For Immediate Release: March 5, 2025

IBEW Endorses Reintroduced PRO Act Legislation 

IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper issued the following statement in support of the PRO Act:

 “On behalf of the 838,000 active members and retirees of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, I am proud to support the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. This critical piece of legislation ensures workers have a genuine right to organize, negotiate fair wages, and secure better benefits without fear of retaliation.

For decades, corporate interests have chipped away at these rights, leading to a sharp decline in union membership and an equally steep rise in income inequality not seen since the Great Depression. Today, over 60 million workers want to join a union but face overwhelming obstacles because of outdated labor laws that prioritize the interests of employers. 

The PRO Act addresses this imbalance, modernizing these laws by streamlining the union election process, imposing real penalties on companies that illegally fire or intimidate workers, and preventing employers from misclassifying workers in order to strip them of their rights.

Union jobs remain the best pathway to the middle class. They provide fair wages, health benefits, and retirement security for members, while contributing to higher wages, safer workplaces, and a more stable economy for everyone. The IBEW urges every member of Congress to stand with working families by passing the PRO Act in 2025."

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 838,000 members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.