Contribute to our efforts
Help us continue advancing and improving the lives of all IBEW members by supporting our efforts to provide excellent education, advocacy, mobilization, public policy, and legal and administrative action.
Issues & Campaigns
Our priorities
At IBEW, we’re committed to improving the workplaces and communities of all members and their families. By joining together and advocating for pro-worker policies, we can improve trade safety and earn more members working hours.
Click here to access the IBEW Scorecard to see where your elected representatives stand on the issues that matter to the IBEW.
Construction
The IBEW Government Affairs Department works with the Construction & Maintenance Department to protect and promote jobs for IBEW construction members through strong labor standards in federal policy. This includes advocating for things like prevailing wage requirements, apprenticeship utilization, and requirements to negotiate project labor agreements. Recent efforts have focused on passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPs Act, and ensuring that these laws create IBEW jobs. The Government Affairs Department also submits public comments to federal administrative agencies, including the Department of Energy, Department of Labor, and others that make rules that impact construction members of the IBEW.
Employee Benefits
The IBEW is dedicated to ensuring that members and their families have robust benefits, including healthcare, unemployment, retirement, and pension benefits. The Government Affairs Department works with the Pension and Reciprocity Department to advocate for legislation strengthening and protecting members’ benefits across the nation.
Energy: Utilities
In the utility industry, the IBEW represents lineworkers, groundworkers, equipment operators, boiler operators, maintenance mechanics, electricians, welders, control room operators, and dispatchers, among others. The Government Affairs Department works with the Utilities Department on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the membership. From important legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill to other standards such as permitting new-generation facilities. The departments work together to benefit the members of the IBEW’s work conditions and stability.
Government Employees
The IBEW represents thousands of government employees. While their work locations and job duties vary wildly, from shipbuilding to general building maintenance, they have one thing in common — they’re all highly skilled. Our members are employed in many federal agencies, bureaus, and departments, such as each branch of the armed services, the General Services Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Government Affairs Department works with the Government Employees Department, constantly monitoring matters impacting the members of the IBEW.
Manufacturing
The IBEW represents tens of thousands of workers in the manufacturing industry. These members work for companies of all sizes and produce a wide array of products, including batteries, semiconductors, transformers, electric motors, wire and cables, and advanced energy components. The Government Affairs Department works with the Manufacturing Department to promote legislation and regulations that provide IBEW workers in the manufacturing industry with new opportunities and the ability to compete for jobs on a level playing field both at home and abroad.
Telecommunications
The IBEW Telecommunications Department represents over 100,000 members in the telecommunications industry who are involved in all aspects of the field, from telephone, to cable and satellite television, to wireless systems. Members in this sector erect telephone lines, run lines into buildings, lay cables, and install, maintain, and repair equipment, and services for their communities. The Telecommunications Department and the Government Affairs Department work together, commenting and lobbying administrative agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on issues that impact the IBEW members in this sector.
Broadcasting and Recording
The IBEW Broadcasting and Recording Department represents thousands of members who are an integral part of the broadcasting and recording industry, from major television networks to small production companies. The IBEW Government Affairs Department works with the Broadcasting and Recording Department on various regulatory and legislative issues, including tax treatment for workers employed in several states throughout the year and safety issues.
Transportation: Railroad
IBEW members are a significant part of maintaining the safety and efficiency of our rail system. In addition to railroad electricians, the IBEW represents communications technicians who work with microwaves, radio, telephone, and other communication devices. The Government Affairs Department works with the Railroad Department on various issues.
Click here to read our current policy brief
Policy booklet archive
