President’s Message – August 2024

Excited for the Future

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

As we come off the recent Democratic National Convention, I am excited for the future of this great union. To hear the current President and future President of this great nation speak about the IBEW as the leader of the electrical industry is a proud moment for us all. Even our IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper was given time to speak on the stage and represent our membership, while highlighting the partnership the IBEW has with this current administration. If this doesn’t fire you up I don’t know what will. This will be the biggest election to date for us. It is time to step up, get involved, and make a difference in getting the team of Harris/Walz elected to the highest office of our nation.

Speaking of getting involved, I encourage everyone to become more active in your unit. The calendar for all of our unit meetings is available on our website ibew11.org. At the meetings you can get the most up-to-date info on what’s going on in your area. Also, you can use these meetings to build a relationship with the Business Agent, Organizer, and other rank and file members that live in the same district as you. Get comfortable with asking the questions you may have about the union or job site concerns you may have. The more knowledge you have, the stronger you are as a union member.

Lastly, I’d like to encourage all of our members and your families to please schedule your annual exam with your doctor. This helps to stay on top of your health by doing preventative maintenance on your body. You have to treat your body the same as you would your vehicle. We schedule regular oil changes—we don’t wait until the engine starts to knock before we change the oil (well maybe some apprentices do haha. Kidding). Your body is a machine and should be firing on all cylinders. A scheduled surgery is a lot lower cost to the plan than a last-minute emergency surgery. We all work hard to enjoy life with our families, let’s do all we can to be here for them in the long haul.

As always, I am honored to serve as your President.

In Solidarity,

Alton Wilderson
IBEW Local 11
President