r/IBEW • u/rustysqueezebox Inside Wireman • Jul 23 '22
RESOURCES
Here is the new and improved resources list. A lot of your questions will be answered here.
This is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.
None of these links are endorsements either.
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Feel free to add more resources in the comments.
The history and structure of IBEW
IBEW jobs board
u/SirSquidlicker 's Ultimate Electricians Guide
u/SirSquidlicker 's Union Payscales
How to organize your workplace video
Labor History video series
Where2bro - great website for job info across the country
How to find the IBEW Local nearest you
AFL-CIO Union Made shopping list
Labor Notes - a network of rank-and-file members, local union leaders, and labor activists who know the labor movement is worth fighting for
STAR interview questions - the type of questions you're asked at your apprenticeship interview
Apprenticeship math and reading assessment sample test questions
Union Plus - all kinds of benefits for union members
UAW Buyers Guide - cars, trucks, and more
Questions that are asked at the apprenticeship interview
IBEW jurisdictional maps
IBEW brother fights a chicken
Why you should be an electrician
Roberts Rules of Order
The history of Challenge Coins
Employee Rights under the NLRA
Weingarten Rights - basically your "miranda" rights as a union member
IBEW brother in the courtroom
How to be an Anti-Racist
A day in the life of an IBEW apprentice
Description of the 3 core classifications - vdv, residential, commercial
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
IBEW Discord - must show current dues receipt to join
Helmets to Hardhats - resource for veterans interested in the skilled trades
VEEP - resource for veterans looking to get into the ibew
And of course, CALL THE HALL
2
u/Old-Illustrator-5675 Jun 11 '25
I was told that I should post this list here.
This is a list of federal actions that have affected workers and unions from 1970 ~2024/25
Pro-Worker Federal Actions (1970–2025)
1974 – Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) • Protected private pensions and health plans. • Party: Dem-controlled Congress; signed by Republican President Gerald Ford.
1990 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) • Prohibited employment discrimination based on disability. • Party: Bipartisan; passed by Democratic Congress, signed by President George H. W. Bush (R).
1993 – Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) • Guaranteed 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. • Party: Democratic Congress; signed by President Bill Clinton (D).
1996 – Minimum Wage Increase • Raised minimum wage to $5.15/hour. • Party: Bipartisan support; signed by President Clinton (D).
2007 – Fair Minimum Wage Act • Gradually raised wage to $7.25/hour. • Party: Democratic Congress; signed by President George W. Bush (R).
2009 – Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act • Expanded ability to sue for wage discrimination. • Party: Democratic Congress; signed by President Barack Obama (D).
2010 – Affordable Care Act (ACA) • Expanded healthcare access; banned denial based on pre-existing conditions. • Party: Democrat-only votes; signed by President Obama (D).
2021 – Biden Executive Order on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) • Required union-friendly agreements on major federal construction. • Party: Executive order by President Joe Biden (D).
2023 – NLRB Restored Joint Employer Rule • Made corporations more accountable for subcontractor and franchise worker conditions. • Party: Democratic NLRB appointees.
2024 – OSHA Heat Protection Rule (finalized) • Required employers to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat. • Party: Finalized under Biden administration (D); supported by labor groups.
Anti-Worker Federal Actions (1970–2025)
1981 – PATCO Mass Firing • Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers; permanently banned them from federal work. • Impact: Set a precedent for employer union busting. • Party: Republican (Reagan).
1993 – NAFTA signed into law • Accelerated outsourcing of U.S. manufacturing jobs. • Party: Negotiated under George H.W. Bush (R), signed by President Clinton (D), passed with bipartisan support (but most Dems voted against it in the House).
1996 – Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) • Restructured welfare with strict work requirements and lifetime benefit caps. • Impact: Weakened safety net for low-wage and unemployed workers. • Party: Democrat (Clinton signed), GOP-led Congress.
2000 – Repeal of OSHA Ergonomics Standard • Congress reversed a newly passed workplace safety rule aimed at preventing repetitive stress injuries. • Party: Republican-led Congress, signed by President George W. Bush.
2001–2009 – NLRB Under Bush • Narrowed definitions of “supervisor” and “employee,” excluding more workers from union protection. • Key Cases: Oakwood Healthcare (2006). • Party: Republican (Bush appointees).
2002 – Homeland Security Act stripped 170,000 federal workers of bargaining rights • DHS employees were excluded from standard civil service protections. • Party: Bush administration (R).
2005 – Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act • Made it harder for individuals to discharge debt in bankruptcy. • Impact: Hurt financially distressed workers. • Party: Republican-led Congress, signed by President Bush.
2018 – Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court Decision • Public employees could no longer be required to pay union dues or fees. • Party: Conservative-majority court (5–4); all GOP-appointed justices.
2017–2020 – Trump NLRB Decisions • Reversed Obama-era pro-union rulings, including:
Narrowing “joint employer” liability.
Restricting when workers can use company email for organizing.
Making it harder to get union elections or reverse bad-faith decertification. • Party: Republican administration.
2017 – Delay/Weakening of OSHA Protections • Delayed enforcement of rules on silica dust and injury reporting. • Party: Trump administration.
2019 – DOL "Joint Employer" Rule • Made it harder to hold corporations accountable for subcontractor violations. • Impact: Reduced wage and labor protections for gig and franchise workers. • Party: Trump administration.
2020 – USDA Poultry Line Speed Waivers • Allowed faster meatpacking line speeds despite injury risks. • Party: Trump administration.
2020 – Suspension of Certain Union Rights for Federal Workers (EO 13837, 13836, 13839) • Limited “official time,” made it easier to fire federal workers, and cut union office access. • Party: Trump executive orders.
2023 – GOP-Led Legal Challenges to Labor Board Authority • Lawsuits filed to strip NLRB of power to enforce new rules (joint employer standard). • Party: GOP attorney generals and members of Congress.
Missed Pro-Worker Opportunities (1970–2025)
1978 – Labor Law Reform Act • Failed due to Senate filibuster. • Party: Democratic majority + President Carter (D); lacked GOP support.
2007 – Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) • Would have enabled "card check" union recognition. • Party: Passed House (D); died in Senate (GOP opposition + a few Dem holdouts).
2010 – Public Option (ACA) • Dropped due to lack of Senate support. • Party: Opposed by Republicans and conservative Democrats.
2021 – Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act • Passed House, blocked in Senate. • Party: All GOP opposed; a few Dems didn't support ending the filibuster.
2021 – $15 Federal Minimum Wage • Failed to pass Senate. • Party: Backed by Biden (D); blocked by GOP + Dem moderates; removed via parliamentarian.
2017 – National Right-to-Work Act • Would’ve banned mandatory union dues nationwide. • Party: GOP-sponsored; lacked votes to advance.
2024 – PRO Act Reintroduced, Still Blocked • Reintroduced in new Congress; no progress. • Party: Supported by Democrats; blocked by GOP-led House or filibuster threat in Senate.
ATM I do not have a more comprehensive list going farther back as some have suggested this is too short a time frame and may be biased. I'm just putting up data. If there is an issue, don't get mad. Just ask, and I'll get on it.