The Biden Administration and IBEW seek to build more domestic semiconductor factories (IBEW-built GlobalFoundries plant in Malta, NY)

Beefing up domestic supply chains while strengthening security and competitiveness is behind the new law incentivizing the production of critical computer chips here in the United States.
President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act in July, representing another effort by the president to re-shore the manufacturing of crucial goods produced overseas to the country’s economic and security detriment.
Today, the United States only produces 12 percent of the world’s microchips, which are fundamental components in many modern technology products affected by pandemic-era supply chain... Read More

The IBEW continues its national push to certify and train members to install EV charging infrastructure.

Nearly $5 billion in new electrical vehicle charging systems are on the way, and demand for qualified installers has never been higher. That’s why President Lonnie Stephenson has launched the Talent Pipeline Challenge to get at least 10,000 electricians across the U.S. signed up to be credentialed in the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program.
“EVITP has become such a gold standard in our industry that the Biden administration recently made it their preferred program for training the men and women who will be installing and maintaining thousands of EV charging systems across the... Read More
After more than 1.3 million jobs in the manufacturing sector were lost to the depths of the pandemic in 2020, recent data shows manufacturers have added back 1.4 million factory jobs, adding 668,000 additional manufacturing jobs since the Biden administration began.
Biden administration policies intended to promote the growth of domestic manufacturing – like expanding made-in-the-U.S. rules for federal procurement and tax credits for American semiconductors and other factories – are expected to continue the expansion.
“One of the most striking things that we are seeing now,” Brian Deese,... Read More

IBEW members strongly support high quality registered apprenticeship programs, the gold standard in the electrical construction industry.

The Department of Labor put the final nail in the coffin of the Trump administration’s attempt to allow industries to water down training standards by cheapening the value of the gold-plated labor-management apprenticeship model that has served the IBEW for generations.
Following President Biden’s move to rescind the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program in the first days of his administration, the DOL has issued its final rule. Effective on Nov. 25, it cemented Biden’s initial executive order to rescind IRAPs when he took office early in 2021. The IRAP program would have conferred a... Read More

A new U.S. Department of Labor initiative is widely promoting the use of registered apprenticeship programs like Portland, Ore. Local 48's.

St. Louis Local 1 Electrical Connection and Chicago Local 134’s Powering Chicago have been chosen as U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship ambassadors.
Labor-management partnerships between local unions and their respective National Electrical Contractors Association chapters are among 200 entities chosen to share their experiences and collaborate with the DOL to champion apprenticeship opportunities.
“Not enough people understand apprenticeships or what unions are all about,” said Powering Chicago’s executive director Elbert Walters III. “We need to share the story so that more and more... Read More
Celeste Drake has been appointed President Biden’s top labor advisor. She served as the first-ever made-in-America director at the White House Office of Management and Budget since 2021, where she helped develop and implement domestic policy. Drake was formerly a trade and globalization policy specialist for the AFL-CIO, playing an instrumental role in shaping U.S. trade policy to promote inclusive growth for working American families and the manufacturing sector.
President Biden posthumously honored former AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.
In awarding the medal in July, President Biden said, “No one did more work for American workers than he did. For Rich, his work was synonymous with the word that defined his life: dignity … His work was fierce, always trying to do the right thing for working people … Rich Trumka was the American worker.”
Trumka died suddenly on July 5, 2021. He was succeeded by Portland, Ore. Local 125 member Liz Shuler, the first... Read More
In July, President Biden traveled to Ohio to celebrate the most significant effort to protect multiemployer pensions in 50 years.
The Butch Lewis Act was one of the IBEW’s most pressing priorities when President Biden signed it in early 2021. Saving hundreds of plans from insolvency and shoring up the backstop Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, this special assistance program will ensure benefits to multiemployer pension participants through 2051.
“We turned a promise broken into a promise kept,” Joe Biden told a crowd of union workers in Cleveland on July 5. Among those in attendance were... Read More

Dear Local 90 Brothers and Sisters:
You are cordially invited to attend a dinner for all Local Union No. 90 members retiring before November of 2022. We will also be acknowledging the members who have achieved 25 years of distinguished service with the IBEW. We would like to ask all attendees to try to dress business casual out of respect for those retiring. Member price is $20.00 each and Retiree price $10.00 each. Tickets will also be sold at the door; prices will be $30.00 for Active members and $20.00 for Retirees.
 
Local 90 Retirees


David Brancato
Gary Card   ... Read More
On Friday, Oct. 21, four unions will compete in a charity softball tournament at the Yard Goats!
Come join in on the fun, raise some money for charity, and have an entertaining evening at one of the best minor league baseball stadiums in the country.
Game 1: AFSCME Council 4 vs. Connecticut State Building Trades Council
Game 2: AFT Connecticut vs. Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association
Here's everything you need to know:
Event: Labor Charity Softball Tournament
Location: Dunkin' Donuts Park (Yard Goats stadium), 1214 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103
Date: Friday, October 21
Time:... Read More