make organizing as difficult and off-putting as possible. But it doesn’t need to be. There are many simple and easy ways to get involved and make a difference, no matter where you start. Here are five ways to get started:
1 Register to Vote, Then Vote
The easiest, most important political action any citizen can take is voting. It isn’t enough, but it is absolutely necessary. Double-check your registration now to make sure there won’t be any problem on Election Day. It’s as simple as going to nass.org/can-I-vote to confirm your voter status and polling place.
Once you know you’re registered — vote.
Vote in every election, not just when the White House is in play. That freshman councilperson who supports labor issues can be a vital voice locally and possibly an influential candidate for higher office down the road.
Don’t miss off-year or special elections. Ballot measures are an especially useful tool to get around elite gatekeepers and expand rights and economic opportunity for working families.
2 Call Your Elected Officials
Email and texts may be faster, and a huge donation may be more persuasive, but if you don’t have thousands of dollars to hand over to a politician a phone call is the biggest bang for your buck.
If you’re not sure what to say, check with your local union or ibewgov.org. There are almost always specific issues that need public comment that come with message suggestions to get you started.
Then look up your representative and their numbers and call. Clearly state your name, tell them that you’re an IBEW member and that you’re a constituent, and why you’re calling. You don’t have to deliver the official IBEW position, but if you do, make sure they know that.
If you end up talking with a staffer or assistant, be polite and thank them for their time. They will log your call and the reason for it. (Be just as ready to leave a voicemail message.)
It could make more of an impact to call a local district office when contacting your representative in the House or Senate. There often are more staff available there to speak with constituents.
3 Write Your Elected Officials
Writing an actual physical letter to your representatives, by hand or printed out, might take a little extra time, but physical mail that must be opened and read can have tremendous impact — especially compared with the thousands of emails that clog elected officials’ inboxes.
A frequently cited study by the Congressional Management Foundation found that handwritten, mailed letters remain the best way to communicate with members of Congress. In a survey of Capital Hill staffers, 96% said that a personalized letter would influence senators and representatives on an issue if they have not reached a decision.
Follow the same format with letters as with phone calls: Include your name and that you’re an IBEW member. Courteously and concisely explain why you’re writing. Your investment of time, paper, an envelope and a first-class stamp — 63 cents — could leave an important and lasting impression.
4 Meet With Your Officials
Face-to-face meetings with your elected officials can make a powerful impression on them. The Congressional Management Foundation report found that in-person visits from constituents — at offices, town halls, public meetings — are among the most persuasive ways to communicate with officials who are undecided on an issue.
It may take more work, but an especially effective way to make a lasting impression is to organize a site visit. Your business manager is an excellent resource to help make it happen.
“Worksite visits by these officials are also extremely influential,” IBEW National Grassroots Coordinator John Zapfel said. “It makes a big difference when they can see where you work and what you do.”
5 Speak Up at Community and Party Meetings
Find out if there are any labor committees in your community and start attending their meetings.
The same goes for your city council, county commission, utility board and any other government body that holds public meetings. Become a familiar face and maybe even a familiar voice. Spend a meeting or two listening, getting a feel for how the board works and how it handles the time reserved for public comments. Then weigh in.
Boards and committees frequently make decisions with profound effects on working people and they are almost always sparsely attended. There are enormous opportunities to have real impact at the city, county levels, neighborhood and precinct level without having to actually run for office.
The best resource will be your business manager but so is ibewgov.org and the free IBEW Gov mobile app.
“And if you get really stuck, just give our department a call in Washington. We’re here to help,” said the Government Affairs Departments, Zapfel.
The Government Affairs Department main number is (202) 728-6046.
