The IBEW represents thousands of government employees. While their work locations and job duties vary wildly from shipbuilding to general building maintenance, they have one thing in common – they’re all highly skilled. The Political/Legislative Affairs Department works with the Government Employees Department constantly monitoring matters that would negatively impact our members like pay and benefit reductions, downsizing and furloughs. The Department also lobbies for additional work for our government employees through securing funding for shipbuilding and other government projects.

The IBEW represents many workers in the manufacturing industry. These members work for companies of all sizes, produce a wide array of products, electrical, and electronic components. For several decades now, free trade agreements and climate change regulations have impacted the manufacturing branch. The Political/Legislative Affairs Department works to impact legislative and regulatory decisions that affect our manufacturing branch by lobbying for fair trade and commenting on regulations that would negatively impact our members.  

From major television networks to small production companies, from HBO to PBS, the IBEW represents thousands of members who are an integral part of the broadcasting business. The IBEW Political/Legislative Affairs Department works with the Broadcasting & Recording Department on various regulatory and legislative issues including tax treatment for workers employed in several states throughout the year, safety issues, and proposed Federal regulations. 

IBEW members are a significant part of maintaining the safety and efficiency of our rail system. In addition to railroad electricians, the IBEW represents communications technicians that perform work with microwave, radio, telephone, and other communication devices. The Political/Legislative Affiars Department works with the Railroad Department on various issues but perhaps most importantly legislation that impacts the funding of U.S. railways. 

In the utility industry, the IBEW represents linemen, groundmen, equipment operators, boiler operators, maintenance mechanics, electricians, welders, control room operators, and dispatchers (just to name a few classifications). Because of this wide range of members, the Political/Legislative Affairs Department has a lot of work to do with the Utilities Department. The departments work together on legislative and regulatory issues impacting the membership. From the Clean Power Plan and other standards to permitting for new generation facilities, the departments work together for the benefit of our membership.