Business Manager’s Message — August 2021
Defeat The Anti-Union Recall
One of the most important issues we’re facing in the next 18 days is the anti-union election aimed at recalling Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 14. That is why I have been going out to the jobsites these past few weeks to talk to many of you about what’s at stake this election. We’ve joined together with some of our other IBEW locals on a solidarity tour to make sure you understand who’s behind this recall, and how these people are not your friends. See our video here.
You should have received your ballot in the mail. But before you make a decision, I want to point out a few things about why union members, and especially IBEW members, should be cautious before casting their vote.
Did you know:
- The recall backers are part of a national network of anti-union interests that includes billionaires, millionaires and special interests who want to roll back your rights as union members.
- These anti-worker forces are spending millions of dollars to attack prevailing wages, project labor agreements, and weaken or eliminate labor laws that protect our pay, our healthcare, retirement and even our safety on the job.
- These backers only care about increasing their profits at your expense.
On the other hand, Gov. Newsom has stood with workers, and helped create the strongest worker protections in the country. He designated us as essential workers during COVID so we could continue to feed our families. He has expanded the state’s EV infrastructure, creating more jobs for us. And he has also signed landmark legislation to crack down on corporations that cheat workers out of basic protections and our ability to join a union. Gov. Newsom proudly stands with workers; that’s why the IBEW is supporting him.
For more on why your fellow union members are voting NO! on this Anti-Worker Recall campaign, click here. And if you didn’t receive your ballot, call (916) 653-6814 for a new one.
On the job front, I’m pleased to report that construction around Los Angeles is starting to pick up, and we are getting more and more calls for members in all classifications, as well as our apprentices. Know that your officers and staff are working hard to make sure that we are collaborating with our brothers and sisters in the Building Trades to get new and more expansive PLA’s to ensure your livelihood well into the future.
As summer winds down and we start to return to in-person meetings, I’m also pleased to inform you that we will be unveiling a new online system that will allow you to participate in our monthly General Meetings from your local District offices. Not only will it save you time, it will allow more of you to participate in running your union.
With life starting to return to “normal,” and the Pfizer vaccine now fully authorized by the FDA, I want to encourage all of our members who have not yet done so, to get vaccinated. The Delta variant continues to run rampant, and we must all do all we can to stop it. Also be aware that if you are not vaccinated, it will begin to impact where you can work. New mandates at hospitals and schools will soon be requiring a vaccine certificate to be able to work in these places.
So be sure to get vaccinated and follow the CDC guidelines on masking and washing your hands to protect your family as well as your work crew. Of course we respect your right to choose whether or not to get vaccinated, but we ask that you trust the science investigating these highly contagious virus strains.
In closing, we hope to see you online at the next General Meeting!
In Solidarity,
Joël Barton
IBEW 11 Business Manager
