Editor's note:

Honolulu Local 1186 member Bill Schroeder saw a letter in his local newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, attacking the cost of union labor during the pandemic and chose to respond. Send your own letters about the important work you and your IBEW sisters and brothers are doing during the COVID-19 crisis to your paper's "Letter to the Editor" section. It's a great way to share your IBEW pride in your communities.

I am a member of IBEW 1186.

Our members are highly trained and motivated to perform the work of our trade. We spend as much time in classes as those with a Ph.D., to get our electrical licenses and keep our skills up to date. Any member who does not meet the professional and work ethic requirements is asked to leave.

The current wage and benefits package affords us a good quality of life for our families and is fair based on the nature of our work.

The job of an electrician is to keep buildings from burning down; the National Electrical Code is written by the National Fire Protection Association of America. To perform our work, we must learn and adhere to those standards.

Anyone who desires "cheap" will receive what they paid for.

Bill Schroeder, Local 1186 member
Honolulu

Responding to "AGL Employees Ratify First Contract, Become Full IBEW Members Amid Pandemic" from last month's Electrical Worker:

You'll never regret joining a union. Stick it out and you're set for life, from a happy IBEW Verizon retiree.

Brian Harrigan, former Local 1451 business manager/president
York, Pa.

Please visit IBEW.org/COVID-19 for the latest information about the IBEW's response to the coronavirus, and keep sending us your stories of everyday IBEW heroes at media@ibew.org