From Congress to Bond Measures, Local 11 Made its Voice Heard

With the Nov. 5 election in the rearview mirror, IBEW Local 11 Business Manager Robert Corona stresses unity moving forward despite any political differences.

“Campaign season is over, let us focus on our core mission – organize the unorganized and fight like hell for working families,” Corona said. “IBEW Local 11 members will still face the same issues, and we need to come together to conquer them.

“Now more than ever, we will need to unite in solidarity and continue the fight for what is important to our IBEW family – prevailing wage laws, workplace safety and protections, and the right to organize and bargain collectively.”

The results of the Nov. 5 Presidential election saw several victories thanks in large part to the efforts and dedication of Local 11 members.

George Whitesides defeated Mike Garcia to win California’s 27th Congressional District

After weeks of Local 11 brothers and sisters knocking on doors and handing out flyers in an effort to elect George Whitesides and defeat Mike Garcia, we got the word late that our hard work paid off. Garcia, who consistently voted against legislation that would empower workers, has been sent packing in favor of Whitesides, who promise to fight for us.

School Bonds

From the Antelope Valley High School District to Burbank USD, to Long Beach City College, all the school construction bonds on the ballot in LA County are highly likely to be approved. The result is billions of dollars of public work projects that will be coming soon. And it gets better. Almost 20 local school bonds that will be approved will be covered by a project labor agreement and will be leveraged with state dollars. These election results will bring more local work for our members.

The biggest of these school bonds is Los Angeles Unified School District‘s Measure US, also called the “Local Public Schools Safety and Upgrades Measure.” This is a $9 billion bond to upgrade and improve school facilities. Widespread campus modernization will lead to construction jobs. More than 60 percent of school buildings are more than 50 years old and in need of improvements.

Also noteworthy is Measure AC in Long Beach, a college facilities bond measure to complete repairs and upgrades to Long Beach City College facilities. Also called the “Long Beach Community College District affordable education, classroom repair, career and first responder training improvement measure,” AC will authorize $990,000,000 in bonds. The measure will create numerous job opportunities

Measure A

In addition, LA County voters are also likely to approve Measure A. Measure A funds will help combat homelessness and build affordable housing, under a project labor agreement. This is our way back into the residential market. Also called the “Affordable Housing, Homelessness Solutions and Prevention Now” measure, Measure A will replace a quarter-cent sales tax with a half-cent sales tax to help fund housing and homeless services. Money from the tax, forecast to generate about $1.2 billion annually, will go toward affordable housing, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment, among other homeless services.

State ballot measure Proposition 2

Proposition 2 passed, a $10 billion school facilities construction bond and endorsed by IBEW Local 11.