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Current News Stories Solis Touts ‘Faith in the American Worker’ in Labor Day Video For many, this Labor Day will mark the end of record heat waves, the beginning of the football season and a well-needed three-day weekend. Mortgage Program Assists Out-of-Work Member When the work switched off suddenly, Chicago Local 134 member Greg Wise of Palatine, Ill., “went from working full time down to zero.” After two months of no paychecks he was feeling the financial strain. That’s when he turned on the power of his IBEW Union Plus Mortgage and tapped into its assistance program. American Indian Pre-Apprenticeship Program Prepares for Work Spike On most of America’s Indian reservations, national percentages measuring economic anguish or progress hold scant meaning. Times have always been tough and have only gotten worse during the most recent recession, with nearly half of the work-age members in some parts of Indian Country jobless. Iowa Wind Tower Workers Go IBEW A group of more than 130 workers at Trinity Structural Towers – Iowa’s leading manufacturer of wind towers – voted to join Des Moines, Local 347 August 13. Most IBEW Space Shuttle Workers Stay On The Job For Now The latest round of layoffs at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida spared the jobs of most of the IBEW members who work on NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Utility ‘Safety Village’ Educates, Entertains Schoolchildren Getting youngsters interested in safety can be a lot like persuading them to eat their vegetables. That’s why Dave Morris and Chris Evans employ a novel approach: wowing elementary students with a massive replica of a city, including miniature electric cars that students can drive and life-like models of power lines and substations. Study: Stimulus Stopped Recession from Becoming Depression With unemployment nearing 10 percent and weak economic growth, critics of Congress and the Obama administration have attacked the federal government’s efforts to rescue the economy at the start of the current recession as a failure. St. Louis Utility Local Wins Enhanced Staffing At the IBEW Utility Conference earlier this month, delegates were urged to accelerate their efforts to convince utilities to staff up for expected retirements by establishing constructive relationships with state utility commissioners. Online Survey Raises Women’s Voices in the Labor Movement Working women know the value of a stable job in a rough economy – and the AFL-CIO wants them to tell the broader labor movement their views. California Local Awards Scholarships to Pro-Union Teens When IBEW leaders from San Bernardino, Calif., Local 543 say that youth are the future of the movement, they don’t just talk about it – they offer young people opportunities and reward their best efforts. Senate Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits, Trumping GOP Resistance The Senate passed a bill today extending unemployment insurance to millions of jobless Americans desperate for a financial lifeline. Federal Stimulus Boosts Photovoltaic Work in San Diego David Villasenor, a San Diego, Local 569 journeyman wireman, was out of the Marines for nine years and out of work for five months before heading to Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base north of San Diego. Wisconsin and Illinois Locals Win Hotel Restoration Projects It’s a tale of two historic hotels, both in desperate need of skilled men and women to restore their majesty while keeping alive their own hopes for work and worth in trying times. NLRB Considers IBEW Complaint on Ohio Utility Layoffs Toledo, Ohio Local 245 was expecting a routine negotiation with the approach of the February expiration of a contract covering members at Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative. The co-op had other ideas. Poll Shows Bipartisan Support for Domestic Manufacturing Listen to some so-called political experts and they’ll tell you that only unions or Democrats or citizens of the Rust Belt are concerned about rebuilding our nation’s manufacturing base. A new survey says they are wrong. Delaware Utility Workers End Strike Members of Wilmington, Del., Local 1238 narrowly approved a tentative agreement with Delmarva Power on June 29 and are returning to work this morning. Top Renewable Jobs for Electricians Some of the fastest growing job categories in the construction industry are in renovating existing buildings to help customers save money by increasing their building’s energy efficiency and relying more on renewable power resources. Detroit Tree Trimmers Locked Out More than 600 tree trimmers remain on the picket line in southeast Michigan, after being locked out June 22. Clean Jobs Bill Can Create 185,000 New Construction Jobs The Great Recession of 2008 slammed the construction industry hard, with more than 2 million jobs lost and an unemployment rate of nearly 30 percent – three times the national average. Supreme Court Sides with Employers in NLRB Case In a 5-4 June decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cannot decide cases when it consists of just two board members. For more than two years the NLRB operated as a two-person board with three seats unfilled, while Republicans have challenged administration appointees to bring the board up to five members. Delaware Utility Workers Strike After failing to come to a last-minute agreement, more than 700 members of Wilmington, Del., Local 1238 went out on their first-ever strike against Delmarva Power and Conectiv Energy June 18, protesting management’s proposals for big cuts to the utilities’ pension plans and other benefits. Building Trades Call On St. Louis Carpenters to Stop Undercutting Standards The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is launching a sweeping campaign to convince St. Louis Carpenters Local 57 to stop performing electrical work that undercuts union standards of quality, safety and wages. IBEW Defends Rights in Memphis Government Reorganization Municipal union members in Memphis, Tenn. are speaking up and rallying public support to keep from being weakened as a commission proceeds to merge Memphis and Shelby County into a regional government. And the unions are being heard. Just Another Day at the Office High over the Tennessee River in Alabama, Chattanooga, Tenn., Local 175 member Allan Card navigates a lattice tower at the Wheeler Dam switchyard. San Diego Voters Urged to Reject Anti-PLA Measure A broad-based coalition of labor, civic and business leaders are calling on voters in Chula Vista, Calif., to vote no on Tuesday, June 8 on an anti-union ballot initiative – Proposition G. Wisconsin Political Coordinator Wins for Vets and Workers When you ask Dave Boetcher what he did during the war, the 27 year National Guard and Army Reserve veteran who served in Iraq would probably tell you he was responsible for storing ammunition and protecting soldiers and civilians from unexploded rounds. 2010 IBEW Photo Contest Grab your camera. We challenge you to capture a scene, a portrait, a moment, in pursuit of the soul and spirit of the IBEW. It’s time for the IBEW’s annual photo contest. IBEW Mourns Passing of IEC Member Richard Dowling Eighth District International Executive Council member Richard Dowling, who gave the Brotherhood more than four decades of solid service and leadership, passed away on May 31 of a heart attack at the age of 67. Department of Labor Requires Federal Contractors to Post Employee Rights The first step toward workers exercising their right to form a union is for them to know what their rights are in the first place. IBEW Wiremen Power Up Bangladeshi Hospital Collinsville, Ill., Local 309 member Bob Frisse is known for his using his electrical skills to help local families in need. But last February, he got an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put his training and expertise to work helping a nation halfway across the planet. Florida Retiree Named Outstanding New Technical Education Teacher Jim O’Neill didn’t plan on a teaching career when he retired from Progress Energy in Florida in 2005 The youngest of 1,700 members of St. Petersburg Local 682 to qualify for an early retirement, O’Neill, an equipment operator, moved back to his native Ohio, planning to play golf and pick up some work as needed to make ends meet. IBEW Retiree Celebrates More than 40 Years of Carbon-Free Transit The week of May 17-21 was only recently declared Bike to Work Week by cycling enthusiasts, but for retired Chicago Local 1220 member Bob Kastigar, a standard two-wheeler has been his preferred mode of transportation for more than 40 years. Labor Wins Changes for Airline, Railroad Elections A May 10 ruling by the National Mediation Board substantially democratizes the union representation process for railroad and airline employees, giving workers covered by the Railway Labor Act more to freedom to form a union. Step Up Defense of Our Public Workers Every year, dozens of IBEW units representing public workers go to the bargaining table. And, lately, nearly every round of talks opens with municipal, state and federal employers demanding concessions to make up for budget deficits. Grassroots Work Stokes Ohio School Bond Win Austintown, Ohio, is home to hundreds of union families whose breadwinners work in the legendary neighboring steel town of Youngstown, or at the General Motors assembly plant in Lordstown. Cast Your Vote for Fair Trade After Wall Street’s greedy antics nearly deep-sixed the global financial system, more North Americans than ever are asking what it will take to build a healthier, fairer, more sustainable economy. New Five-Year Amtrak Contract Proposed IBEW members employed by Amtrak are considering a five-year contract package that includes annual raises and controlled, capped increases for health insurance contributions. Union Members Gear up for National Women’s Health Week The Coalition of Labor Union Women is mobilizing for a national initiative May 9 through 15 encouraging women to take simple but powerful steps toward healthier, happier and longer lives. St. Louis Local Completes Massive Eco-Friendly Projects Scores of St. Louis Local 1 members have helped make the area greener by completing two multimillion dollar projects – one of which boasts the largest solar power array in the Show-Me State. Members to Wire Home for Injured Veteran When it comes to volunteering, the brothers and sisters of Jefferson City, Mo., Local 257 embody the meaning of solidarity. They’ve logged hours wiring homes for Habitat for Humanity and doing similar projects to strengthen their community. Vermont IBEW Fights Unemployment Benefit Cuts Like dozens of other states, Vermont is faced with a drain on its unemployment insurance fund even as thousands of working families move into more desperate economic circumstances caused by persistent joblessness. Lawmakers Seek to Provide Pension Relief The 2008 housing crash, the worst recession in decades and historically low interest rates have had a devastating impact on defined contribution pension plans, imperiling the retirement security of millions of working families. Cape Wind Gets Final Approval Interior Secretary Ken Salazar gave final approval for the construction of Cape Wind, the nation’s first offshore wind farm on Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts. Safety Concerns Steer IBEW Campaign to Success in Minnesota Gone are the days when one organizing drive brings hundreds or even thousands of new members into the union. There are still a few big time campaigns, but for organizers like Minneapolis, Minn., Local 160’s Kevin Peterson, progress usually comes in building relationships with small groups of workers. Canadian Members Use Unique Skills on Gas Line Project It’s not every day that an electrician also gets to tackle heavy jobs like bolting and welding 1,000-pound steel I-beams. But in Regina, Saskatchewan, such tasks can be novel – if challenging – parts of the workday for Local 2038 members. Maine Gubernatorial Candidates Support Workers, Boycott TV Station As the June gubernatorial primary in Maine approaches, Portland’s WGME, the CBS affiliate, should be cashing in on lucrative political ads. *What Really* Goes On In Organizing Campaigns The debate over measures to fix America’s broken labor laws took a back seat during the long debate on health care. Now that the focus has shifted to efforts to stimulate economic growth and job creation . Young IBEW Members Speak Out at AFL-CIO Forums Three weeks after being laid off from his job, Rafael Arredondo, 31, is sitting in a conference room in a Southern California office park, hoping to hear good news about his own future and that of the union movement. Labor Secretary Takes on Wage Theft Epidemic Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is offering assistance to the millions of workers who are victims of wage theft, unveiling a new campaign “We Can Help”, to help inform workers about their right to a fair wage. Study: Construction Unions Strengthen Economy Most construction workers know that union membership translates into higher wages and better benefits. But a new study finds that the economic benefits of union construction are not just limited to the job site. The economic spinoff benefits communities at large. Texas Nuclear PLA Brings Millions of Hours of Construction Labor Six thousand construction workers will garner over 25 million hours of work over the next five years in south Texas as a result of a project labor agreement signed between nuclear development companies and the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. Regulator: W.Va. Mine Rife With Safety Violations It is a predictable story that is repeated all too often: a mining tragedy is followed by revelations of safety lapses. The IBEW Logo – A Proud Symbol Must Be Protected The rise of Internet communication and the advent of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are allowing union members to communicate, organize and advocate for workers more effectively than ever before. Workers Tell FCC: No Deal on Verizon-Frontier Sale On April 1, nearly 200 union members and consumer advocates rallied in front of the Federal Communications Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., to tell regulators to say “No Deal” to the proposed sale of portions of Verizon’s landline systems in 14 states to Frontier Communications. Green Energy Bill Boosts Colorado Economy, IBEW Jobs Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) has signed into law a groundbreaking new renewable energy standard that will require the state to generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020. Naval Experts: Building New Destroyer Will Protect Nation, Boost Jobs Labor leaders and defense experts who convened in March for talks at the IBEW International Office all agree on two troubling points: the Navy’s current destroyer fleet will be inadequate to protect national security in the future, and the slowed rate of shipbuilding is crippling the industry. Workers Memorial Day Promotes Workplace Safety On April 28, the labor movement will once again observe Workers’ Memorial Day to remember men and women who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections. Obama Overcomes GOP Resistance, Appoints NLRB Members After months of Republican intransigence, President Obama broke the Senate GOP’s obstructionism of federal nominees Saturday by announcing that he would use the recess period to appoint 15 of his nominees to fill important administration posts. House Nixes Tax Loophole, Sending Warning to Big Business The IBEW is at the forefront of a recent wave of legislation to prevent corporations from eluding risk at the expense of taxpayers and workers. California Unions Show Solidarity for Locked Out Miners In the annals of U.S. labor history, the aspirations of miners for a better life have always brought out the most vicious repression by companies, but also the greatest expressions of solidarity between workers. Wyoming IBEW Scores Major Jobs Bill A broad-based coalition of construction industry activists – ranging from the building trades and signatory contractors to the anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors –scored a big victory for Wyoming workers on March 12 with the signing into law of House Bill 89. Stimulus Money Keeps Quad Cities Members on the Job Despite the flagging economy, members of Rock Island, Ill., Local 145 continue to have steady work – thanks largely to stimulus-fueled contracts. Congress Says Yes to Health Care Reform The House of Representatives made history last night with its vote to renovate America’s health care system – extending coverage to millions of working families and ending abusive insurance industry practices. Hill: Jobs Bill a Good First Step President Obama signed an $18 billion jobs bill March 18 that will help put more than 10 million Americans without a job back to work. Florida County Manager Praises Unions In a troubled national economy, municipalities are often faced with difficult choices as tax revenues drop, making balancing budgets more difficult. Ontario Locals Pitch in for Volunteer Work Nearly 20 needy families in Kitchener, Ontario, have new homes, thanks in part to retirees and members of Local 804. IBEW Organizer Looks to Unionize Green Industry There are not many union locals with an environmental organizer on staff. But because the renewable energy industry is a growth sector in a slow economy, San Diego Local 569 is sparing no effort to make sure jobs working with green technology are pathways to good-paying careers. Labor Radio Gets Bigger Voice Workers Independent News, a service that produces union-related news content and distributes it to radio stations across the U.S., launched an expanded Internet news service March 15. Lawmakers Call on Obama Administration to Stop Offshoring Clean Energy Jobs Responding to reports of federal stimulus money being used to fund foreign manufacturers, a group of U.S. senators are calling on President Obama to government subsidizing for clean-energy projects that end up stimulating more jobs offshore than at home. Jobs in Jeopardy: Vt. Lawmakers Vote to Shutter Nuclear Plant The Vermont state legislature has voted against renewing the license for Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant beyond 2012. Thousands Rally in D.C. to Challenge Health Insurance Executives On March 9, with health-care reform legislation finally approaching its “up” or “down” destination in Congress, thousands of reform advocates, including members of organized labor, traveled to Washington. Judge to Illinois commission: Don’t Approve Verizon Deal An Illinois administrative law judge recommended Tuesday that the state’s commerce commission reject a proposed transfer of land-based telephone lines from Verizon to Frontier Communications. Blaze Inspires Union Member’s Musical Tribute Every songwriter yearns for that next spark of inspiration. But St. John’s, Newfoundland, Local 1620 member Vince Carey – a longtime singer and guitar player – got much more of a flash than anyone would hope for. Chicago IBEW Leader Honored By Faith Group For Chicago Local 134 Business Manager Tim Foley, activism isn’t just about politics – it’s part of a higher purpose. His success earned him the “Visionary Leadership” award from one of the city’s most progressive faith-based organizations. San Diego News Site Labels Anti-PLA Op-Ed ‘Huckster Propaganda’ Web site Voice of SanDiego.org has called out anti-union spokesman Eric Christen for being less than honest about project labor agreements in an op-ed he penned for the San Diego Tribune. Management Intimidation No Match for Pa. Workers Janitorial workers at the Conemaugh Generating Station in New Florence, Pa., were tired of arbitrary management decisions and a lack of respect on the job, so the 14-person unit reached out to IBEW organizers a couple months ago. Proposed Bill Would Protect Retirees in Bankruptcies It wasn’t enough that auto parts maker Delphi declared bankruptcy in 2005, putting the jobs and benefits of thousands of future retirees, including members of Milwaukee, Wis., Local 663 in jeopardy. Minnesota Senator Introduces “Cash for Jobs” Bill Responding to the worsening jobs crisis, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken (D) proposed a new jobs bill last month that would use $10 billion from the remaining Wall Street bailout funds to help subsidize new hires at small and medium-sized businesses and boost employment in the green-energy economy. GOP Senator Stiffs Jobless Americans Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) began his work life as a major league pitcher and once had the second-highest total of career strikeouts in the league’s history. But on Feb. 26, Bunning, 79, scored what could end up as his most memorable and infamous strikeout. Comcast Workers Choose IBEW Local 827 After a difficult organizing campaign filled with management misrepresentations and attempted union busting, Comcast technicians in Fairfield, N.J., elected to be represented by the IBEW. IBEW Lights Up Winter Games The eyes of the world were on Vancouver, British Columbia, for 17 days in February as the 2010 Winter Olympics brought together the top athletes from around the globe to compete for the gold in skiing, freestyle skating and ice hockey. TV Cameras Capture IBEW Hunters A cable TV reality show is giving two IBEW members the chance to fulfill their dreams of getting closer to nature with guns in hand. Congress Passes Jobs Bill The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to keep alive a $15 billion job-creation bill that includes extensions of unemployment benefits and COBRA health benefits for jobless Americans. IBEW Calls on Senate to Extend Jobless Benefits Time is running out for jobless workers. Funding for federal unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed and COBRA subsidies to help laid-off workers maintain their health-care benefits is set to expire by Feb. 28. Virginia Lineman Celebrates 50 Years on the Job At 71 years old, Richmond, Va., Local 50 member Wardell Driver has acquired legendary status among co-workers half his age. IBEW Hosts Obama Announcement on Loan Guarantees for Georgia Nuclear Project IBEW President Edwin D. Hill today called President Barack Obama’s announcement of loan guarantees by the U.S. Department of Energy for the construction of two advanced reactors at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power station in Georgia as a step forward in addressing the United States’ energy needs as well as creating badly needed jobs. Unions, Management Look to Bolster FairPoint’s Recovery Following months of tense negotiations, FairPoint’s labor unions and management have come to an agreement to help the bankrupt company bounce back by increasing cooperation, restructuring wages and extending the contract with workers for another year, pending ratification by IBEW members. Haitian Disaster: You Can Still Help Orphaned children. Lack of food. A dearth of medical care. Weeks after a tremendous earthquake shattered Haiti’s capital city, the need for relief is still great. Labor to Help Determine Policy on Nuclear Waste The United States’ spent nuclear fuel will no longer be designated for a cask deep inside a controversial mountain in Nevada. Interior Secretary Urged to Approve Cape Wind Project After countless bureaucratic skirmishes and nearly a decade, Cape Wind supporters are hopeful the project is nearing final approval. Ore. Voters to Wealthy, Corporations: Pay Up for State Services With 11 percent of the state’s workers unemployed and facing a $727 million shortfall in the current two-year budget, Oregon was at a crossroads. State voters had two options. Buy America Stokes Stimulus Packages Leading Republicans say that the administration’s $787 billion stimulus plan passed a year ago failed. Vt. Union Leaders Rally for Power Plant, Jobs Leaders of 15 building trades unions held a press conference this month to send a message to the Vermont state legislature: Keep Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant open. New York Leads New Generation of High-Tech Manufacturing. The construction of a $4.2 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility north of Albany, N.Y., is solidifying the capital region’s reputation as a leading center for high-tech manufacturing and research – and that is translating into lots of jobs for members of Local 236. IBEW 2008 Photo Contest Closes; Members Chose Winners By capturing an iconic image of the Brotherhood, Huntington, W.Va., Local 317 member Danny Doss is the winner of the 2009 IBEW Photo Contest. New Jersey Local Helps Win County Responsible-Contractor Policy It’s a rare day when an IBEW local leader can find common cause with representatives of the Associated Builders and Contractors, an anti-union association. Labor Answers Calls for Assistance to Haiti The massive 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday evening is already being called the disaster of the century for this desperately poor Caribbean nation. The most powerful earthquake to ever be recorded in Haitian history was centered on the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, reducing large portions of the city to rubble. New Federal Workers Labor Alliance Formed Building on the success of the workers coalition that defeated the Bush administration personnel system at the Department of Defense last year, 21 labor organizations, including the IBEW, joined forces to form a new coalition dedicated to fighting for the interests of federal workers. Joint Venture Strengthens Boston Minority Contractor Ada Alfonso, an 11-year Boston Local 103 member who started her own electrical shop in 2005, was proud to see a story about her success in a late December issue of the Boston Globe. Women of Labor Unite to Fight Cervical Cancer The Coalition of Labor Union Women is helping spearhead an initiative this month to raise awareness of the No. 2 cause of cancer in women: cervical cancer. IBEW Wins More Than $ 20 Million in Green Jobs Training Grants IBEW members from throughout the United States are among those who will benefit from the announcement on Wednesday by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis of the release of nearly $100 million in renewable energy training grants. Hill: Jobs Are No. 1 Priority for Florida’s Citizens Florida has been hit especially hard by the recession, shedding the highest number of jobs across the country – nearly 17,000 – last November, making it one of the worst-hit states in the nation. Niagara Falls Local Lights Up the Holidays More than 70 volunteers from Niagara Falls, N.Y., Local 237 helped brighten the holidays by assembling and wiring this year’s United Way Holiday Lights of Niagara display. Vermont Solar Contractors Prosper with IBEW The Green Mountain State is getting greener as Montpelier Local 300 builds fertile relationships with influential, home-grown renewable energy contractors who are looking to expand with new support from the state legislature. Tennessee ABC Leader Fired from N.Y. Project, Undocumented Workers Arrested Ernie Hartman, business manager of Elmira, N.Y., Local 139, had long advocated that Chemung County residents and others nearby should be given priority over out-of-state labor in local construction projects. IBEW Locals Approve Constitutional Changes on Staff Compensation n a referendum vote conducted between October 2 and December 1, 2009, IBEW locals approved a revised amendment to the Brotherhood’s constitution that alters the compensation formula for International officers, assistants, directors and representatives so that they will now resume making contributions to the pension plan. Washington Roundup: IBEW Opposes Health-Care Tax, Supports ‘Buy America’ IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill has joined forces with the Communications Workers of America and the CEOs of the two top major telecommunications firms to oppose the provision in the Senate’s health-care reform bill that would levy a tax on existing health-care plans. Obama Establishes Federal Labor-Management Council An executive order by President Obama creating a National Council on Federal Labor-Management offers the IBEW and other unions representing federal workers a format for resolving some long-standing problems. Give Your Career a Boost With An Online Telecommunications Degree Looking to accelerate your career in telecommunications? The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL), in partnership with Pace University, offers online telecom degrees that can be completed from home. Veterans Graduate from Rigorous Training Program, Land Jobs A joint venture between Seattle Local 46 and the Puget Sound JATC has turned out its first crop of graduates whose military training helped fast-track them toward careers in the electrical trade. IBEW Leader Co-chairs California Climate Change Panel Pat Lavin, Seventh District IEC member and Business Manager of Diamond Bar, Calif., Local 47, has been selected to co-chair a state advisory panel on climate change, sponsored by the Pacific Council on International Policy, an elite think tank. New England Locals Challenge Verizon’s Layoffs As Verizon puts nearly 200 IBEW members on the street, mostly technicians assigned to fiber optic installation and service, locals are preparing to challenge the company’s decision in arbitration. Help Fight for a Fair Health Care Reform Bill Real health care reform should make union contractors and union workers more competitive with the nonunion sector. To make this happen, the IBEW and the Building and Construction Trades are asking union members to support an amendment to the health care reform bill in Congress. The Henry Miller Story Henry Miller, who died more than 110-years ago, was the founder, first president and driving force behind the first union of electrical workers in North America – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. It's Your Turn: 2009 Photo Contest Judging Commences Pole setting in the high mountain desert or climbing 150-foot wind turbines may be just another day at the office for some members of the IBEW. Northrop Grumman Shipyard Workers Approve Two-Year Contract Extension IBEW members at Northrop Grumman’s Avondale and Ingalls shipyards in Louisiana and Mississippi have overwhelmingly approved a two-year extension of their current labor agreement. U.S. Falling Behind in Green Jobs Growth Throughout the 2008 election season, we were told that the green-energy economy would put our economy back on the road to recovery by creating tens of thousands of new jobs in wind, solar and other non-polluting energy sectors. New Report Investigates Rise in Injuries to Aging Workers More aging workers are staying on the job. Some would rather be retired, but have seen their retirement savings eroded. Others can afford to leave but are enticed to stay by employers who pay for their experience. St. Louis Utility Locals Aid Unemployed Electricians Staying true to the union’s deep roots in rendering financial assistance to electricians and their families in times of trouble, two utility locals in St. Louis have collected thousands of dollars to help unemployed electricians in Local 1 get through hard times. Convention 2006 Coverage President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005**

When the work switched off suddenly, Chicago Local 134 member Greg Wise of Palatine, Ill., “went from working full time down to zero.” After two months of no paychecks he was feeling the financial strain. That’s when he turned on the power of his IBEW Union Plus Mortgage and tapped into its assistance program.

American Indian Pre-Apprenticeship Program Prepares for Work Spike

On most of America’s Indian reservations, national percentages measuring economic anguish or progress hold scant meaning. Times have always been tough and have only gotten worse during the most recent recession, with nearly half of the work-age members in some parts of Indian Country jobless.

Iowa Wind Tower Workers Go IBEW

A group of more than 130 workers at Trinity Structural Towers – Iowa’s leading manufacturer of wind towers – voted to join Des Moines, Local 347 August 13.

Most IBEW Space Shuttle Workers Stay On The Job For Now

The latest round of layoffs at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida spared the jobs of most of the IBEW members who work on NASA’s Space Shuttle program.

Utility ‘Safety Village’ Educates, Entertains Schoolchildren

Getting youngsters interested in safety can be a lot like persuading them to eat their vegetables. That’s why Dave Morris and Chris Evans employ a novel approach: wowing elementary students with a massive replica of a city, including miniature electric cars that students can drive and life-like models of power lines and substations.

Study: Stimulus Stopped Recession from Becoming Depression

With unemployment nearing 10 percent and weak economic growth, critics of Congress and the Obama administration have attacked the federal government’s efforts to rescue the economy at the start of the current recession as a failure.

St. Louis Utility Local Wins Enhanced Staffing

At the IBEW Utility Conference earlier this month, delegates were urged to accelerate their efforts to convince utilities to staff up for expected retirements by establishing constructive relationships with state utility commissioners.

Online Survey Raises Women’s Voices in the Labor Movement

Working women know the value of a stable job in a rough economy – and the AFL-CIO wants them to tell the broader labor movement their views.

California Local Awards Scholarships to Pro-Union Teens
When IBEW leaders from San Bernardino, Calif., Local 543 say that youth are the future of the movement, they don’t just talk about it – they offer young people opportunities and reward their best efforts.

Senate Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits, Trumping GOP Resistance

The Senate passed a bill today extending unemployment insurance to millions of jobless Americans desperate for a financial lifeline.

Federal Stimulus Boosts Photovoltaic Work in San Diego

David Villasenor, a San Diego, Local 569 journeyman wireman, was out of the Marines for nine years and out of work for five months before heading to Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base north of San Diego.

Wisconsin and Illinois Locals Win Hotel Restoration Projects
It’s a tale of two historic hotels, both in desperate need of skilled men and women to restore their majesty while keeping alive their own hopes for work and worth in trying times.

NLRB Considers IBEW Complaint on Ohio Utility Layoffs
Toledo, Ohio Local 245 was expecting a routine negotiation with the approach of the February expiration of a contract covering members at Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative. The co-op had other ideas.

Poll Shows Bipartisan Support for Domestic Manufacturing
Listen to some so-called political experts and they’ll tell you that only unions or Democrats or citizens of the Rust Belt are concerned about rebuilding our nation’s manufacturing base. A new survey says they are wrong.

Delaware Utility Workers End Strike

Members of Wilmington, Del., Local 1238 narrowly approved a tentative agreement with Delmarva Power on June 29 and are returning to work this morning.

Top Renewable Jobs for Electricians

Some of the fastest growing job categories in the construction industry are in renovating existing buildings to help customers save money by increasing their building’s energy efficiency and relying more on renewable power resources.

Detroit Tree Trimmers Locked Out

More than 600 tree trimmers remain on the picket line in southeast Michigan, after being locked out June 22.

Clean Jobs Bill Can Create 185,000 New Construction Jobs

The Great Recession of 2008 slammed the construction industry hard, with more than 2 million jobs lost and an unemployment rate of nearly 30 percent – three times the national average.

Supreme Court Sides with Employers in NLRB Case
In a 5-4 June decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) cannot decide cases when it consists of just two board members. For more than two years the NLRB operated as a two-person board with three seats unfilled, while Republicans have challenged administration appointees to bring the board up to five members.

Delaware Utility Workers Strike

After failing to come to a last-minute agreement, more than 700 members of Wilmington, Del., Local 1238 went out on their first-ever strike against Delmarva Power and Conectiv Energy June 18, protesting management’s proposals for big cuts to the utilities’ pension plans and other benefits.

Building Trades Call On St. Louis Carpenters to Stop Undercutting Standards
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is launching a sweeping campaign to convince St. Louis Carpenters Local 57 to stop performing electrical work that undercuts union standards of quality, safety and wages.

IBEW Defends Rights in Memphis Government Reorganization

Municipal union members in Memphis, Tenn. are speaking up and rallying public support to keep from being weakened as a commission proceeds to merge Memphis and Shelby County into a regional government. And the unions are being heard.

Just Another Day at the Office

High over the Tennessee River in Alabama, Chattanooga, Tenn., Local 175 member Allan Card navigates a lattice tower at the Wheeler Dam switchyard.

San Diego Voters Urged to Reject Anti-PLA Measure

A broad-based coalition of labor, civic and business leaders are calling on voters in Chula Vista, Calif., to vote no on Tuesday, June 8 on an anti-union ballot initiative – Proposition G.

Wisconsin Political Coordinator Wins for Vets and Workers

When you ask Dave Boetcher what he did during the war, the 27 year National Guard and Army Reserve veteran who served in Iraq would probably tell you he was responsible for storing ammunition and protecting soldiers and civilians from unexploded rounds.

2010 IBEW Photo Contest

Grab your camera. We challenge you to capture a scene, a portrait, a moment, in pursuit of the soul and spirit of the IBEW. It’s time for the IBEW’s annual photo contest.

IBEW Mourns Passing of IEC Member Richard Dowling

Eighth District International Executive Council member Richard Dowling, who gave the Brotherhood more than four decades of solid service and leadership, passed away on May 31 of a heart attack at the age of 67.

Department of Labor Requires Federal Contractors to Post Employee Rights

The first step toward workers exercising their right to form a union is for them to know what their rights are in the first place.

IBEW Wiremen Power Up Bangladeshi Hospital

Collinsville, Ill., Local 309 member Bob Frisse is known for his using his electrical skills to help local families in need. But last February, he got an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put his training and expertise to work helping a nation halfway across the planet.

Florida Retiree Named Outstanding New Technical Education Teacher

Jim O’Neill didn’t plan on a teaching career when he retired from Progress Energy in Florida in 2005 The youngest of 1,700 members of St. Petersburg Local 682 to qualify for an early retirement, O’Neill, an equipment operator, moved back to his native Ohio, planning to play golf and pick up some work as needed to make ends meet.

IBEW Retiree Celebrates More than 40 Years of Carbon-Free Transit

The week of May 17-21 was only recently declared Bike to Work Week by cycling enthusiasts, but for retired Chicago Local 1220 member Bob Kastigar, a standard two-wheeler has been his preferred mode of transportation for more than 40 years.

Labor Wins Changes for Airline, Railroad Elections

A May 10 ruling by the National Mediation Board substantially democratizes the union representation process for railroad and airline employees, giving workers covered by the Railway Labor Act more to freedom to form a union.

Step Up Defense of Our Public Workers
Every year, dozens of IBEW units representing public workers go to the bargaining table. And, lately, nearly every round of talks opens with municipal, state and federal employers demanding concessions to make up for budget deficits.

Grassroots Work Stokes Ohio School Bond Win
Austintown, Ohio, is home to hundreds of union families whose breadwinners work in the legendary neighboring steel town of Youngstown, or at the General Motors assembly plant in Lordstown.

Cast Your Vote for Fair Trade
After Wall Street’s greedy antics nearly deep-sixed the global financial system, more North Americans than ever are asking what it will take to build a healthier, fairer, more sustainable economy.

New Five-Year Amtrak Contract Proposed

IBEW members employed by Amtrak are considering a five-year contract package that includes annual raises and controlled, capped increases for health insurance contributions.

Union Members Gear up for National Women’s Health Week

The Coalition of Labor Union Women is mobilizing for a national initiative May 9 through 15 encouraging women to take simple but powerful steps toward healthier, happier and longer lives.

St. Louis Local Completes Massive Eco-Friendly Projects

Scores of St. Louis Local 1 members have helped make the area greener by completing two multimillion dollar projects – one of which boasts the largest solar power array in the Show-Me State.

Members to Wire Home for Injured Veteran

When it comes to volunteering, the brothers and sisters of Jefferson City, Mo., Local 257 embody the meaning of solidarity. They’ve logged hours wiring homes for Habitat for Humanity and doing similar projects to strengthen their community.

Vermont IBEW Fights Unemployment Benefit Cuts

Like dozens of other states, Vermont is faced with a drain on its unemployment insurance fund even as thousands of working families move into more desperate economic circumstances caused by persistent joblessness.

Lawmakers Seek to Provide Pension Relief

The 2008 housing crash, the worst recession in decades and historically low interest rates have had a devastating impact on defined contribution pension plans, imperiling the retirement security of millions of working families.

Cape Wind Gets Final Approval

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar gave final approval for the construction of Cape Wind, the nation’s first offshore wind farm on Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts.

Safety Concerns Steer IBEW Campaign to Success in Minnesota

Gone are the days when one organizing drive brings hundreds or even thousands of new members into the union. There are still a few big time campaigns, but for organizers like Minneapolis, Minn., Local 160’s Kevin Peterson, progress usually comes in building relationships with small groups of workers.

Canadian Members Use Unique Skills on Gas Line Project

It’s not every day that an electrician also gets to tackle heavy jobs like bolting and welding 1,000-pound steel I-beams. But in Regina, Saskatchewan, such tasks can be novel – if challenging – parts of the workday for Local 2038 members.

Maine Gubernatorial Candidates Support Workers, Boycott TV Station

As the June gubernatorial primary in Maine approaches, Portland’s WGME, the CBS affiliate, should be cashing in on lucrative political ads.

What Really Goes On In Organizing Campaigns

The debate over measures to fix America’s broken labor laws took a back seat during the long debate on health care. Now that the focus has shifted to efforts to stimulate economic growth and job creation .

Young IBEW Members Speak Out at AFL-CIO Forums

Three weeks after being laid off from his job, Rafael Arredondo, 31, is sitting in a conference room in a Southern California office park, hoping to hear good news about his own future and that of the union movement.

Labor Secretary Takes on Wage Theft Epidemic

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is offering assistance to the millions of workers who are victims of wage theft, unveiling a new campaign “We Can Help”, to help inform workers about their right to a fair wage.

Study: Construction Unions Strengthen Economy

Most construction workers know that union membership translates into higher wages and better benefits.

But a new study finds that the economic benefits of union construction are not just limited to the job site. The economic spinoff benefits communities at large.

Texas Nuclear PLA Brings Millions of Hours of Construction Labor

Six thousand construction workers will garner over 25 million hours of work over the next five years in south Texas as a result of a project labor agreement signed between nuclear development companies and the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO.

Regulator: W.Va. Mine Rife With Safety Violations

It is a predictable story that is repeated all too often: a mining tragedy is followed by revelations of safety lapses.

The IBEW Logo – A Proud Symbol Must Be Protected

The rise of Internet communication and the advent of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are allowing union members to communicate, organize and advocate for workers more effectively than ever before.

Workers Tell FCC: No Deal on Verizon-Frontier Sale

On April 1, nearly 200 union members and consumer advocates rallied in front of the Federal Communications Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., to tell regulators to say “No Deal” to the proposed sale of portions of Verizon’s landline systems in 14 states to Frontier Communications.

Green Energy Bill Boosts Colorado Economy, IBEW Jobs

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) has signed into law a groundbreaking new renewable energy standard that will require the state to generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020.

Naval Experts: Building New Destroyer Will Protect Nation, Boost Jobs

Labor leaders and defense experts who convened in March for talks at the IBEW International Office all agree on two troubling points: the Navy’s current destroyer fleet will be inadequate to protect national security in the future, and the slowed rate of shipbuilding is crippling the industry.

Workers Memorial Day Promotes Workplace Safety

On April 28, the labor movement will once again observe Workers’ Memorial Day to remember men and women who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for strong safety and health protections.

Obama Overcomes GOP Resistance, Appoints NLRB Members

After months of Republican intransigence, President Obama broke the Senate GOP’s obstructionism of federal nominees Saturday by announcing that he would use the recess period to appoint 15 of his nominees to fill important administration posts.

House Nixes Tax Loophole, Sending Warning to Big Business

The IBEW is at the forefront of a recent wave of legislation to prevent corporations from eluding risk at the expense of taxpayers and workers.

California Unions Show Solidarity for Locked Out Miners

In the annals of U.S. labor history, the aspirations of miners for a better life have always brought out the most vicious repression by companies, but also the greatest expressions of solidarity between workers.

Wyoming IBEW Scores Major Jobs Bill

A broad-based coalition of construction industry activists – ranging from the building trades and signatory contractors to the anti-union Associated Builders and Contractors –scored a big victory for Wyoming workers on March 12 with the signing into law of House Bill 89.

Stimulus Money Keeps Quad Cities Members on the Job

Despite the flagging economy, members of Rock Island, Ill., Local 145 continue to have steady work – thanks largely to stimulus-fueled contracts.

Congress Says Yes to Health Care Reform

The House of Representatives made history last night with its vote to renovate America’s health care system – extending coverage to millions of working families and ending abusive insurance industry practices.

Hill: Jobs Bill a Good First Step

President Obama signed an $18 billion jobs bill March 18 that will help put more than 10 million Americans without a job back to work.

Florida County Manager Praises Unions

In a troubled national economy, municipalities are often faced with difficult choices as tax revenues drop, making balancing budgets more difficult.

Ontario Locals Pitch in for Volunteer Work

Nearly 20 needy families in Kitchener, Ontario, have new homes, thanks in part to retirees and members of Local 804.

IBEW Organizer Looks to Unionize Green Industry

There are not many union locals with an environmental organizer on staff. But because the renewable energy industry is a growth sector in a slow economy, San Diego Local 569 is sparing no effort to make sure jobs working with green technology are pathways to good-paying careers.

Labor Radio Gets Bigger Voice

Workers Independent News, a service that produces union-related news content and distributes it to radio stations across the U.S., launched an expanded Internet news service March 15.

Lawmakers Call on Obama Administration to Stop Offshoring Clean Energy Jobs

Responding to reports of federal stimulus money being used to fund foreign manufacturers, a group of U.S. senators are calling on President Obama to government subsidizing for clean-energy projects that end up stimulating more jobs offshore than at home.

Jobs in Jeopardy: Vt. Lawmakers Vote to Shutter Nuclear Plant

The Vermont state legislature has voted against renewing the license for Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant beyond 2012.

Thousands Rally in D.C. to Challenge Health Insurance Executives

On March 9, with health-care reform legislation finally approaching its “up” or “down” destination in Congress, thousands of reform advocates, including members of organized labor, traveled to Washington.

Judge to Illinois commission: Don’t Approve Verizon Deal

An Illinois administrative law judge recommended Tuesday that the state’s commerce commission reject a proposed transfer of land-based telephone lines from Verizon to Frontier Communications.

Blaze Inspires Union Member’s Musical Tribute

Every songwriter yearns for that next spark of inspiration. But St. John’s, Newfoundland, Local 1620 member Vince Carey – a longtime singer and guitar player – got much more of a flash than anyone would hope for.

Chicago IBEW Leader Honored By Faith Group

For Chicago Local 134 Business Manager Tim Foley, activism isn’t just about politics – it’s part of a higher purpose. His success earned him the “Visionary Leadership” award from one of the city’s most progressive faith-based organizations.

San Diego News Site Labels Anti-PLA Op-Ed ‘Huckster Propaganda’

Web site Voice of SanDiego.org has called out anti-union spokesman Eric Christen for being less than honest about project labor agreements in an op-ed he penned for the San Diego Tribune.

Management Intimidation No Match for Pa. Workers

Janitorial workers at the Conemaugh Generating Station in New Florence, Pa., were tired of arbitrary management decisions and a lack of respect on the job, so the 14-person unit reached out to IBEW organizers a couple months ago.

Proposed Bill Would Protect Retirees in Bankruptcies

It wasn’t enough that auto parts maker Delphi declared bankruptcy in 2005, putting the jobs and benefits of thousands of future retirees, including members of Milwaukee, Wis., Local 663 in jeopardy.

Minnesota Senator Introduces “Cash for Jobs” Bill

Responding to the worsening jobs crisis, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken (D) proposed a new jobs bill last month that would use $10 billion from the remaining Wall Street bailout funds to help subsidize new hires at small and medium-sized businesses and boost employment in the green-energy economy.

GOP Senator Stiffs Jobless Americans

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) began his work life as a major league pitcher and once had the second-highest total of career strikeouts in the league’s history. But on Feb. 26, Bunning, 79, scored what could end up as his most memorable and infamous strikeout.

Comcast Workers Choose IBEW Local 827

After a difficult organizing campaign filled with management misrepresentations and attempted union busting, Comcast technicians in Fairfield, N.J., elected to be represented by the IBEW.

IBEW Lights Up Winter Games

The eyes of the world were on Vancouver, British Columbia, for 17 days in February as the 2010 Winter Olympics brought together the top athletes from around the globe to compete for the gold in skiing, freestyle skating and ice hockey.

TV Cameras Capture IBEW Hunters

A cable TV reality show is giving two IBEW members the chance to fulfill their dreams of getting closer to nature with guns in hand.

Congress Passes Jobs Bill

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to keep alive a $15 billion job-creation bill that includes extensions of unemployment benefits and COBRA health benefits for jobless Americans.

IBEW Calls on Senate to Extend Jobless Benefits

Time is running out for jobless workers. Funding for federal unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed and COBRA subsidies to help laid-off workers maintain their health-care benefits is set to expire by Feb. 28.

Virginia Lineman Celebrates 50 Years on the Job

At 71 years old, Richmond, Va., Local 50 member Wardell Driver has acquired legendary status among co-workers half his age.

IBEW Hosts Obama Announcement on Loan Guarantees for Georgia Nuclear Project

IBEW President Edwin D. Hill today called President Barack Obama’s announcement of loan guarantees by the U.S. Department of Energy for the construction of two advanced reactors at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power station in Georgia as a step forward in addressing the United States’ energy needs as well as creating badly needed jobs.

Unions, Management Look to Bolster FairPoint’s Recovery

Following months of tense negotiations, FairPoint’s labor unions and management have come to an agreement to help the bankrupt company bounce back by increasing cooperation, restructuring wages and extending the contract with workers for another year, pending ratification by IBEW members.

Haitian Disaster: You Can Still Help

Orphaned children. Lack of food. A dearth of medical care. Weeks after a tremendous earthquake shattered Haiti’s capital city, the need for relief is still great.

Labor to Help Determine Policy on Nuclear Waste

The United States’ spent nuclear fuel will no longer be designated for a cask deep inside a controversial mountain in Nevada.

Interior Secretary Urged to Approve Cape Wind Project

After countless bureaucratic skirmishes and nearly a decade, Cape Wind supporters are hopeful the project is nearing final approval.

Ore. Voters to Wealthy, Corporations: Pay Up for State Services
With 11 percent of the state’s workers unemployed and facing a $727 million shortfall in the current two-year budget, Oregon was at a crossroads. State voters had two options.

Buy America Stokes Stimulus Packages
Leading Republicans say that the administration’s $787 billion stimulus plan passed a year ago failed.

Vt. Union Leaders Rally for Power Plant, Jobs
Leaders of 15 building trades unions held a press conference this month to send a message to the Vermont state legislature: Keep Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant open.

New York Leads New Generation of High-Tech Manufacturing.

The construction of a $4.2 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility north of Albany, N.Y., is solidifying the capital region’s reputation as a leading center for high-tech manufacturing and research – and that is translating into lots of jobs for members of Local 236.

IBEW 2008 Photo Contest Closes; Members Chose Winners
By capturing an iconic image of the Brotherhood, Huntington, W.Va., Local 317 member Danny Doss is the winner of the 2009 IBEW Photo Contest.

New Jersey Local Helps Win County Responsible-Contractor Policy

It’s a rare day when an IBEW local leader can find common cause with representatives of the Associated Builders and Contractors, an anti-union association.

Labor Answers Calls for Assistance to Haiti
The massive 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday evening is already being called the disaster of the century for this desperately poor Caribbean nation. The most powerful earthquake to ever be recorded in Haitian history was centered on the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, reducing large portions of the city to rubble.

New Federal Workers Labor Alliance Formed
Building on the success of the workers coalition that defeated the Bush administration personnel system at the Department of Defense last year, 21 labor organizations, including the IBEW, joined forces to form a new coalition dedicated to fighting for the interests of federal workers.

Joint Venture Strengthens Boston Minority Contractor
Ada Alfonso, an 11-year Boston Local 103 member who started her own electrical shop in 2005, was proud to see a story about her success in a late December issue of the Boston Globe.

Women of Labor Unite to Fight Cervical Cancer
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is helping spearhead an initiative this month to raise awareness of the No. 2 cause of cancer in women: cervical cancer.

IBEW Wins More Than $ 20 Million in Green Jobs Training Grants
IBEW members from throughout the United States are among those who will benefit from the announcement on Wednesday by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis of the release of nearly $100 million in renewable energy training grants.

Hill: Jobs Are No. 1 Priority for Florida’s Citizens
Florida has been hit especially hard by the recession, shedding the highest number of jobs across the country – nearly 17,000 – last November, making it one of the worst-hit states in the nation.

Niagara Falls Local Lights Up the Holidays
More than 70 volunteers from Niagara Falls, N.Y., Local 237 helped brighten the holidays by assembling and wiring this year’s United Way Holiday Lights of Niagara display.

Vermont Solar Contractors Prosper with IBEW
The Green Mountain State is getting greener as Montpelier Local 300 builds fertile relationships with influential, home-grown renewable energy contractors who are looking to expand with new support from the state legislature.

Tennessee ABC Leader Fired from N.Y. Project,
Undocumented Workers Arrested
Ernie Hartman, business manager of Elmira, N.Y., Local 139, had long advocated that Chemung County residents and others nearby should be given priority over out-of-state labor in local construction projects.

IBEW Locals Approve Constitutional Changes on Staff Compensation
n a referendum vote conducted between October 2 and December 1, 2009, IBEW locals approved a revised amendment to the Brotherhood’s constitution that alters the compensation formula for International officers, assistants, directors and representatives so that they will now resume making contributions to the pension plan.

Washington Roundup: IBEW Opposes Health-Care Tax, Supports ‘Buy America’
IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill has joined forces with the Communications Workers of America and the CEOs of the two top major telecommunications firms to oppose the provision in the Senate’s health-care reform bill that would levy a tax on existing health-care plans.

Obama Establishes Federal Labor-Management Council
An executive order by President Obama creating a National Council on Federal Labor-Management offers the IBEW and other unions representing federal workers a format for resolving some long-standing problems.

Give Your Career a Boost With An Online Telecommunications Degree
Looking to accelerate your career in telecommunications? The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL), in partnership with Pace University, offers online telecom degrees that can be completed from home.

Veterans Graduate from Rigorous Training Program, Land Jobs
A joint venture between Seattle Local 46 and the Puget Sound JATC has turned out its first crop of graduates whose military training helped fast-track them toward careers in the electrical trade.

IBEW Leader Co-chairs California Climate Change Panel
Pat Lavin, Seventh District IEC member and Business Manager of Diamond Bar, Calif., Local 47, has been selected to co-chair a state advisory panel on climate change, sponsored by the Pacific Council on International Policy, an elite think tank.

New England Locals Challenge Verizon’s Layoffs
As Verizon puts nearly 200 IBEW members on the street, mostly technicians assigned to fiber optic installation and service, locals are preparing to challenge the company’s decision in arbitration.

Help Fight for a Fair Health Care Reform Bill
Real health care reform should make union contractors and union workers more competitive with the nonunion sector. To make this happen, the IBEW and the Building and Construction Trades are asking union members to support an amendment to the health care reform bill in Congress.

The Henry Miller Story
Henry Miller, who died more than 110-years ago, was the founder, first president and driving force behind the first union of electrical workers in North America – the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

It's Your Turn: 2009 Photo Contest Judging Commences
Pole setting in the high mountain desert or climbing 150-foot wind turbines may be just another day at the office for some members of the IBEW.

Northrop Grumman Shipyard Workers Approve Two-Year Contract Extension
IBEW members at Northrop Grumman’s Avondale and Ingalls shipyards in Louisiana and Mississippi have overwhelmingly approved a two-year extension of their current labor agreement.

U.S. Falling Behind in Green Jobs Growth
Throughout the 2008 election season, we were told that the green-energy economy would put our economy back on the road to recovery by creating tens of thousands of new jobs in wind, solar and other non-polluting energy sectors.

New Report Investigates Rise in Injuries to Aging Workers
More aging workers are staying on the job. Some would rather be retired, but have seen their retirement savings eroded. Others can afford to leave but are enticed to stay by employers who pay for their experience.

St. Louis Utility Locals Aid Unemployed Electricians
Staying true to the union’s deep roots in rendering financial assistance to electricians and their families in times of trouble, two utility locals in St. Louis have collected thousands of dollars to help unemployed electricians in Local 1 get through hard times.

Convention 2006 Coverage

President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005

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