Political/Legislative Affairs
202 728-6046
Political@ibew.org
Welcome
The IBEW Political/Legislative Affairs Department is committed to advancing the IBEW mission and improving the lives of all IBEW members through supporting education, advocacy, mobilization, public policy, and legal and administrative action. The legislative and political education and activism of the IBEW is organized and administered through the Political/Legislative Affairs Department at the IBEW International Office. This department oversees one of the strongest political action programs of its kind and develops educational materials on current issues and candidates; maintains a website where registrars can access resources online; and makes political presentations at IBEW conferences and progress meetings. The department also provides training for local union leadership, registrars, and state and district coordinators which is designed to provide attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to develop or enhance their local union political program.
Coronavirus Impact on Elections
At least 15 states have pushed back their presidential primaries due to the coronavirus pandemic. What you need to know.
IBEW Endorses Joe Biden for President
The IBEW endorsed Joe Biden on February 5. Biden's energy policy aligns most closely with IBEW members, 85 percent of whom work in energy-related industries. "We feel that Joe Biden is the best choice for the IBEW because he has taken the time to listen to what our members have to say about the biggest challenges facing our country. And that makes me confident that IBEW members will always have a seat the table in a Biden administration," said IBEW International President Lonnie R. Stephenson.
Stephenson: 'They Are Trying to Kill America's Multiemployer Pension Plans'
A new plan, introduced by Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), is a recipe for the ruin of IBEW multiemployer pension plans, including the National Electrical Benefit Fund. Here's what you can do to show your opposition.
Building IBEW Power at the Local Level
Do you know who has the power to control key decisions in your jurisdiction? It might surprise you to find out that it's not elected officials -- it's boards and commissions that are appointed by elected representatives. In cities that have high market share, IBEW members serve on boards and commissions, making decisions on regulations that can help, or hurt, IBEW members. See how you can help build IBEW power at the local level.
IBEW Urges Congress to Get Moving on Nuclear Waste Storage
A trio of recently introduced bills before the U.S. House of Representatives could help unlock meaningful, long-term employment for IBEW members in Nevada — and beyond. Key to those jobs is opening a permanent repository for spent nuclear fuel, IBEW Political and Legislative Affairs Director Austin W. Keyser told Congress at a hearing on June 12.
Register to Vote. Because it Matters.
Did you know that the gains we win at the bargaining table can be wiped out by laws on the local, state or federal level? Educated IBEW members armed with the facts necessary to choose the candidates that support our jobs are key to the survival of the IBEW.
I am a Retiree and I Vote: Keep Your Hands off My Pension
An all-hands-on-deck IBEW mobilization followed the urgent appeal: your pension is at risk. Come to Washington, D.C., to defend it. On November 28, 2018 approximately 250 IBEW members from across the United States carried the simple message to Capitol Hill: say no to a circulating proposal that could decimate IBEW’s multiemployer pension plans like the NEBF.
Home-Grown System Rigging… and How We Can Stop It
Every 10 years, legislative maps are redrawn following the U.S. Census. In 2011, politicians rigged the system like never before. The nonpartisan organization FairVote says that of the 435 seats up for reelection in the U.S. House of Representatives, only about 10 percent will be competitive, due to gerrymandering.