Environmental groups can help ensure the creation of good, sustainable jobs that are focused on transitioning to carbon-free energy and quality craftsmanship of work, by advocating for union labor to local governments, school districts and transit authorities as they move toward electrification of facilities and vehicles.
In June 2022, Dan Taylor, ExCom member of the Falls of the James group and also Regional Field Organizer with BlueGreen Alliance, reached out to the Chapter in order to establish a connection with Don Slaiman, member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26. The BlueGreen Alliance unites labor unions and environmental organizations to solve today’s environmental challenges in ways that create and maintain quality jobs and build a clean, thriving, and equitable economy.
Slaiman arranged a July tour of the union’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) facility in Lanham Md., which is responsible for the training of the electrical and telecommunication workers employed by all signatory contractors of Local Union 26 IBEW covering the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and Central to Southwestern Virginia.
The Chapter extended the invitation to neighboring Chapters and partners, resulting in a group that included Sierra Club members from the Virginia, Maryland and DC Chapters; Chispa Md., Labor Network for Sustainability, Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition, a VA District 40 representative, Adele McClure- candidate for VA District 2 House of Delegates, and various IBEW electrical contractors.
The tour offered an opportunity for organizations to build new relationships around clean energy jobs for electricians, such as installation of electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, heat pumps and LED lighting. Attendees had the opportunity to view work/learning spaces, including indoor and outdoor electrical and solar infrastructure equipment. The tour concluded with a tasty lunch, and time for making new connections between the environmental and labor groups.
“It was an absolutely incredible opportunity. We toured their facility of training equipment/classrooms…had lunch…and then had a conversation about what collaborations could look like.”
“...A great experience all around. It will be interesting to see what comes together from the synergies.”