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" We earnestly invite all workers
belonging to our trade to come forward,
join our ranks and help increase our numbers,
until there is no one left working at our trade
outside our Brotherhood . . ."
Portion of the 1891 preamble to the constitution of the IBEW
When this speech was delivered one in every two electricians died on the job. The industry was growing rapidly and the only education you got was on the job training. Safety was minimal and human life was cheap. Wages were kept low enough to keep the workers needy.
One hundred and nine years later safety, education and the quality of life has improved a great deal for those working under the banner of the IBEW.
Unfortunately, there are still those outside the Brotherhood working for less than what they are worth and less than they are entitled to.
There are still employers that will sacrifice your safety and health to save a dollar. There are still those who will rob you of your daily wages in overtime. There are still those who will cut corners in quality and service at the expense of the customer and your reputation. There are still those who will exploit the young and inexperienced for monetary gain.
As long as there is a need for a safer, cleaner, fair and well paying workplace for the tradesman, the IBEW will have its place in our community.
Hello, my name is Tom Leduc and I'm the business manager for local 1739 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. If you need advice, have questions or want to know how you can build a better workplace for you and your fellow tradesmen, call us, we are here to help. If you want to know how you can secure a better life for you and your family, call us, we are here to help.
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