For nearly 100 years, the California State Association of Electrical Workers has advocated for the safety and better working conditions for our 83,000 members. We represent women and men in 40 different local unions all across California, and we work on thousands of jobs sites in every community. We build stronger communities with hospitals, schools, skyscrapers and stadiums.. We keep the lights on and the energy flowing as high voltage linemen on the poles during storms. We’re the electrical backbone in all major movie and TV studio productions and in theaters and concert venues across the State.
We collaborate with our elected officials in Sacramento and City Halls advocating for safer working conditions on behalf of our members, building power among our membership and educating the public on electrical safety and power procurement. Our members include a diverse range of classifications and skills – from Inside and Outside Wiremen, Sound Engineers and Technicians, Clerical Workers, Audio Mixers, Stage Managers, Apprentices and more. Our skilled and trained workforce is Union Proud and the best in the industry.
The CSAEW is part of the powerful International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) which represents 820,000 members nationwide.
We are proud of our record of achievements to advance electrical worker priorities, securely power Californian homes, and advance clean renewable energy. But we won’t stop until all workers in the electrical industry are organized with better wages and safe working conditions.
Our work and expertise cover several major categories:
Construction
The construction industry represents the Inside Wireman Branch — the folks who install the electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. To earn their IBEW journeymen title, these electricians have gone through five years of apprenticeship and on-the-job training, insuring that your home, office or workplace are safe place the work. Union installed means safety and assurance. Our highly trained members read blueprints and install and service complex electrical equipment from small to high voltage. “Loose connections” are one of the leading causes of home and industrial electrical fires.
Utility Industry
The Utility industry is where you’ll find our Outside Wiremen, representing linemen, groundsmen, repairmen, machine operators, watch engineers, boiler operators, turbine operators, switchboard operators and dispatchers. In addition, we also represent the radio dispatchers, meter installers, testers, clerical workers, cable splicers and welders all doing their job bringing electricity to our homes.
Sound & Communications
The Sound & Communications Wireman division of the IBEW represents the low voltage electronic and control systems equipment technicians. These are the folks installing the low voltage cabling that is used for video, voice and data or other low voltage signaling. Their duties include: construction and installation, servicing and maintaining sound, pro-audio/video, fire/burglar, security/CCTV, access control, telephone/data and computer systems integration.
BE UNION.
JOIN CSAEW.
How to Join:
If this sounds exciting to you, we hope you will join us. If you’re a non-union electrician, call us to help unionize your workplace. Contact the IBEW Local Union in your area for more information.