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Support our commitment to improving the lives of all IBEW members by contributing to our efforts to promote IBEW education, advocacy, and public policy.
Issues & Campaigns
Our Priorities
IBEW is committed to improving the workplaces and communities of all members and their families. By joining together to advocate for pro-worker policies, we can improve trade safety and earn more members working more hours.
Read the most current IBEW Policy Brief
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Construction
The IBEW Government Affairs Department works with the Construction & Maintenance Department and the Business Development 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 advocating for effective regulations to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPs and Science Act, to ensure these laws create IBEW jobs. The Government Affairs Department also submits public comments to federal 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 that strengthens and protects members’ benefits.
Energy: Utilities
The IBEW represents lineworkers, groundworkers, equipment operators, boiler operators, maintenance mechanics, electricians, welders, control room operators, and dispatchers, among others, working for investor-owned utilities, publicly-owned utilities and rural cooperatives. The Government Affairs Department works with the Utility Department on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the membership. From important legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act to being in constant communications with regulatory agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, the departments work together to benefit the members of the IBEW’s work conditions, work opportunities, and stability.
Government Employees
The IBEW represents thousands of government employees. While their work locations and job duties range from shipbuilding to general building maintenance, they are all highly skilled. Our members are employed in many federal agencies, bureaus, and departments, such as all branches 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 to constantly monitor matters impacting IBEW members.
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 approximately 40,000 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 Congress and administrative agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on issues that impact IBEW members in this sector.
Broadcasting and Recording
The IBEW Broadcasting and Recording Department represents thousands of members who are integral to 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 safety issues and tax treatment for workers employed in multiple states during the year.
Transportation: Railroad
Railroads remain critical for transportation of goods and passengers, with about 40% of freight in the United States and 71% in Canada being transported by rail. IBEW railroad electricians are responsible for inspecting, testing, installing, and maintaining all electrical and electronic equipment in railroad facilities. Additionally, IBEW railroad communication technicians handle various communication tasks, working with devices like microwave, radio, and telephone systems to ensure their safe operation and maintenance. The Government Affairs Department collaborates closely with the Railroad Department on legislative and regulatory matters to safeguard the work of our highly skilled and expert electricians responsible for the safety and operation of our railroads. During these difficult times for railroaders, the Government Affairs department has made rail safety a top priority in our advocacy efforts, all while prioritizing up-and-coming industries like electrifying rail systems.
Policy Booklet Archive
