Local 11’s Impact: From Leadership Panels to Disaster Relief at EWMC

By Robert Fulton

The 35th Annual Electrical Workers Minority Caucus National Leadership Conference in January certainly had an IBEW Local 11 flavor, from leadership roles to disaster relief aid.

With a conference theme of “Evolving to Embrace Tomorrow,” the EWMC emphasized planning for the future with a strong foundation it has built over the past three decades.

“I thought it went really well,” said Local 11 member Deon Mayes. The Sound & Communications Business Rep attended his 19th conference. “The members were fully engaged.”

As Mayes explained, the EWMC is going through the usual growing pains any organization eventually must confront. Leadership ages, handing the reins to the next generation.

“This is sort of a passing of the torch,” he said. “I think this was the first test for those of us who picked up the torch, and the conference went extremely well. We got a lot of great feedback from folks, so I’m very proud of what we did. I think it went great.”

Local 11 members now hold several roles at the national level of the EWMC. Mayes serves as the treasurer. ETI assistant training director Alan Mora was appointed National EWMC RENEW president, and Joel Greenfield is the RENEW social media secretary.

Local 11 President Alton Wilkerson, a previous EWMC RENEW National President, was presented with an award commemorating his ongoing work to advance the goals of EWMC.

Mayes moderated a panel that included Local 11 Business Manager Robert Corona, and Local 11 Executive Board Chair “Big John” Harriel moderated a panel with Rob Meadows of electrical contractors Morrow-Meadows. They had a frank discussion on the lack of minorities in leadership roles at major contractors.

“How do you get in those rooms, and how do you make yourself valuable?” Harriel said. “He got a chance to speak to them, and they got a chance to ask him questions on why there aren’t many blacks at the top and things of that nature.”

Harriel explained that it takes more than just hard work to advance.

“You have to have some advocates,” he said. “If you don’t have those advocates, people will fall into their biases.”

The EWMC conference took place a week after the Eaton, Palisades and other fires took their toll on the Los Angeles area. In response, Mayes helped organize a fundraiser, raising more than $5,600 for IBEW members in need.

“We spoke to the board saying, hey, this is going on right now,” Mayes said. “We can make a difference if everybody here donates a little bit.”

For Local 11’s Victor Lambaren, last month’s conference was his first with EWMC. Lambaren has been an IBEW member since 2012. He’s been involved with the Latin American Electrical Workers Association but unfamiliar with the EWMC. Local 11 Business Manager Robrt Corona sent two members of the LAEWA as delegates to the St. Louis conference.

Lambaren said the conference “was an awesome experience” and that he “felt very at home.”

“It felt very all-inclusive,” he said. “I felt the Brotherhood from different people all over the country.”

Lambaren was organized into the union from a non-union employer. The structure and the brotherhood of IBEW stand out for him. He plans to get more involved with the EWMC.

Mayes was pleasantly surprised by the energy at the conference, taking place the weekend before the start of the second Trump administration.

“I was a little concerned, personally, that with the results of the national election hanging over, that the mood would be somewhat somber, but I can tell you, there was a lot of energy,” Mayes said. “There was no moping around. There was no sense that people were ready to give up. I got nothing but positive feedback from members. And this is a conference where if things are going wrong, you know about it.

The EWMC is designed to “Promote equity, equal opportunity and employment for minorities and underrepresented workers at all levels of the IBEW,” according to its mission. The organization also fosters leadership.

“I really believe in the organization and its mission,” Mayes said. “I don’t believe in holding these positions forever. These are stepping stones for other members to learn how to navigate these types of situations. I don’t know how much longer I’ll continue, but I’m happy to do the work.”