With 300 of my Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Local 728 brothers and sisters and more than 200 in the local north of me out of work, these are some very dire times. I have called and written my state senator, U.S. senator and congressman—and not one can tell me where the stimulus or infrastructure jobs in my state are.

In May, the news advertised a job fair for a Florida Power & Light solar plant to be built in Martin County. In two days, 8,000 people rolled through. The sad thing is that the nonunion contractor is from out of state and will use nonunion and out-of-state applicants for this two-year construction project. Several tags on vehicles were from South Carolina, the very state whose governor said he wasn’t accepting stimulus money.

Brothers and sisters, we need employment and fair wages from our leaders and politicians, not promises. Where is the stimulus money and projects? Our union contractors are being underbid by out-of-state, nonunion contractors who don’t pay their fair share for health care to their employees. Where are the jobs?

Scott Nolan
Local 728 member, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

The article in the July Electrical Worker, “IBEW Green-Job Training Facilities Around the Country Open Doors to Public,” highlights the current ecological trend toward building environmentally sensitive structures and generating renewable energy. It showcases how the IBEW is ahead of the curve in training the work force that will allow all of this to succeed.

What is not mentioned is the rare opportunity we have to implement a positive shift in basic workplace safety as these construction innovations appear. Providence, R.I., Local 99 is working with groups like the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health to sponsor a policy for jobsite safety named “Green During Construction” that could, and should, be a mandatory component of all green construction. It would require any contractor who bids for work to follow guidelines which would preserve safe air quality while the building is going up. Failure to do so could result in fines or debarment.

Response from the general public has been supportive. The community surrounding the jobsite is reminded that it breathes the same air that we do. There is no reason why that air should be contaminated, and there is no reason why construction workers should be precluded from enjoying protections that the rest of society enjoys.

Patrick Brady
Local 99 member, Providence, R.I.

After attending my first COMET (Construction Organizing Membership Education Training) class, I wanted to go out and let all the nonunion electricians know how much better it is on our side. A short while after being turned out, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve Riverside, Calif., Local 440 as an organizer. On June 24, Joe Mendoza and I held our first COMET class in which we were the instructors, and this is the picture of our members who attended. I would love for all of our members in 440 to know how important it is to organize and inform the unorganized. I have become a firm believer that COMET can be an excellent tool in strengthening our Brotherhood!

Bernie Balland
Local 440 member, Riverside, Calif.