If there’s one contingent of workers who are uniquely qualified to work in the trades it’s servicemembers, and New York Local 3 is making sure they feel at home in the IBEW.
“Local 3 has always supported the men and women in military service at home and abroad, and our Veterans Club plays a key part in upholding that support within our union and in our communities,” said Business Manager Chris Erikson Jr. “We are proud of their work in supporting other veterans and making Local 3 a great union to join for all veterans when they finish their service.”
The origins of Local 3’s Veterans Committee date to 2018, when then-Senior Assistant Business Manager Raymond Melville, former Marine, began hosting informal meetings for Local 3 members who had served in the military. The following year, Melville met with journeymen and fellow Marines Greg Smith and Pat Glennon about starting up a formal veterans group. By 2021, they became an official Local 3 club, with Smith serving as president and Glennon as vice president.
“We felt that veterans deserved some representation within Local 3,” Smith said. “We also wanted to give incoming veterans a place to meet and connect with other veterans.”
Along with giving its veteran members a space to come together, the club has done community service projects like sending care packages to troops, Toys for Tots and volunteering their electrical skills to the Warrior Ranch, a veteran-focused nonprofit organization. Club members have also participated in Veterans Day and Labor Day parades and placed flags and wreaths at veterans’ graves.
Local 3’s veterans club became an official IBEW Veterans Committee in 2023. Smith said it counts about 70 active members and more than 200 total. Union-wide, there are about 100 chartered committees.
“Local 3 is a great example for other committees,” said Mike Smith, international representative for veterans in the IBEW (no relation to Greg Smith). “They’re very dedicated and organized, and their leadership is behind them 120%.”
Most veterans already possess a lot of the skills and attributes that are necessary to succeed in the building trades and that employers are looking for, Greg Smith noted.
“Veterans tend to understand the importance of teamwork and leadership, and like everyone else, they want careers that provide benefits and good wages,” he said. “They want a chance to take their training and experiences and apply them to challenging tasks that will complete the job.”
In addition to the community service, the Veterans Committee provides a safe space for its members to get to know one another and talk about issues specific to military life.
“We’re giving our members a chance to meet with other veterans, have some fun and bond with people who know the language of the military,” Greg Smith said.
There’s a lot that goes into running a successful Veterans Committee, Greg Smith said.“The Local 3 Veterans Committee is successful and meaningful because we get information out to our veterans, give back to our community and help guide the newer members through not only job-related issues but life challenges,” he said.
The IBEW has a lot to offer its members and Greg and Mike Smith want to ensure that as many veterans as possible get to experience it all.
“Along with serving my country, choosing to join the IBEW has been one of the best decisions I ever made,” Greg Smith said. “It’s allowed me to make friends, acquire job skills and training, and provide me with better financial support than I could have possibly imagined. I feel blessed to be part of this union.”
