International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Basic facts
Location:| Washington, D.C.
Type:| 501(c)(5)
Top official:| Lonnie R. Stephenson, President
Year founded:| 1891
Website:| Official website

## Contents

* 1 Mission
* 2 History
* 3 Work
* 4 Lobbying
* 5 Ballot measures
* 6 Leadership
* 7 Finances
* 8 Recent news
* 9 See also
* 10 External links
* 11 Footnotes

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit labor union. One of the largest unions in the world, the IBEW is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The union bargains collectively for its members and lobbies on behalf of policies it believes will benefit workers.

## Mission[edit]

According to its website:[1]

“  | The objects of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers® are: To organize all workers in the entire electrical industry in the United States and Canada, including all those in public utilities and electrical manufacturing, into local unions; To promote reasonable methods of work; To cultivate feelings of friendship among those of our industry; To settle all disputes between employers and employees by arbitration (if possible); To assist each other in sickness or distress; To secure employment; To reduce the hours of daily labor; To secure adequate pay for our work; To seek a higher and higher standard of living; To seek security for the individual; And, by legal and proper means, to elevate the moral, intellectual, and social conditions of our members, their families, and dependents, in the interest of a higher standard of citizenship.[2] | ”

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## History[edit]

The IBEW was established in 1891, when the American Federation of Labor, now a part of the AFL-CIO granted the union a charter with jurisdiction over electrical workers.[1]

Following political and technological changes in the 1980s, IBEW membership declined from its peak of 1,000,000 to around 750,000. In a 2005 publication, the IBEW counted 947 local union affiliates across the United States and Canada, which made them "one of the largest unions in the world."[1]

## Work[edit]

The IBEW is a 501(c)(5) nonprofit labor union. The union engages in collective bargaining for the electrical workers who compose its membership. Its members come from a variety of fields such as: utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.It is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress.[3][1][4]

With its political and legislative affairs department, the IBEW "maintains liaison with the legislative branch of the U.S. government and coordinates all efforts toward presenting the IBEW’s views and desires for the benefit of all the workers of the United States to Congress and regulatory agencies." Beyond lobbying efforts, the IBEW aims to educate and register voters. It also maintains a political fund, which reports to the Federal Election Commission and makes political contributions.[1]

The IBEW publishes a monthly magazine, the IBEW Journal, which is sent around North America and aims to keep members informed about things happening around the union and major developments in labor and government affairs.[1]

## Lobbying[edit]

The IBEW is a registered lobbyist with the United States House of Representatives.[5]

## Ballot measures[edit]

The following are a selection of ballot measures engaged by the union:

* Opposed California Proposition 7, Standards for Renewable Resource Portfolios (2008)
* Opposed California Proposition 45, Required Public Notice for Health Insurance Rate Changes Initiative (2014)

## Leadership[edit]

The following are the leaders of the IBEW:[4][6][7]

* Lonnie R. Stephenson, International President
* Salvatore J. Chilia, International Secretary-Treasurer
* William F. Daniels, International Vice President, First District
* Michael P. Monahan, International Vice President, Second District
* Donald C. Siegel, International Vice President, Third District
* Kenneth W. Cooper, International Vice President, Fourth District
* Joseph S. Davis, International Vice President, Fifth District
* David Ruhmkorff, International Vice President, Sixth District
* Steven M. Speer, International Vice President, Seventh District
* Jerry Bellah, International Vice President, Eighth District
* John J. O'Rourke, International Vice President, Ninth District
* Brent E. Hall, International Vice President, Tenth District
* Curtis E. Henke, International Vice President, Eleventh District
* Robert W. Pierson, Chair

## Finances[edit]

The following is a breakdown of the IBEW's revenue and expenses for 2010-2013:

Annual revenue and expenses for the IBEW, 2010-2013

Tax Year  | Total Revenue  | Total Expenses
2013[8] | $151,756,983 | $155,047,701
2012[8] | $149,145,798 | $159,265,562
2011[3] | $137,150,978 | $157,561,888
2010[3] | $138,553,227 | $142,596,395

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms IBEW International Brotherhood Electrical Workers. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - Google News

## See also[edit]

* 501(c)(5)
* Nonprofit organization
* AFL-CIO

## External links[edit]

* IBEW
* IBEW on Twitter
* IBEW on Facebook
* IBEW on YouTube

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 IBEW, "History & Structure," accessed January 26, 2016
2. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 GuideStar, "International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IRS Form 990 (2011)," accessed January 26, 2016
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 IBEW, "Who We Are," accessed January 26, 2016
5. ↑ U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, "Lobbying Disclosure," accessed January 26, 2016
6. ↑ IBEW, "Who We Are, IEC," accessed January 26, 2016
7. ↑ IBEW, "Who We Are, IVP," accessed January 26, 2016
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 GuideStar, "International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed January 26, 2016

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