Challenging Times Call for Extraordinary Efforts

We are living in challenging times. In just the past eight months, the Trump administration has already terminated over 223 clean energy projects totaling some $7.5 billion that had previously been awarded by the Dept. of Energy. Thousands of jobs for IBEW members in California are being impacted, including grid transmission upgrades, battery storage, carbon capture and clean energy grants to universities. One of the most significant cuts is $1.2 billion for the ARCHES hydrogen plant in Long Beach. How do we fight back?

We begin with Prop. 50, the Nov. 4 ballot initiative that will help level the playing field in next year’s midterm elections. We are encouraging our members to vote YES on Prop. 50 to save their jobs and keep our clean energy future on track. We have created a social media toolkit with 6 reasons IBEW members should vote YES on Prop. 50. You can find the toolkit here.

We have also taken the step to ensure we have a strong labor ally and friend in the governor’s mansion next year. We have voted to endorse Antonio Villaraigosa in that race, joining the state Building Trades in that endorsement. 

I also want to take a moment to congratulate our new CSAEW Vice President Brian Holt, Business Manager from Bakersfield IBEW 302. We will feature Brian in next month’s newsletter. 

And, finally, I want to welcome Dr. Kimberly Moore as the new head of our joint Manufacturing Training Program. You can read our interview with Dr. Moore in the news section of this website.

In Solidarity, 

Neal Lauzon 
President CSAEW