Weekly roundup of labor news covering union organizing victories, contract negotiations, workplace safety issues, and political advocacy efforts across various industries and sectors nationwide.

IBEW leaders and members attending the Government Affairs Conference conducted 176 meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, advocating for the PRO Act, apprenticeship standards, and revival of canceled infrastructure projects.

New Orleans Local 130 establishes the Sparky Sisters Women's Committee to support current women members, recruit the next generation, and address workplace culture issues in the trades through mentorship and leadership opportunities.

Trump administration policies have led to cancellation of at least 300 energy and transportation construction projects worth $236 billion, representing 255,000 lost construction jobs as tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act are gutted.

Electrical contractors and local union members donated $15,000 to support a community food bank, demonstrating the industry's commitment to community service and helping families in need during the holiday season.

Baltimore IBEW Local 24 fights to save offshore wind projects after Trump administration cuts $700 million in funding and issues stop-work orders. The article examines how these policies threaten thousands of union jobs at Maryland's Sparrows Point Steel offshore wind hub, eliminate clean energy supply that would power hundreds of thousands of homes, and contribute to rising electricity costs nationwide.

Boston Local 103 JATC instructor Thomas Spellman shares his 35-year journey in the IBEW, from childhood dreams inspired by union electrician uncles, through a workplace injury at a non-union shop, telecommunications apprenticeship, work on Boston's Big Dig and at Logan Airport on 9/11, to becoming a full-time instructor training the next generation of electrical workers.

IBEW members conducted intensive get-out-the-vote efforts in New Jersey and Virginia's November 2025 elections, helping elect pro-worker governors and substantial majorities in state legislatures. The campaigns emphasized how union rights, collective bargaining, PLAs, and worker wages were directly at stake in these crucial odd-year elections.

International Executive Council Chairman Chris Erikson retires after a 50-year IBEW career, including nearly 20 years leading New York Local 3's 30,000+ members. Grandson of legendary Local 3 Business Manager Harry Van Arsdale Jr., Erikson championed diversity, mentored young leaders nationwide, and helped maintain union wages at $141/hour while serving as IEC chairman for a decade.

IBEW members achieved significant electoral victories in November 2025, winning positions from town councils to state assemblies. Features profiles of three member-winners: Stephen Nowicki (Cheektowaga, NY town council), Naomi Hewitt (Fairbanks school board), and Ritch Kurtenbach (Black Hawk County, Iowa supervisor), demonstrating how union members bring worker perspectives directly into government.