IBEW Inside Construction

Below is a memo from IBEW President Kenneth Cooper

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

I am proud to report the construction sector is booming! Hundreds of

thousands of IBEW members are on long term projects that will last five, ten, or

even fifteen years or more. Forecasters predict a quarter of a million jobs for

electricians in the next decade alone, which means the IBEW can look forward to

years of great wages, bigger pensions, and more apprentices.

Infrastructure laws are investing trillions of federal funding in our work,

with labor standards on every dollar for the first time in history!

Trillions for energy infrastructure, grid resilience, ports, and electric

vehicle charging that require prevailing wage. Billions more in tax credits for

projects that offer prevailing wages and utilize apprenticeships. Even more

billions for manufacturers that prioritize prevailing wage and other labor

standards, and PLAs on any federal project over $35 million. These laws make it

nearly impossible to access federal funding without union labor, and the IBEW is

already seeing the impact.

With the help of the IBEW, the Biden Administration has written union

labor into federal law, making the IBEW the fastest, safest, and most profitable

way to fill the unprecedented demand for electrician jobs. The state of the

construction sector is undeniably strong, and we have even more to look forward

to if we stay the course.

With best wishes, I am

In Solidarity,

Kenneth W. Cooper

International President