Category Archives: IBEW Local 24

Members Needed To Show Support For US Wind, Clean Energy Jobs

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Local 24 IBEW has been partnering with US Wind in efforts to facilitate the permitting and approval process for an offshore wind farm here in Maryland.


Your help is needed now, and we are asking Local 24 members to show up and state your support for this project at in-person and virtual meetings being held during the next 2 weeks.

In-person public meetings:
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. – Ocean City Elementary, 12828 Center Dr, Ocean City, MD 21842
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. – Indian River High School, 29772 Armory Rd, Dagsboro, DE 19939 

Virtual public meetings:
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. 
Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. 
Registration is required for virtual public meetings – the link is below.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has done a thorough analysis of US Wind’s construction and operations plan. I support Alternative B (Proposed Action) and ask the BOEM to do the same.
As a skilled union electrician, I am qualified to perform this work. This project will provide good jobs for us and many other skilled trades in our region.

Suggested wording for comments

The in-person meetings will be like an open house, with multiple stations set up around a large room, each covering a different subject area (viewshed, birds, marine mammals, etc.). BOEM personnel will be available at each station to answer questions. There will be a separate room next to the main room for registering comments, which can be done by dictating to a BOEM staffer, or “self-service” by typing your comments into a computer or handwriting them.

Registration for the virtual public meetings is required, and can be done here: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_x3ygygooTOSlnrzhiOJYPg#/registration. Please note that BOEM will call on people to testify in the order that they registered online, so please register ASAP if you do not wish to sit through hours of testimony.

Maryland Needs Larger Wind Energy Areas To Meet Climate Goals And Increase Good Jobs

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IBEW Local 24 has made a priority of supporting clean energy initiatives and preparing and training our members to meet the challenges of new energy industries. Offshore wind has been at the forefront of our efforts, and we are working hard to avert a potential setback in Maryland.

WE NEED MEMBERS TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT, TOO!

Find out how at the bottom of this post, and ACT NOW.

Here is what is happening. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently released the final Wind Energy Area (WEA) map for the Central Atlantic, impacting offshore wind development off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and northern North Carolina. The final map has raised concerns and poses these potential setbacks for Maryland:

  1. Decrease in Job Opportunities: The reduction in available leasing areas will lead to a decrease in
    good-paying jobs. The potential for a 5 GW increase in capacity could create 12,800 jobs, but fewer
    leases would result in a significant loss of employment opportunities.

  2. Market Favoritism towards Virginia: The final map disproportionately favors Virginia, allocating half
    of the proposed leasing area to the state. This diminishes Maryland’s potential market size, which
    negatively impacts the incentive for supply chain and manufacturing companies to establish
    operations in Maryland.

  3. Uncertainty in Meeting Clean Energy Goals: The reduction in available leasing areas poses
    uncertainty in meeting Maryland’s clean energy and carbon reduction goals, jeopardizing the state’s
    commitment to sustainable energy.

  4. Presidential Administration Change Risk: The looming risk of a change in the White House in 2024
    could halt future offshore wind development opportunities, adding unpredictability to the industry’s
    future.

  5. Increased Ratepayer Costs: Leases located farther away will incur higher costs, potentially burdening
    ratepayers.

Urging BOEM to revise their maps and provide adequate WEAs for Maryland, Business Manager Michael J. McHale has sent a statement to them, outlining the many reasons for concern.


“As the demand for clean electricity increases along the East Coast, we believe that offshore wind can be revolutionary for Maryland’s economy and the climate goals of the United States. We urge the BOEM to ensure that the development of offshore wind projects aligns with the vision of a sustainable future and continues to create new jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries within the region,” McHale said. “These jobs will play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of Baltimore Metropolitan Area residents, as well as working women and men on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This industry will contribute significantly to building middle class employment opportunities for the Mid-Atlantic Region.”

Local 24 members are asked to add your voices in support of expanding the WEAs by posting a comment before the August 31 deadline – and we are providing you an example below. Click the link now, post your comments, and support offshore wind, clean energy and good jobs for Maryland!

Don’t forget to replace the words IN BOLD with your information!

Hello, I am [INSERT NAME HERE], a member of IBEW Local Union 24 for [HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN A MEMBER HERE]. I am writing to urge the BOEM to adjust the Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) for the Atlantic Continental Shelf. With the signing of the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act, Maryland pledges to develop 8.5 gigawatts of energy by 2031. Currently, the WEAs are not adequate for Maryland to achieve its climate and sustainability goals, as these are estimated to only support 6GW. These WEAs will also have to be shared with neighboring states, which limits the ability for all of us to meet our goals.

This issue is also important for me because I am an Electrical [JOURNEYMAN/APPRENTICE/WORKER], and Offshore Wind in Maryland will create union jobs that will support many working families, such as my own. Diminishing the leasing areas as they are now will disrupt the industry’s investment in Maryland, and negatively affect the amount of work available for the building trades.

So I again request that BOEM expand the leasing areas of WEA B-1 and WEA A-2. Doing so will not only guarantee jobs for working individuals like me, but also keep Maryland and the United States on track to reach all of our sustainable energy goals.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME HERE]

Thank you so much for your help and your continued support.

IBEW Introduces New Government Affairs Website And Newsletter

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“American workers are the heart of the Biden-Harris administration, and the IBEW Government Affairs Newsletter reflects the multitude of ways its policies are helping the middle class prosper and grow,”

I.B.E.W. International President Kenneth Cooper

Since the earliest days of the Biden-Harris administration, the IBEW has been among the staunchest supporters of the Build America Back Better plan and has endeavored to keep members informed about the presidential administration.

To that end, a new website and newsletter have recently been developed by the IBEW Government Affairs Department. These are great new tools that IBEW members can use to stay informed about what the current administration is doing to benefit us and all working people.

Check out the August 2023 edition of the Government Affairs Newsletter or visit the new website at ibewgov.org.

In a letter to IBEW staff and business managers, International President Cooper said “Every day, President Biden recognizes the priority of American workers, collective bargaining, and the labor movement. Whether he is expressing his support for a historic organizing campaign or appointing union members as key personnel in his administration, never has a president been so public in their support of the values that the IBEW holds dear.”

Local 24’s Commitment To Green Energy And Specialized Training Will Create New Opportunities

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The content of this post was published in the August 2023 edition of the I.B.E.W. Government Affairs Newsletter, and is reprinted with permission.

New Initiative Targets Investments, Workforce Growth in Key Cities

With a $2 million grant from the Biden administration and a new state law promoting wind development, Baltimore Local 24 is on the leading edge of the growth potential of offshore wind power.

The Biden administration sees offshore wind development as critical in decarbonizing the electric grid — and the grant is among billions of dollars available to unions, private companies, colleges, and other organizations training workers nationwide to build renewable energy projects and repair aging infrastructure.

The emphasis on training and connecting workers to jobs is critical to the Biden-Harris agenda and key to recently enacted laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Maryland’s state legislature approved a bill in April to increase its offshore wind capacity to 8.5 gigawatts by2031, which is enough to power 6.3 million homes. Energy developers Orsted and US Wind plan to build offshore turbines 20 miles off the coast of Ocean City by 2026.

The grant will help beef up training for building offshore wind turbines, like water safety, CPR, and working correctly over heights. Although IBEW apprenticeships include training in many subjects, “we don’t typically work over water,” said Local 24 Membership Development Specialist Rico Albacarys.

IBEW apprentices already complete several years of supervised work experience and up to 1,000 hours of classroom training to achieve journey-level status. This global wind organization training will be a required add-on certification for the trades. “Everyone that works on the turbines will need it,” Albacarys said. “Offshore wind is a big deal for us locally.”

Now is the time for workforce training, said Baltimore Electrical JATC Training Director Neil Wilford.
The Biden administration designated Baltimore a workforce hub to provide more significant opportunities for residents and underrepresented communities to advance in good jobs and careers in growth industries. Wilford said the IBEW is among several training providers to receive federal grants through the state, including ironworkers, operating engineers, and carpenters.

To capitalize on this moment, Local 24 hired an organizer whose primary responsibility is increasing outreach to city residents, channeling those interested in pre-apprenticeships that give participants exposure to the trades and special consideration for apprenticeships, Albacarys said.

Crews are retrofitting the former Bethlehem Steel plant at Sparrows Point to produce “monopiles,” the ocean-floor bases to which the turbine towers will be secured. Production is set to start in 2025, US Wind said. The site will also stage towers and blades before moving to the offshore construction site.

As funding made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act moves through government channels, the Biden administration selected 16 cities for similar workforce development initiatives.

Local 24 Joins Celebration Of Inflation Reduction Act On Capitol Hill

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Yesterday LU24 Agent Rico Albacarys represented not only us but all of Labor on Capital Hill at the 1-year anniversary celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has already created many clean energy jobs for American workers.

As Rico says in his speech, these jobs “…will provide for American families for decades to come.” Great work, Brother Albacarys!

Check out his speech here – Rico takes the podium at 35:45 of the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW7ahNYn1aI

American workers and our unions are the key to building a new energy economy, and we are ready to get to work.

Rico Albacarys, Local 24 Political Director

Join Us At Union Night Rally In Annapolis

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Local 24 IBEW is proud to take part in Union Night in Annapolis, when our members engage with Maryland’s elected officials and express support or opposition for legislation that is being considered by the General Assembly.

Union Night is an annual event organized by the Metro Baltimore Council AFL-CIO and the Baltimore/D.C. Building Trades Union. It brings together members of many unions, both public and private sector.

Check out the flyer below for more information. Local 24 provides buses for transport from the union hall to Lawyer’s Mall. You can sign up TODAY using our online form or by calling the Hall at 410 247-5511.

IBEW Local 24 and Freestate Electric Are Transforming The CFG Bank Arena

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With the help of the NECA/IBEW Powering America Team, downtown Baltimore is seeing an upgrade to its entertainment options through the CFG Bank Arena renovation. Most residents in Baltimore have their own story to tell about the older arena, and the goal of the Powering America team is to modernize the old arena and get it ready for a new season.

Thanks to Electric TV, who came to Baltimore to spotlight this project!

When it comes to making great memories at concerts, sporting events, and thrilling shows, it’s often the lighting that is the unsung hero of every performance. IBEW Local 24 and Freestate Electric, Maryland NECA Chapter member, are hard at work to give the Arena, a 60 year old concrete building, a much-needed lighting and electrical facelift.

There are 250 electrical workers on the job, from young apprentices to experienced journeymen, in the business of making a difference. With every pull of every wire, every turn of every screw, the men and women in this industry learn from each other, help each other advance, and take care of each other.   Construction activity, union construction activity, is a life force that many residents count on. Our projects are catalysts for economic development not just in Downtown Baltimore, but across the country.

IBEW and NECA create cultures of inclusivity where members of all walks of life are given the opportunity to prosper and find success, no matter race, gender, or orientation. Show up with a good attitude, and you’ll find a brotherhood that helps you take your career as far as you want to take it.   The Electrical Apprenticeship program and projects like the CFG Bank Arena serve to move the electrical industry forward, and it will only continue to grow in 2023.

Annual Substance Testing and Tool/Boot Sale Set For March 9th – 11th

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The annual testing for the Power Partnership Substance Abuse Program is quickly approaching and your drug-free card may be due to expire. The following dates have been scheduled for the testing of Journeyman Wireman, Apprentices, VDV, CW, and CE classifications:

THURSDAY         MARCH 9th, 2022, 3:00 – 6:00 PM

FRIDAY               MARCH 10th, 2022, 3:00 – 6:00 PM

SATURDAY         MARCH 11th 2022, 8:00 – 11:00 AM

All Apprentices and CW’s will be tested at the Electrical Training Center, 2699 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230. Journeyman, VDV and CE’s will be tested at the Union Hall, 2701 W Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore MD 21230. All testing on Saturday will be done at the Electrical Training Center.

 This program is mandatory for the Apprentices and CW’s, it is voluntary for all others. If you wish to test at a time or site more convenient for your schedule, please contact Mobile Medical Corp. at 877-201-7474 to schedule your test. For any employer where substance abuse testing is required, you must have a current Local 24/NECA card. If you took a random test during the course of the year, you are not required to test again for one year from the random testing date.

For Local 24 members that participate in the program there will be a Tool & Boot sale held in the Electrical Training Center. The prices of all tools have been subsidized by the Maryland Electrical Industry Labor Management Cooperative Committee (MEILMCC). Enclosed with this letter is a list of tools with prices. This year, those who participate in the program will be eligible to receive a voucher for $60 off with TheUnionBootPro.com to purchase Union-Made work boots. Please be ready to show your valid test receipt to the LU24 agent present at the Electrical Training Center to receive the voucher. The voucher is good for one pair of boots and expires two weeks from the testing date.

Should you have any questions regarding program procedures, please contact Sam Curreri at the Local Union Office, 410-247-5511. Apprentices and CW’s should contact the JATC at 410-247-3313. We look forward to seeing you there.

JW Licensing Requirements In Maryland To Take Effect Soon

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You may have heard about the Maryland Electricians Act (Senate Bill 762) and the new licensing requirements for electrical work in the State. Here are some key pieces of information:

  • This is a Maryland State law enacted by Legislators in 2021 and revised in 2022
  • There is a grandfather period for those who do not have an apprenticeship certificate that only lasts until December 2022. Afterwards, you will have to take a State Journeyman test to obtain a license.
  • There is no grandfather period for those that have a State Apprenticeship certificate (Union or Non-union) and members who have a certificate can obtain their license at any time without testing.
  • Enforcement of the law is the responsibility of the county in which the project is being performed, and may begin as early as January 1, 2023.
  • The JATC is going to work with apprentices to make sure they all become licensed as well.

The graphic below shows step by step instructions on how to obtain your license. Please follow the instructions and begin registering your license by clicking this link dllr.state.md.us/license/elec/

Call the hall at (410) 247-5511 with any questions.

Navigating Change: SupportLinc Fall Newsletter

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SUPPORTLINC IS A NO-COST, CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOUR ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS 24/7/365

Whether you choose change, or it simply happens, change is a natural part of life and important to individual growth. You might experience a new job, a different living situation or shifting social groups, but navigating change successfully can be a similar process for any situation. Change can be difficult sometimes, but the way you approach it can reduce your stress and anxiety as well as help you bounce back quicker and stronger.

Recognize signs of change
Career changes, growing families, aging or unexpected circumstances can trigger feelings similar to the grieving process. Sadness, excitement, joy, anxiety and even anger are typical emotions that you may feel during periods of change. The more you understand why and how changes affect you, the more easily you will be able to handle changes when you encounter them.

Stay flexible
Resisting change only makes it harder. Being open to adapting helps you avoid some of the stress associated with transitions. Ask yourself, “What am I going to lose if I don’t change?” and “How can I make this work?” What skills do you have that you can apply to the new situation or environment? Expressing curiosity, asking questions and exploring new methods of problem solving can help you be more comfortable with changes.

Practice resiliency
The people that are best able to deal with change in their lives believe in their ability to adapt. Resiliency is about “bouncing back” from life’s challenges, and the ability to adjust to situations around you, especially in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or stress. It’s recognizing that your strengths can help you endure and that you have the capability to approach life’s challenges head-on.

Stick to a routine
When facing the unknown, it’s important to try maintaining a sense of normalcy. For example, when facing changes in the workplace, try focusing on your usual workday routine. Can you still have lunch with a coworker or take your break at the same time each day? Sticking to your daily routines, wherever possible, can help ease the stress and tension you may be feeling during changes and provide a sense of comfort.

Change your perspective
Perspective is the window through which you view life, situations and other people. Even amid challenging times, keeping an optimistic viewpoint is possible and can help you move forward. To change the way you are looking at things, you need to change your emotional and mental inputs. Find sources of positive influence such as books, blogs and podcasts that help you to see the whole picture and find the good in change.

While changes might not always be welcome, they are an important part of personal growth. Take a new perspective and tackle change with a positive mindset, but don’t hesitate to reach out for support if you need it!