For Immediate Release: February 8, 2023

Contact: Matt Spence  202-728-6014

IBEW Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union address

IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper issued the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union address:

“In his State of the Union address last night, President Biden reminded Americans that his administration’s priority remains working people and building shared prosperity from the bottom up.

“The last two years have seen historic, bipartisan action to invest in infrastructure, domestic manufacturing and modernizing our energy economy, resulting in good, union jobs that are rebuilding middle-class communities across the United States.

“President Biden also reiterated his commitment to ensuring that every worker enjoys the right to organize and bargain collectively for better pay, benefits and fairness on the job. Under his watch, he has restored the Labor Department and the National Labor Relations Board to their proper roles as protectors of workers’ rights. He also doubled down on his call for the passage of the PRO Act, so all workers can join a union.

“As the president said, members of the IBEW are proud to be part of rebuilding America’s manufacturing economy and a new low-carbon energy infrastructure – from installing a national network of EV charging stations to building new semiconductor plants that are reviving the rust belt. 

“And we look forward to continuing to work with President Biden and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in creating a pro-worker economy that works for all.” 

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 775,000 members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.