41st IBEW Convention Celebrates Growth, Solidarity and New Opportunity
Sept. 28 – Thousands of union Brothers and Sisters gathered at the 41st Annual IBEW International Convention in San Diego last week to celebrate a year of successes and set a course to capitalize on new opportunities and prepare for new challenges.
The symbolism of the setting for this year’s showcase of solidarity was a point of pride for IBEW leaders who celebrated the resurgence of union growth in this once staunchly anti-labor stronghold.
“There are cities with longer histories as a union town, but no place in North America has worked harder or more successfully to become one than San Diego has in the last two decades,” said International IBEW President Kenneth W. Cooper. “We are a confident union in an ambitious moment in our history. This is the right place for our moment in the sun.”
“I hope everyone takes away how much work and fight we’ve put in over the last two decades,” said San Diego Local 569 Business Manager Jeremy Abrams.
The theme throughout the week was momentum. IBEW added 37,000 new members this year, and last year CSAEW’s membership jumped from 83,000 to 104,000.
“Sisters and brothers, this union is on a tear right now,” AFL-CIO President and IBEW Sister Liz Shuler told cheering delegates.
Here are key Convention highlights, which kicked off with an IBEW Day Of Service and featured votes to strengthen the general fund, increase pension and death benefits, offering apprentices earlier membership, and more.
Read More
Delegates Approve Pension, Death Benefit Increases
Delegates Vote to Accelerate Apprentice Membership and Admittance