July 19, 2019

Brothers & Sisters,

IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson is asking that all IBEW members take action to fight a proposal under consideration in the U.S Department of Labor (DOL).  The proposal would establish a system in which a non-union contractor could recognize its own “apprenticeship program” that would not be subject to many of the same requirements that IBEW DOL recognized apprenticeships are.  Currently the construction industry is temporarily exempted from the proposal. There is great concern that this exemption will not be part of the final regulation.  Nonunion builders are eager to eliminate it, opening up the industry to apprenticeships with lower standards and greater risks. 

All IBEW members are being asked to submit comments to the DOL in support of the construction industry exemption.

According to President Stephenson, ““The IBEW and our brothers and sisters in the building trades already run the most exemplary training programs in the country, building a workforce that commands industry-wide respect and is paid accordingly. We depend on each other’s advanced skills and commitment to safety to ensure that our projects are a source of pride and that we all go home in good health at the end of the day,” he said. “The workforce could change in detrimental ways if the construction industry isn’t exempted permanently from the new rule.”

IBEW International President Stephenson is asking that all IBEW members their families and friends mobilize by submitting comments to the DOL in support of the construction industry exemption.  The IBEW has set up the website www.saveibewapprenticeships.org with a prewritten letter to submit your comments to the DOL. 

Go to the site click on the third option “Other” IBEW member and fill out the form and click submit.  Go there by clicking here.

This proposal directly impacts IBEW members, their families and friends.  IBEW members are responsible for our country’s infrastructure and emergency response systems.  The IBEW prides itself on working safe and its training programs. 

We must all stand united and make our voices heard to make sure the standards IBEW members have established are protected.

“Whether you’re an apprentice or journeyman or a brother and sister in other sectors who understands the value of building projects being in the hands of the highest-quality workers who put a premium on safety, please join with us to make sure it stays that way,” Stephenson said.  Join us by going to www.saveibewapprenticeships.org.

We must stop the bureaucrats in Washington who are trying to destroy our standards with their assault on IBEW training programs. An attack on any member of the IBEW is an attack on all of the Sisters and Brothers of the IBEW. 

TAKE ACTION NOW BY CLICKING HERE.

Instructions can be found here.