IBEW 11 Hosts Longtime Labor Ally Schiff in Show of Solidarity

IBEW 11 hosted longtime labor ally U.S. Senator Adam Schiff this month alongside Brothers and Sisters from Local 18, Local 40, and Local 47, and Iron Workers Locals 416 & 433 and UFCW 770 in a show of solidarity and shared commitment to strengthen workers’ rights and collective voices.

Sen. Schiff reiterated his ongoing commitment to fight to preserve union rights and strengthen worker protections in the face of federal government threats to strip away dozens of workplace safety and wage regulations and end collective bargaining agreements between government agencies and federal unions.

Sen. Schiff also outlined his commitment to prevent federal government plans to slash billions of dollars from a host of already-approved and funded infrastructure projects including wind, solar, EV, and battery storage facilities that have created – and now jeopardize – thousands of new union jobs.

“Senator Schiff has been a steadfast union ally who has always supported working men and women because he embraces union values and understands that trained, skilled, and dedicated union Brothers and Sisters represent the backbone and spirit of the American worker,” said IBEW 11 Business Manager Robert Corona. “We know Senator Schiff will continue to fight for working men and women even as the battles ahead get tougher.”

The EV industry received a reprieve of sorts last week when the Trump administration reluctantly agreed to unfreeze $5 billion in funding for the construction of new electric vehicle charging stations that was made available under President Joe Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law. Even this reversal came with a caveat: the new rules remove Biden-era language promoting labor standards and the use of minority-owned contractors and investments in disadvantaged communities.

“Staying connected with the men and women of IBEW who keep our economy moving inspires me to bring their stories and passion to the Senate, fighting every day for fair pay, job safety, and training programs that create good-paying union careers — even in the face of disastrous decisions from the Oval Office,” said Sen. Schiff.

Despite the federal government’s continued heel dragging on green-energy investments, California continues to power ahead. 

The California Energy Commission this month announced the launch of the Fast Charge California Project, a $55-million incentive program to cover up to 100 percent of installation costs for EV fast chargers at businesses and public sites statewide.

The program is part of the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), the nation’s largest EV charging incentive initiative. Since 2017 CALeVIP has supported the deployment of nearly 10,000 EV chargers, helping to accommodate California’s more than 2.2 million light-duty EVs, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy.