Simply CLICK HERE or scan the QR Code below to quickly and easily email your State Senator and State Representative.

Member Flyer_UI for Striking Workers

Named in honor of longtime IBEW 2222 Business Agent Eddie Hastings, the Eddie Hastings Service Award will be presented to Local 2222 members who go above and beyond in service to others. Eddie lived to help others, both at his job and in all areas of his life. If you know of a member who exemplifies commitment to service, please fill out the nomination form below. All nominations will be reviewed and voted on by the Executive Board. Winners will receive a plaque, and have a $100 dollar donation in their name, and in Eddie’s memory, to a charity of their choice.

Location nominating of

Members Name *

First

Last

Work Location *

Your Name *

First

Last

Work Location *

Brief description of why you are nominating this member for the Eddie! *

Submit

IBEW T-6 and Verizon reach an agreement on a 50% discount for Verizon Wireless plans for active employees

Wireless Discount Communication

The IBEW 2222 Committee On Political Education (C.O.P.E.) discussed requests for endorsement and financial support for candidates seeking office. The committee has unanimously agreed to continue our policy of endorsing only those officials and candidates who actively support our organization and our efforts.

We are focusing our endorsements on Senate and Legislative candidates who have signed on to our Bills to organize State House Legislative staffers. Moreover, it is important for candidates to express their support for our bill aiming to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers. These bills are necessary not only for the long-term survival of our local but also for the well-being of our members and bargaining team in the event of a strike.

We believe that the success of these legislative efforts is crucial for our Union, and we invite you to join us in our efforts. Your support can make a significant impact on the success of our bills.

If you have not done so already, please consider joining COPE and contributing to these efforts. Your involvement will play a crucial role in advancing our cause and ensuring that we have elected officials who genuinely support the needs and concerns of our Members and their families.

Name *

First

Last

Date *

Last 4 of SSN (Please - only last 4) *

Local Amount only

IBEW Local No. *22222222

Electronic Signature - Type Your Name *

Amount *$0.00$1.00$3.00$5.00$7.00$9.00

Consent *

• I hereby authorize the company to deduct from any pay the amount indicated above for each pay period worked and to forward that amount to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Committee on Political Education. This authorization is given voluntarily and not out of any fear of reprisal and on the understanding that IBEW-COPE is engaged in a joint fund raising effort with the AFL-CIO, will use the money contributed to that effort to make political contributions and expenditures in connection with federal and state elections, and that this voluntary authoriztion may be revoked at anytime by notifying the company in writing of a desire to do so. Contributions or gifts to IBEW-COPE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Submit

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact COPE at IBEW2222cope@gmail.com 

Pam Cox, Executive Director, Environment, Health, and Safety for VZ, emailed employees last year with information related to blood testing to detect the presence of lead. Very few members have been tested, but of those who have, some have been found to have elevated lead levels. For your safety, if you have worked around lead, get tested.

To set up a test, please CLICK HERE, or see your supervisor. Each employee will have up to 4 hours of paid time to complete the test.

Please see your steward or call the Union Office with any questions. 617-929-6000

Mass-Care-Medicare-for-All

So, you decided to run for office. Lawyers and businesspeople do it every day. Your union is asking working people to step up and so you are.

Now what?

Some people planned to run for office from the day they were born. They volunteered for campaigns in high school, went to a fancy college and then law school and have wealth or connections to wealthy people.

This article isn’t for them.

Answer ‘Why You?’

The first and most important step is to have an answer for the question “Why are you seeking to make a difference?” Your answer only needs to be short, memorable and true.

For some people, it will be the idea that people who work for a living should have a voice in the decisions that get made here. As a union member, you speak for a community that needs to be spoken for and often isn’t. In your reason why, you will find your message, and then you will repeat it hundreds, maybe thousands of times. Make sure you like it.

That said, running for office isn’t about the words; it’s all about relationships. The best message won’t win against strong relationships. Unfortunately, the best time to build connections is a lot like the best time to plant a tree: 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.

“The best candidates are often the ones who are asked to run because of the work they’ve already been doing,” said Ninth District International Representative Gretchen Newsom. An example in San Diego is a mom who sought to have a stop sign installed at a busy intersection — she cut through years of red tape, got it done, and was asked to run for City Council. Tasha Boerner is now a California Assembly member and continues to be a close ally of the IBEW.

Talk to Your Business Manager

This is especially important if you were not born rich or haven’t been deeply involved in politics.

“You might not have those relationships, but the business manager or president of your local probably will,” said Fourth District International Representative Steve Crum.

The business manager will also help you understand how to get support from the local, in people and money, and when you can speak to the membership.

“Your local is your base,” Crum said.

Pick the Right Office

You need to identify a position you can realistically win where you can you do the most good for the most people.

“There are so many positions that have a direct impact on union jobs that are overlooked,” Newsom said. “School boards, community planning boards, community councils, business development councils, chambers of commerce, citizens bond oversight boards, township trustees and county commissioners. And don’t forget your local.”

Many of these positions handle bids and zoning. Each is a part of the often hidden but hugely important machinery that decides whether your local tax money stays local or goes out of town to nonunion contractors.

Know the Numbers, and Make a Plan

The next step is to learn some basic numbers and never lose sight of them.

When is Election Day? How many registered voters are there? What was the turnout and vote breakdown of your race for the last two election cycles? How many votes do you need to win?

Then, Crum said, find the key organizations and the key community events.

Talk to your Central Labor Council and the Building Trades to find opportunities to speak to members of other unions and get endorsements. Listen at least as much as you talk.

You have your deadlines. You know how many votes you need. You know how many doors are waiting to be knocked on.

The best teacher may be experience, but it doesn’t have to be just your own experience.

Across the country, the AFL-CIO runs Labor Candidate Schools. The one in New Jersey has been running classes for nearly three decades, and more than 75% of the 1,000 people who have graduated from the program won their races.

But you don’t have to live in New Jersey to go to candidate school. There are highly effective programs in Oregon and Ohio, and the AFL-CIO is expanding them nationwide. Call your state AFL-CIO to find out what is on offer.

Do the Work

Now there is nothing to do but do it.

Knock on those doors.

Make those phone calls.

Then do it again. And again.

We’re working people. Work.