Current News
Workers to VP Biden: Fair Trade, Not More Outsourcing
In President Obama’s State of the Union Message, he discussed a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last—an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy and a renewal of American values.
Illinois IBEW Training Facility Gears Up for New Electric Grid Work
ComEd’s planned $3.2 billion investment in “smart-grid” technology is expected to create thousands of new electrical jobs throughout Illinois. And the demand for experienced utility workers is bringing fresh attention to Chicago Local 9’s training center in Forest Park, a nearby suburb.
Kansas City GE Workers Win Voice on the Job
After three failed organizing campaigns in almost four years in Kansas City, Mo., General Electric Transportation’s managers might have thought they had unions licked. That all changed on Jan. 27 when workers voted 44 to 41for representation by Kansas City Local 1464. It is the first organizing victory at GE in 10 years.
Illinois Broadcasting Members Picket for Decent Contract
Working for more than a year under an expired contract, 20 IBEW engineers at WMBD TV channel 31, in Peoria, Ill., have taken their dispute to the street, holding informational pickets to draw public support across a city that is home to Caterpillar and other large, union-organized manufacturers.
PRESS RELEASE: Statement of Edwin D. Hill, President, IBEW On First Energy's Announcement of Coal-Fired Power Plant Closings
Federal Judge Overturns Vt. Nuclear Plant Shutdown
IBEW members who operate Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear plant are cheering a January 19 decision by a federal judge overturning the state legislature’s 2010 vote to shut down the facility.
Trumka Rips Report from President’s Jobs Council
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, a member of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, issued a strong dissent from the council’s report issued on Jan.18.
Video Portrays Day in the Life of Young Wind Turbine Tech
On the vast expanses of northern Iowa, the wind is abundant and the promise of clean energy is real.
Wisc. Activists Gather 1 Million Signatures to Recall Walker
Pro-worker activists throughout Wisconsin made history Jan. 17, submitting more than 1 million signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker. This is 400,000 more than required by state law.
Pittsburgh Utility Workers Celebrate Accident-Free Year
2011 marked a major milestone for Pittsburgh Local 29 members employed by GenOn Energy. The more than 135 utility workers throughout the metro area worked the entire year without any recordable accidents and no lost work time.
PRESS RELEASE: STATEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS PRESIDENT EDWIN D. HILL ON KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE DECISION
National Security Personnel System Ends after Eight-Year Battle
Death came softly for the National Security Personnel System, a controversial program instituted during the administration of President George W. Bush that once covered thousands of workers at the Department of Defense, including 12,000 IBEW members.
Federal Judge Upholds Construction Workers’ Rights in Idaho
A federal judge threw out two anti-worker bills earlier this month that restricted the rights of Idaho construction unions and signatory contractors.
Obama’s Recess Appointments—A Win for Workers
IBEW members in Ohio are praising President Barack Obama’s appointment of Richard Cordray, the state’s former attorney general, to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
N.C. Call Center Workers Challenge Global Corporation for Dignity on the Job
On Thanksgiving, as thousands of citizens in the Occupy movement gathered in cities across the U.S. to turn public attention to the deep chasm between the 99 percent and the 1 percent, a group of workers at a call center in North Carolina operated by a highly-profitable global corporation summoned the courage to launch their own struggle for dignity and fairness.
IBEW Hunter Matches Wits with Sharp-Sighted Gobblers
Watch on the Sportsmen’s Channel’s Brotherhood Outdoors
As a turkey hunter and guide, Terre Haute, Ind., Local 725 Business Manager Todd Thacker know birds; he knows where they hang out, feed and roost. He also has family and friends watching and patterning local turkey behavior, which they pass along to him. Someday he hopes to have his own hunting guide service in Illinois.
Take Action to Save Wind Power Jobs—Visit New Web Site
The development of renewable energy in the form of wind power is providing jobs for IBEW members employed in inside and outside construction, utilities and members of the union’s manufacturing branch who construct wind towers in Iowa.
Five Ways to Get America Back to Work
It is America’s top priority: attacking the jobs crisis and putting Americans back to work. Continuing partisan deadlock has so far kept Congress from taking action, but that has not stopped some elected officials from promoting new ideas - ideas that working families are pushing to make the centerpiece of the 2012 elections.
A Special New Year’s Message from President Edwin D. Hill
On behalf of the officers and staff, Secretary-Treasurer Sam Chilia and I extend our wishes to all IBEW members, our friends and allies for a healthy, safe and rewarding New Year.
IBEW Rallies Support for Machinists’ Wisconsin Strike
While thousands of workers and their allies rallied in Wisconsin in February to support public workers challenging legislation that would restrict their rights to collectively bargain, a long line of speakers climbed the podium to warn that it was just a matter of time before similar confrontations would occur in the private sector.
Community Ties that Bind in Cedar Rapids
With only 24 hours in a day and invitations to far more events than they are able to attend, politicians have to carefully choose where and when to grab some time with their constituents or send a staff member in their stead. When many of them show up in the same place, it’s a sign of high respect and influence.
60,000 Visitors Expected for IBEW Holiday Display
Encouraged by a blitz of local media coverage, more than 60,000 Minnesotans are expected to drive through the Twin Cities’ second annual IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Comcast Employees Counter Shady Management, Win $160K in Back Pay
A grueling two-year battle against Comcast ended in victory last month for dozens of East Windsor, N.J., Local 827 members who won thousands of dollars each in back pay.
For Tennessee Local, Giving Back is a Year-Round Responsibility
IBEW members kick in their union dues every payday. Some choose to donate even more for political action funds. But Memphis, Tenn., Local 1288 has taken it one step farther: a check-off for its own charitable foundation – a foundation that is making a difference in the lives of Memphis residents.
Court Upholds Election Rules For Rail Workers
While in the midst of a crucial contract vote, the thousands of workers in the nation’s profitable railroad sector got support today from the U.S. Court of Appeals when judges upheld a rule designed to make union representation elections under the Railway Labor Act more democratic.
Mont. Member Wins Western States Electrical Contest
More than 20 newly-turned out electricians from a half-dozen states took part in the 2011 Western States Electrical Contest, showcasing the talents of the newest members of the IBEW.
Phoenix Local Raises Money for Children’s Cancer Research
Phoenix Local 387 helped raise more than $20,000 for cancer research Sept. 24, bringing together members, retirees and community members to help raise funds to fight the second most common cause of death among children. The Create for Cancer charity art auction was held in collaboration with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, one of the largest children’s hospitals in the nation.
Md. Soldier Powers up Remote Afghan Base
For Eric Mooney, enthusiastic knowledge of his trade goes hand in hand with his patriotism. That was good news for 300 troops at a remote base in Afghanistan, who needed an expert to help supply power to seven new buildings.
House GOP Declares Open Season on Workers’ Rights, Labor Board
"Punitive,” says a spokesperson for the National Federation of Independent Businesses. “Labor regulation run amok,” says the Chamber of Commerce. “[Guaranteeing] unemployment will remain high,” said a researcher from the right-wing Manhattan Institute.
IBEW Members Step up Activism on Unemployment Benefits
With time running out for Congress to act on extending unemployment benefits, jobless workers are speaking out and showing up in the nation’s capital, including some unemployed members of the IBEW. If Congress fails to act before Dec. 31, nearly 2 million people will lose unemployment benefits in January. Without action in 2012, at least six million could be without benefits.
Houston Local 66 Apprentice Lineman Wins International Rodeo
Mike Luksch, an apprentice linemen, isn’t throwing around clichés when he discusses the highs and lows of recent days.
New IBEW Theme Song ‘The Right Choice’ Available Online
Attendees to the 38th International Convention in Vancouver got a sneak preview of the new high-energy IBEW theme song, “The Right Choice.” Set to deep rock grooves and featuring a catchy chorus, the song became instantly recognizable during convention proceedings, when snippets were played to welcome delegates and speakers to the stage.
Sign Up Now for NACTEL’s Mobile Technologies Certificate
An online learning program focused on mobile technologies is the latest offering of NACTEL, the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning, a partnership of leading corporations, the IBEW and the Communications Workers of America that has trained thousands of union members since 1997. Courses are also available in operating systems.
Indiana Local Raises Funds for Free Mammograms
Todd Thacker, business manager of Terre Haute, Ind., Local 725, knows how fortunate he and his members are to have steady work on inside construction work. This year, the local peaked out with 930 travelers.
House Progressive Caucus: Job Creation Trumps Deficit Reduction
The Congressional super-committee charged with slicing the federal budget deficit has failed. But now, while some Republican and Democratic members of Congress continue to focus on deficit reduction as the main way to stimulate the economy, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is zeroing in on the need to create more jobs.
IBEW Hits the Ground for Recall of Wis. Gov. Walker
The overwhelming 61-percent vote in favor of an Election Day referendum in Ohio that overturned Gov. John Kasich’s bill restricting collective bargaining for public employees inspired workers all over the U.S.
Illinois Energy Bill Means Good Jobs, Improved Grid
The Illinois state legislature overwhelmingly approved new “smart grid” legislation last month, giving a big boost to job creation and economic development throughout the state.
Hawaiian Telecom Workers Take on Corporate Greed
Hawaiian Telecom employees staged a two-day walkout Nov. 10, protesting Chief Executive Eric Yeaman’s demands for substantial cutbacks to health and retirement benefits.
After Years in Contract Limbo, a Payoff for Philly Workers
Paul Deal remembers how he felt when he and his co-workers at Veolia Energy voted to be members of Philadelphia Local 614. After enduring years of eroding benefits, reductions in pension contributions and scheduling challenges, Deal said the collective mood started lifting for employees once they joined the IBEW.
Iowa Member Wins National Safety Council Award
In November, after Lonnie Logan, the safety chairman of Davenport, Iowa, Local 1379, was named one of five recipients of the most distinguished award presented annually by the National Safety Council, his local business manager, Duane Smith, thought about what makes Logan special.
Manitoba Lottery Workers Join IBEW
More than 80 service technicians for the Manitoba Lotteries Corp. became the newest members of Winnipeg Local 435 last summer, after a year-long effort to join the IBEW.
President’s Panel Makes Recommendations in Railroad Dispute
Thanks to increased productivity, technological advances and the rising popularity of freight services, major railroad companies are enjoying historic profits – even as the U.S. economy struggles through a multi-year recession.
IBEW Supports Manchin-Coats Utility Clean Air Proposal
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers strongly supports a bill introduced by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Dan Coats’ (R-Ind.) that sets a realistic time frame for utilities to comply with new Environmental Protection Agency clean air rules.
Ohio Working Families Mobilize to Vote ‘No’ on SB 5/Issue 2
Pro-worker activists throughout Ohio are making phone calls and knocking on doors in preparation for the Nov. 8 vote on Issue 2 – the ballot initiative to repeal Gov. John Kasich’s anti-worker legislation.
Construction Workers Tell Obama: ‘We Can’t Wait’ for Keystone XL Jobs
The Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO has launched a new campaign encouraging President Obama to take action on good construction jobs by supporting the Keystone XL pipeline project.
Washington, D.C., Local Connects NFL Stadium to the Power of the Sun
Members of Washington, D.C., Local 26 installed one of the biggest solar farms in the Mid-Atlantic region last summer, providing clean and green power to FedEx Field, home to professional football’s Washington Redskins.
Trumka at G-20 to Push Financial Transaction Tax
As the G-20, a group of finance ministers and leaders of central banks in 19 countries and the European Union, prepare to meet in the South of France on Thursday, representatives of workers from around the world will be there to make their case for economic fairness. Here at home, IBEW members will attend a rally in Washington, D.C. to support their call.
Municipal Utility Workers Join IBEW
A group of nearly a dozen utility workers voted to join Springfield, Mo., Local 753 in August, making Marshall Municipal Utilities the third municipal power company in southwest Missouri to vote for IBEW representation in the last three years.
Workers, Community Allies Mobilize Against Verizon Greed
More than 45,000 CWA and IBEW members at Verizon continue to mobilize for a fair contract and good jobs at the telecommunications giant.
Union Plus Scholarships Offer $150,000 in awards
The Jan. 31, 2012 application deadline is approaching for the 2012 Union Plus Scholarship Program, which provides $150,000 in scholarships to union members, their spouses and dependents.
IBEW Helps Bring Electric Car Future to Philly Area
The dream of gas-free transportation took one step closer to becoming a reality for Eastern Pennsylvania residents Oct. 14 with the unveiling of four electric vehicle charging stations at the King of Prussia mall.
Save Avondale Shipyard Campaign Builds Hope in New Orleans
After Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill wreaked havoc on New Orleans, a global audience marveled again at the stoicism and solemn resolve of bayou folk who have faced down the pain and trauma that has washed over the Gulf Coast for generations.
Future of Work and Unions Debated at AFL-CIO, as Taxi Workers Affiliate with Federation
A seminal 15-year struggle for bargaining rights by taxicab drivers and the spreading “occupy” movement have more in common than origins in New York City, said members of a forum on the future of work at the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.
TransCanada Pipeline PLA Could Mean Construction Boon
Thousands of unemployed electricians waiting for good news could have their hopes lifted with a freshly-signed project labor agreement between the IBEW and TransCanada Corporation.
Pa. Local Rallies for Rebuilding the State’s Bridges
Northeast Pennsylvania’s rivers and railroad tracks are crossed by some of the nation’s most deteriorated bridges. The area’s AFL-CIO labor federation is rallying support to put unemployed building and construction workers back on the job building safe replacements.
Report: Weak Economy, Not Public Workers, to Blame for States’ Financial Woes
The campaign to blame public workers and their unions for growing state and local deficits and forcing draconian cutbacks and spiraling debt is misplaced, a new report finds.
President Obama Visits Pittsburgh Local 5 to Push American Jobs Act
On October 11, President Barack Obama visited Pittsburgh Local 5’s apprenticeship training center to deliver a call for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act, which would provide federal funding for rebuilding roads, bridges and schools, extending unemployment benefits and keeping teachers, firefighters and police on the job in cities and towns facing severe budget crises.
Convention Attendees Donate to Families of Members Killed On the Job
Attendees to the 38th International Convention were saddened to learn of two on-the-job fatalities involving IBEW members that occurred during the events in Vancouver last month.
Verizon Workers Join Wall Street, Boston Protests
Boston Local 2222 is the latest union to join the massive protests against Wall Street that have electrified the nation.
New Report: PLAs Create Jobs, Expand Opportunities
A major emphasis of President Obama’s recently unveiled jobs plan is infrastructure investments, renovating bridges, schools and the power system, while putting thousands of unemployed construction workers back to work.
Trumka: “President Obama is Showing Leadership”
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is in demand nowadays as the unemployment crisis continues and presidential politics heats up. Appearing at media and think-tank-sponsored events before and after President Obama’s Sept. 12 introduction of the American Jobs Act, Trumka has sought to spread a wider understanding of the labor movement’s goals in bringing about economic recovery.
John Boehner: Fixing Chinese Currency Manipulation is ‘Dangerous’
Experts predict that more than 1 million American jobs could be created if the United States took steps to challenge China’s practice of artificially undervaluing its currency, the yuan, which undermines American manufacturing.
Wall Street Worry About Unemployment and Low Wages
The Occupy Wall Street movement is starting to grab more mainstream media coverage. That’s what happens when police in the Big Apple decide that arresting 700 people, many of them unemployed youth, for trespassing is a good way to spend taxpayers’ money while the billionaires who nearly collapsed the world economy go to work unscathed in one of the world’s most powerful financial centers.
St. Louis Building Trades, Employer Offer Buyer Rebates
When delegates to the 38th IBEW Convention approved a resolution calling for a national electrical construction marketing campaign, they were talking the language and following the lead of St. Louis Local 1, the area’s building trades and McBride and Sons Homes, the nation’s largest union-organized homebuilder.
Right-to-Work Brawl in Michigan?
A Detroit Free Press editorial says that efforts by some state legislators to introduce right-to-work legislation in Michigan make no sense.
IBEW Remembers 9/11
None of us will forget the shock and horror we felt on that day 10 years ago on September 11. Nor will we forget the more than 3,000 people who died in the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.
Jobs Bill Critical First Step in Addressing Unemployment Crisis
The President’s announcement of a major job bill before a joint session of Congress last night is a welcome acknowledgement that the primary issue facing the United States is unemployment, not deficits. His bill offers a balanced approach, extending help to small business, beleaguered states and localities and the millions of unemployed and underemployed people in our country.
Winds of Solidarity at Iowa Turbine Manufacturer
Last August, after voting 69 to 62 in favor of IBEW representation, workers at Trinity Structural Towers, Iowa’s leading manufacturer of wind towers, looked forward to making gains negotiating a first contract between their employer and Des Moines Local 347.
National Freight Bargaining Update
The National Mediation Board has released unions involved in national bargaining with the freight railroads from mediation, forcing a 30-day cooling-off period that many hope will help bring negotiations to a close.
Click here for the IBEW’s bargaining update.
GOP Leadership Undermines Effort to Fight Chinese Currency Manipulation
Experts predict that more than 1 million American jobs could be created if the United States took steps to challenge China’s practice of artificially undervaluing its currency, the yuan, which undermines American manufacturing.
Recovery Agreement Helps Alabama Local Crack Commercial Market
Birmingham, Ala., Local 136 always had a weak toehold in the small commercial building sector, which has been traditionally dominated by nonunion shops. But the weak economy put it in real danger of being driven out of the market for good.
Retired IBEW Vets Visit WW II Memorial
Bill Laskowitz, a retired member of St. Louis Local 1, walked slightly bending, but briskly past the 4,000 gold stars rising from the stone of Washington’s World War II Memorial, each star representing 100 U.S. service members who died in the war. Laskowitz, 86, who had worked until 1990 repairing the elevators in Anheuser-Busch’s legendary factory, was instantly reminded of his own brush with mortality during the war.
Labor Day Greeting from International President Edwin D. Hill
On behalf of our officers and staff, I want to express our thanks this Labor Day to all members who keep the IBEW’s record of accomplishment alive through your diligent work on the job and activism in the community and union.
Local Support Makes an Impact in Injured Member’s Recovery
Last year Clarksburg, W.Va., Local 596 member Nick Duryea was injured while on active duty in Iraq. The Humvee Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class was traveling in was hit by an anti-tank grenade. “The blast wave went through the Humvee,” he said.
On Labor Day, Watch Sportsmen Journey into the Wild
Robin DeHaven has proven his mettle as a true patriot and hero. He served two tours of duty in Iraq and then bravely rescued five people from an Austin, Texas, IRS building after it was struck by a plane last year.
Texas Nuclear Workers Win First Contract
For more than two decades, Kevin Smith has been part of the lynchpin of safety at South Texas Project’s nuclear power station. A member of a tight-knit team of performance technicians, Smith and his co-workers carefully test and re-test systems such as HVAC and fire protection throughout the sprawling facility that helps power nearly 2 million homes along the Gulf Coast.
Updated: Statement from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
CWA, IBEW Reach Agreement on Bargaining with Verizon;
Members to Return to Work Tuesday, August 23
Members of CWA and IBEW at Verizon Communications will return to work on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at which time the contract will be back in force for an indefinite period.
Striped Bass Catch Possible World Record
Greg Myerson’s cell phone is buzzing with calls from all over the world. His e-mail box is full. TV stations and newspaper reporters are peppering him with questions. Endorsement offers are coming in. The nine-year New Haven, Conn., Local 90 journeyman wireman won accolades before as an all-state high school and college football player. But landing what looks to be a world record 81.8-pound striped bass on August 4 is a whole different game.
Unskilled Replacement Workers Put Verizon, Public at Risk
As the Verizon strike enters its second week, thousands of untrained replacement workers and managers have been sent to do the jobs of more than 45,000 IBEW and CWA members up and down the East Coast.
Verizon Strike Solidarity Builds as Fight Enters Second Week
More than 45,000 Verizon workers continue to hold strong as the strike enters its sixth day.
Statement of Edwin D. Hill, International President,International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers On Developments in the Verizon Strike
I have received reports that members of two IBEW locals are performing contracting work for Verizon, even as members of our union and the Communications Workers of America are on strike to preserve middle class standards in their contract with the telecommunications conglomerate.
Contractor Honors Member’s Years of Service with Tribute
When 19-year-old Bob Bourdet showed up on the first day of his new job in 1961, he arrived in pressed khakis, a new dress shirt and shined shoes. That likely would have impressed management at an office. But as the freshly-minted San Francisco Local 6 apprentice was about to find out, his new job was decidedly more hands-on.
Verizon Workers Blog It Like It Is
As newspapers, blogs and TV stations report on the Verizon strike, IBEW and CWA members are challenging incorrect information and anti-union perspectives that are seeping out on the Web.
Verizon: Avoiding Taxes, Squeezing Workers, Raking it In
The Verizon strike enters its third day as more than 45,000 employees protest the company’s demand for more than $1 billion in cutbacks to health care, retirement and other benefits.
Poll: Manufacturing Should Be Job No. 1 for Washington
A new, bipartisan national poll shows that voters want Washington to act on jobs, especially in manufacturing, which they believe will help restore America’s lost status as the world’s No.1 economy.
Verizon Strike Enters Day 2
More than 45,000 Verizon workers from Massachusetts to Virginia went on strike Sunday. Aug. 7, protesting efforts to take away hard won gains that have helped telecommunications workers secure a spot in the middle class for nearly 50 years.
IBEW Members Ratify CBS Agreement
IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill and Leslie Moonves, CBS Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer, issue the following joint statement about the recently negotiated contract effective through January 31, 2015:
‘We Will Not Go Back’
Thousands Rally at Verizon’s N.Y. Headquarters
More than 10,000 Verizon employees throughout the Northeast rallied outside the company’s New York City headquarters on July 30, sending a message of solidarity against what some are calling the most aggressive anti-worker agenda the company has ever put forth during contract talks.
Union Volunteers Aid Disabled IBEW Member, Activist
Any shop steward will tell you that protecting workers’ rights on the job is both a mental and physical endeavor.
But those challenges were gradually magnified over the past decade for Middleton, Mass., Local 2321 member and former steward Lorraine Jasukonis, when a still-undiagnosed impairment began impeding her ability to walk. During that time, she became less able to perform operator services and dispatch duties at Verizon shops in the Bay State until her retirement in June 2009.
IBEW, New Study Say NO! to Green Energy Outsourcing
A plan by Sempra Energy, the corporate parent of San Diego Gas and Electric, to outsource green energy production to Mexico is facing sharp resistance from San Diego Local 569, supported by a recently-released study showing the damage that would be done if the U.S. Department of Energy approves Sempra’s application later this year.
Telecommunications Education Program Offers Discount to Members
Back to school isn’t just for kids! This fall, it’s your turn to head back to class with the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning.
Union Plus Awards IBEW Scholarships
The 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Program awarded $7,750 in scholarships to nine students with connections to the IBEW.
Working Families Unite to Hold Lawmakers Accountable
At a time when legislators could be coming together to create jobs and help maintain the middle class, many politicians have been busy doing just the opposite.
ABC Misleads San Diego Voters in Anti-PLA Effort
A San Diego newspaper has called out Associated Builders and Contractors, the anti-union corporate lobby, for spreading misinformation about a ballot measure that would ban the use of project labor agreements on city construction projects.
Philly Newspaper Names Comcast CEO ‘Horribly Rich Boss’
Philadelphia Daily News columnist Will Bunch recently asked how ultra-rich CEOs like Comcast head Brian Roberts get away with pulling in tens of millions in bonuses and corporate perks year after year while working families’ paychecks continue to shrink.
Working Families Unite to Hold Lawmakers Accountable
Accountability. It is something members of the IBEW know a lot about. From wiring buildings to stringing line, quality, safety and a hard day’s work are the norm – each day, every day.
IBEW Members Ratify GE Contract
More than 1,200 IBEW members at General Electric overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract with the company in July, days after the company reached an agreement with its larger unions.
CBS, IBEW Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
CBS and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers announced they have reached a tentative agreement on a contract covering 2,800 technicians. Once ratified by the affected workforce, the contract will be effective through January 31, 2015.
Radio Ad Tells Comcast: If You Support Obama, Support Workers’ Right to Organize
A radio ad sponsored by the IBEW is telling Comcast Corp.,: if you support Barack Obama for president, you need to heed his call to let workers freely organize.
Ohio Locals Help Mobilize Thousands To Stop Bad Bill
In May, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law a bill that bans public employees from striking and restricts collective bargaining for more than 350,000 state workers, police officers, teachers and others. Workers across the state were enraged.
Report: Medicare Changes Would Slam Seniors with Hefty Costs
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, is the architect of a proposal moving through Congress that would significantly alter Medicare for millions of retirees.
Seattle Broadcast Workers Fight Ultimatums
Last October, Seattle Local 46’s contract covering broadcasting workers at KIRO-TV expired. Since then, a bargaining unit committee led by Business Representative Angela Marshall has been working to reach agreement while working on month-to-month extensions of their agreement.
Winds of Solidarity at Iowa Turbine Manufacturer
Last August, after voting 69 to 62 in favor of IBEW representation, workers at Trinity Structural Towers, Iowa’s leading manufacturer of wind towers, looked forward to making gains negotiating a first contract between their employer and Des Moines Local 347.
Philips Workers Honored for Their Fight
Employees of the Philips lighting fixture plant in Sparta, Tenn., were among those honored for their efforts to keep an award-winning light fixture plant from moving to Mexico June 20.
New NLRB Rules Help Eliminate Barriers to Voting
For workers looking for a voice on the job, sometimes one of the biggest obstacles to forming a union is time.
Nevada Utility Pioneer Leaves Behind Legacy of Activism
When Sylvester Kelley, a 63-year member of Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245 returned from World War II, he applied for a job with Sierra Pacific Power. But the company wouldn’t hire him because his finger, disfigured by German shrapnel, would not fit into a work glove. So Kelley went to the Veteran’s Administration hospital and had the finger amputated. Then he went to work as a troubleman, a foreman and was elected to the local’s leadership in the 1950’s.
IBEW Assists Massachusetts Tornado Victims
While national weather reports have focused on major flooding and violent storms in the Midwest, a series of damaging tornadoes swept across Western Massachusetts on June 1.
NJATC and Thomas & Betts Partner on Electrical Training
Thomas & Betts, a major manufacturer of electrical parts and an employer of award-winning IBEW manufacturing workers, has signed an agreement with the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to develop a joint national apprenticeship training program.
Telling the Truth About Our Economy in Two Minutes
Confusion reigns about our continuing weak economy. Could anyone diagnosis the root of our record unemployment and ballooning deficits in simple English and in less than five minutes?
New Union Plus Blog Offers Savings, Tips for IBEW Families
Union Plus is putting the “bargain” in collective bargaining this month with the launch of a new blog offering discounts and consumer information for union families.
Auto Recovery Boosts Indiana Jobs
In 2008, Evansville, Ind., Local 16 Business Manager Paul Green feared that one of the bedrocks of the local economy, General Motors’ Bedford powertrain plant, was in danger of shuttering its doors for good.
Urge Obama to Recess Appoint Warren to Consumer Bureau
If Elizabeth Warren, who has led efforts to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect Americans from being ripped off by banks and mortgage companies isn’t already a hero to millions of Americans, she should be. No advocate for economic fairness has spoken out and acted more forcefully to stop working families from being fleeced by Wall St. than this Oklahoma-born Harvard professor.
Celebrating a Century of Union Apprenticeship Programs
The practice of learning a trade by working alongside a master craftsman has been around for centuries. But modern registered apprenticeships have only been recognized in the United States for 100 years. U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis brought together industry and union leaders on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., June 6 to help celebrate 100 years of registered apprenticeship programs.
St. Louis Volunteers Repair Homes
St. Louis Local 1 members made repairs to nearly 50 low-income homes for Electrical Safety Month in May.
IBEW Short Named Video of the Year
The IBEW-produced video “Workplace Democracy: Corporate Style” is the winner of LabourStart’s second annual labor video of the year contest.
Report Details Resurgence of the American Automobile Industry
In 2009, as the U.S. economy sputtered from near-collapse to deeply recessionary, the Obama administration committed federal funds to help save the U.S. auto industry from the brink of disaster.
IBEW Helps With Tornado Recovery Efforts
The labor movement has been in the front lines of relief efforts in Joplin, Mo., getting food and supplies to those in need and raising funds for families who lost everything in the deadly May 22 twister, which leveled a third of the city, killing more than 130 residents.
Ontario’s Nascent New Energy Push Threatened
IBEW members throughout Ontario are criticizing recent statements by Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak that he would kill the province’s Green Energy Act should he become premier in this fall’s election. The bill has been credited for boosting both the construction and manufacturing sectors, putting thousands of electricians and other tradesmen to work.
Congressional Democrats Unveil Make it in America Plan
Amid all of the rallies, speeches and emotion surrounding the opposition to governors and legislators who want to undermine collective bargaining for public employees, one question has been conspicuously neglected. Where did the budget shortfalls hitting so many states—that right-wingers are blaming on public workers—come from in the first place?
Green Bay Local, Contractor Assist Cerebral Palsy Center
In tough times as donations fall, nonprofits have trouble meeting the needs of those they seek to help. Cerebral Palsy Inc. in Allouez, Wis., located just outside of Green Bay found itself struggling to cover its own costs.
New England Verizon Techs Win Majority Sign-Up
More than 20 Verizon technicians will be formally sworn in as members of Boston Local 2222 this summer after management voluntarily agreed to recognize their right to join the union May 10.
Three State Senators to Face Recall in Wisconsin
During the massive protests in Wisconsin against Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-collective bargaining bill, activists, including many IBEW members, began to consider what they would do if the bill passed. Would voters who went to the polls to elect Walker’s supporters in the state legislature sign enough petitions to force the state to schedule recall elections? Would enough voters turn out on Election Day to vote them out of office.
New Web Site Tells Carpenters: Respect Our Crafts
The Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, has launched a Web site to promote the unity of union construction workers and to stand up against the efforts of the Carpenters union to raid other trades’ work.
Nebraska Supporters Save Workers’ Rights, But at a Price
The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce backed off its efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public workers May 19, when its allies in the legislature agreed to compromise legislation that would preserve the state Commission of Industrial Relations.
Court Upholds Carpenter’s Right to Protest
Kevin Price, a dues-paying member of the carpenters’ union, balked at his organization’s leadership when it established a rogue electrical union in St. Louis to capture work done by the IBEW. So he did what many IBEW members in the Show-Me State have done: he placed a sticker on his personal truck to show his opposition to the group, Carpenters Local 57.
Report Details Jobs Benefit of Utility Transmission Overhaul
A group focused on the reliability of our nation’s electricity infrastructure has released a new report estimating that expanding transmission capacity to carry renewable energy across regions of North America will create 130,000 to 250,000 full-time U.S. jobs and 20,000 to 50,000 in Canada annually.
Philips' Playbook for U.S. Plants: First Acquire, Then Close
The doors were shuttered at the Stonco Lighting factory in Union, N.J., May 6 as the plant’s parent corporation, Netherlands-based Philips Electronics, moved ahead with plans to outsource the work to its operations in Mexico, eliminating more than 60 manufacturing jobs.
N.H. Gov. Lynch Vetoes Right-to-Work Bill
With a hard-hitting May 11 statement, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch vetoed a right-to-work bill passed by Republican majorities in the state legislature.
IBEW Statement on EPA Clean Air Act Regulations
We agree with those who are seeking legislative action to phase in the impact of the regulations in a manner that will preserve jobs and reliable electric power.
After South’s Storms, IBEW to the Rescue
Alabama was ground zero for April’s disastrous twisters, where more than 230 people died. Nearly a half a million residents were left without power, making the state’s 3,000 IBEW utility members a key component in its recovery.
IBEW, Verizon Team for
Tampa Hunger Campaign
A national recession, high unemployment rate and sagging Florida housing market mean tough times persist in the Sunshine State.
Vote for IBEW Video in Video of the Year Contest
“Workplace Democracy: Corporate Style,” an IBEW-produced video that dramatizes the pressures and obstacles that individual workers endure in organizing campaigns has been nominated as one of the five finalists in LabourStart’s second annual Labor Video of the Year competition.
New Report Shows NAFTA’s Grim Toll
Economists and government officials promised that the North American Free Trade Agreement would create hundreds of thousands new jobs, but a new report from the Economic Policy Institute shows that free trade with Mexico has killed more jobs in the U.S. than it created.
Recovery Agreement Wins Work in Kentucky Tobacco Region
Darrell Lawson, Louisville, Ky., Local 369, can’t remember the last time his local performed work in Winchester. Located in Clark County, five counties to the southeast of Louisville in Local 369’s wide jurisdiction, the largely agricultural, tobacco-growing city has a few big-box stores—all constructed by nonunion contractors—but hasn’t seen a signatory contractor for years.
Musician Tom Morello Releases Kicking Album
No contemporary musician in the U.S. has been a better supporter of unions than Tom Morello (aka the Nightwatchman, formerly of Rage Against the Machine).
On Workers Memorial Day, New Challenges to Face
Working families across the country will mark the 22nd annual Workers Memorial Day April 28 by gathering in union halls, houses of worship and other venues to pay tribute those who have been injured or killed on the job. This year's theme is "Safe Jobs Save Lives. Our Work's Not Done."
Utah Senate President: Cut Unemployment Benefits
When the Republican-dominated Utah state senate voted to turn down federal unemployment funds, Senate President Michael Waddoups told the Associated Press that rejecting the federal help was the right thing to do. He said:
Study Finds Attacks on Unions Hurt All Workers
In their efforts to advance an anti-worker agenda, some politicians and corporate special interest groups are scapegoating labor unions for the bad economy in order to turn nonunion workers against their union brethren.
United Nations Broadcasting Members Tackle Take-Aways
For 28 years, Goldie James, a radio engineer, has reported to work at the United Nations where members of New York Local 1212 continue more than six decades of uninterrupted television and radio broadcasts and conferencing services to delegates and nations.
Ontario Utility Locks Out IBEW Workers
IBEW members employed by Essex Powerlines Corp., were locked out April 7 after contract talks with the southern Ontario-based utility fell apart the day before.
IBEW Members Crowd State Capital to Stop Anti-Worker Bills
Working families in Washington State will face harder times if their state legislators follow the lead of Wisconsin, Ohio and other states where bills undermining collective bargaining have passed.
Atlanta Contractor: IBEW Partnership is ‘Key Pillar of Success’
When John Hogue, president of Technical Associates, an Atlanta-area engineering firm, launched an electrical contracting division in 2008, he had a hard time finding qualified labor to staff jobs fast enough.
Seattle TV Members Fight for Free Speech, Bargaining Rights
The irony wasn’t lost on The Stranger, one of two remaining newspapers in Seattle after the 2009 shutdown of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Cuts in Social Security Services Would Hurt Retirees
OK. So the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives say they won’t propose cuts in Social Security benefits in the current round of negotiations on the 2011 budget.
IBEW, Frontier Negotiations Continue
After months of talks, the latest round of negotiations between Frontier Communications and IBEW workers in four states came to a close April 1 – with no tentative agreements on any proposals put forth by the two parties.
More Than 20,000 Tell Philips to ‘Keep the Lights On’
More than 20,000 supporters of good jobs signed on to an online petition telling the Netherlands-based multinational to keep the award-winning Philips Luminaires lighting fixture plant in Sparta, Tenn., open. All the names were mailed to van Houten at his new office in Amsterdam this week.
April 4 Rallies Link Dr. King’s Legacy, Today’s Attacks
Unionists and progressive activists across the nation gathered on April 4th to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, who was assassinated on that day in 1968 while in Memphis, Tenn., to support sanitation workers in their struggle for a decent contract and dignity on the job.
CBS, IBEW to Honor Fallen Member
CBS offered a tribute in Augusta, Ga., on April 6 to an IBEW freelance sports photographer who died following a heroic effort to protect his longtime girlfriend and two children from a house fire in December.
U.S. Nuclear Plants on Track for Continued Safety
The natural disasters in Japan that led to the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant have raised questions in the national media and among the public about the safety of nuclear power in the United States.
Comcast Activist Attends White House Union Forum
Christine Dexter knows the benefits of union membership. As a UPS employee in southeastern Massachusetts during the ’90s, she was a member of the Teamsters and received fair wages and quality health care coverage.
IST Lee Announces Retirement
Secretary-Treasurer Lindell K. Lee retires May 1, 2011, bringing a more than 40-year IBEW career to a close.
Scott Walker’s Wisconsin: ‘Closed for Business’
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declared upon his election that “Wisconsin is open for business.”
Panorama Photo Now Available
President Hill's "State Of Our Union" Address...2005
|
Related Articles
