IBEW News

IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper reports that 2025 is on track to be a record-breaking year for membership growth. Speaking at the Construction and Maintenance Conference, Cooper emphasized the union's resilience and called for continued unity and organizing efforts to strengthen the IBEW's position in the evolving electrical industry.

The IBEW warns that proposed changes to labor regulations could negatively impact worker safety and union rights. These regulatory modifications threaten to make jobsites less safe for IBEW members in construction and mining while making it more difficult for workers to organize and maintain union protections.

IBEW Secretary-Treasurer Paul A. Noble addresses the current challenges facing organized labor in America. Noble discusses the importance of Labor Day as a time to reflect on workers' rights achievements while acknowledging the ongoing struggles unions face in protecting and advancing workers' interests in today's political climate.

Members of IBEW Local 659 in Medford, Oregon successfully implemented the union's Code of Excellence to quickly resolve project startup challenges. The collaborative approach and professional standards outlined in the Code of Excellence helped streamline operations and demonstrate the value of skilled IBEW craftworkers to contractors and clients.

A new lineworker training facility is being developed in Tennessee to meet the growing demand for skilled electrical workers. The training center will provide comprehensive education and hands-on experience for aspiring lineworkers, helping to address workforce shortages in the electrical utility industry while maintaining IBEW's high standards for safety and craftsmanship.

The AFL-CIO has announced its 2025 Workers' Labor Day campaign calling for "Freedom, Fairness and Security" for working families. Hundreds of thousands of workers will rally in cities across the country during Labor Day week to demand better working conditions, fair wages, and the right to organize. The campaign emphasizes that workers deserve the protection and power that comes with union membership. Source: aflcio.org

Unions and progressive organizations are coordinating nearly 1,000 "Workers Over Billionaires" demonstrations across the United States for Labor Day 2025. The May Day Strong coalition is leading the national day of action to protest the Trump administration's policies affecting workers' rights, with events planned in cities and towns nationwide to advocate for working families over wealthy interests. Source: theguardian.com

Anti-Trump administration protesters will take to the streets on Labor Day Monday in worker- and wealth-focused rallies organized by the AFL-CIO and dozens of other groups. The protests focus on challenging policies that favor billionaires over working families, with demonstrations planned to coincide with traditional Labor Day celebrations across the country. Source: axios.com

Grid operators are deploying synchronous compensators and advanced technologies to maintain grid stability as renewable energy sources increase. These rotating machines provide essential grid inertia and frequency control that traditional power plants once supplied, helping prevent blackouts in high-renewable grids. Source: bloomberg.com

New York utilities are implementing grid-enhancing technologies to improve transmission efficiency and reliability while reducing costs for ratepayers. These advanced systems optimize power flow, reduce congestion, and enhance grid monitoring capabilities without requiring extensive new infrastructure construction. Source: utilitydive.com

Google has partnered with Kairos Power to develop 500 megawatts of advanced small modular nuclear reactors by 2035, with the first unit coming online by 2030. The deal represents a major tech company investment in clean, reliable baseload power to meet growing AI and data center energy demands. Source: foxbusiness.com

Industry expert argues that skilled trades offer the most secure career path in an era of automation and remote work, as these jobs require hands-on expertise and physical presence that cannot be replicated by AI or performed remotely. Electrical work, construction, and other trades remain essential and irreplaceable. Source: forconstructionpros.com

Federal agencies are scaling back scientific integrity policies designed to protect researchers from political interference in climate and environmental studies. The changes affect how federal scientists conduct and communicate research related to energy policy, environmental regulations, and infrastructure planning. Source: washingtonpost.com

NECA CEO David Long discusses the current state of the electrical construction industry, addressing workforce challenges, sustainability initiatives, and the partnership between NECA and IBEW in meeting growing demand for skilled electricians across America. Source: youtube.com

Analysis of artificial intelligence's role in advancing sustainability goals, exploring how major tech companies like Google and IBM are leveraging AI technologies to optimize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact in data centers and infrastructure projects that employ IBEW members. Source: sustainabilitymag.com

IBM positions quantum computing as equally transformative as artificial intelligence, with implications for future technology infrastructure and data center development that will require specialized electrical work and skilled IBEW technicians for installation and maintenance. Source: globalventuring.com

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro highlights his administration's creation of 165 new apprenticeships and training of 34,000 apprentices across industries, emphasizing how union growth supports Amazon's $20 billion data center investment creating opportunities for IBEW electrical workers. Source: msn.com

IBEW Local 11 District 5 reports on the implementation of Community Workforce Agreements that ensure union representation on major construction projects, marking significant progress in securing quality jobs and fair wages for electrical workers in the region. Source: ibew11.org

IBEW Local 1837 members held an informational picket at Eversource's Manchester headquarters following months of stalled negotiations for their first contract covering System Operators who manage transmission and distribution electric grids across Eversource's New Hampshire service territory. Source: manchester.inklink.news

A union electrician and vice president of IBEW Local 915 becomes the first Democrat to announce candidacy for Florida Senate District 14 special election, bringing labor union perspective and working-class advocacy to the political race. Source: floridapolitics.com