Low Voltage Electricians Strike for First (and Last?) Time in Unit's History

[Omaha Steve]

Electrical workers picketed in Seattle. Local 46 is unusual among IBEW locals in having any effective right to strike at all—and the latest contract offer from the employer association, eight weeks into the strike, would take it away. Photo: Jorge Torres

https://labornotes.org/2024/06/low-voltage-electricians-strike-first-and-last-time-units-history

Update, June 7: Late last night, the union announced that members will have to re-vote June 10-11, due to "an error on the proposal that was presented and voted on." The results of the June 6 vote were not announced, but the union did say it was the biggest turnout in the unit's history.

Members of the limited energy construction unit of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46 in Seattle will be voting June 6 on the latest offer from the contractors’ association, after nearly eight weeks on an unprecedented strike.

The current offer includes wages far below the union’s original demand, nothing on paid holidays except an exploratory committee that might not meet until September—and giving up the right to go on strike ever again.

The 1,023 members of the limited energy unit—mostly specialty electricians, and a few installers—have been on strike since April 11, in an unexpected shake-up of standard-practice contract negotiations.

FULL story at link above.

[unblock]

1. Shocking! Vive la resistance!

I just had some mt. Dew and I'm pretty wired!
Or should I say I'm amped up?
Sorry I could resist.
See now we've come full circuit.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Electricians in Puget Sound region vote down contract offer as strike nears 10 weeks

More than 1,000 electricians in the Puget Sound region will remain on strike after voting to reject a proposal from the National Electrical Contractors Association that would have offered higher pay but could have taken away the electricians’ right to strike.

The strike, which began April 11, has lasted nearly 10 weeks and has disrupted construction at major job sites, including Microsoft and Amazon office buildings.

The offer from the contractors was not endorsed by the limited energy electricians’ union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 46, and nearly 90% of the union’s members who voted were against it.

The electricians are asking the National Electrical Contractors Association for paid holidays, higher pay and increased safety measures like ensuring radios are available to workers on all job sites.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/puget-sound-area-electricians-on-strike-for-weeks-vote-down-proposed-contract/