Name of Union: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Mission: IBEW members are on the front lines powering the future of North America’s electrified economy, embracing craftsmanship and enabling new technologies to reach homes, businesses and industries every day.

Kenneth W. Cooper

Current Leadership of Union: Kenneth W. Cooper was appointed IBEW international president in 2023. He began his career in 1985 at Local 688 in Mansfield, Ohio, where he served a four-year apprenticeship to become a journeyman wireman. He served many roles at his local union, including steward, vice president, president, chairman trustee for the pension fund, chairman trustee for the annuity, and chairman of trustees for the health and welfare fund. In 1993 he was elected business manager. In 2002, Cooper relocated to Las Vegas, where he worked for Local 396 as the assistant business manager. In 2006, International President Edwin D. Hill recognized Cooper’s leadership skills when he asked him to serve as an international representative for the union’s 4th District. In May 2011, his hard work and dedication was again recognized when President Hill recommended that he be appointed as the international vice president for the 4th District. He was elected to a full term in September 2011 and re-elected in 2016. In May 2017, then-International President Lonnie R. Stephenson asked Cooper to join him as international secretary-treasurer and he was overwhelmingly elected to a full term in 2022.

Paul A. Noble serves as international secretary-treasurer. IBEW has 11 international vice presidents. The union’s international executive council is chaired by Christopher Erikson and has eight other district-based members.

Current Number of Members: 860,000 active and retired

Members Work In/Industries Represented: Utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.

History: In the late 1800s, electricity began to be installed around the country and small unions of electrical workers started and stopped, with the 1883 Western Union Telegraph strike being the first known attempt to organize the industry’s workers. While that first strike was unsuccessful, it left a strong desire for organization among electrical workers.

At the 1890 St. Louis Exposition, electrical workers from around the country came together to wire buildings and erect exhibits. They gathered after each workday and shared stories about the hardships and dangers of the industry. The logical answer was to form a union and, in 1890, the Electrical Wiremen and Lineman’s Union became AFL Federal Labor Union 5221, with Henry Miller of St. Louis elected as the first president. At the first convention of the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in 1891, 10 delegates attended, representing 286 members.

In 1892, the first women became members of the union; four years later, Mary Hoznik became the first woman hired as a paid union organizer. By 1897, the union had grown to 17,000 members and by 1905, that had risen to 24,000. In 1899, it expanded into Canada, becoming the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. In 1920, IBEW relocated to Washington, D.C., to be closer to the center of government. In 1925, IBEW gained representation on the AFL Executive Council.

In 2016, IBEW celebrated 125 years of solidarity. The union now has more than 800 locals throughout the United States and Canada, with members in Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico and Saipan as well.

Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The Electrical Worker is the official publication of IBEW. The Code of Excellence promotes on-the-job excellence, safety and labor-management partnerships at IBEW workplaces across North America. The IBEW Store sells branded products for electrical workers. The Henry Miller Museum, housed in the same St. Louis brick house where the union’s first convention was held, commemorates the founding of the IBEW. Affinity groups for IBEW include veterans, women, young workers, minority workers and IBEW Strong, which promotes diversity. IBEW also has an online jobs board.

Elizabeth H. Shuler

Elizabeth H. Shuler is president of the AFL-CIO, the democratic federation of 63 national and international unions that represent nearly 15 million working people. Shuler is the first woman leader of America’s labor movement and a member of the IBEW.

The Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO (WWAFLCIO) enjoys the support of two IBEW locals, 14 & 953. Three of the council’s officers hail from IBEW 14. Alexander Stoikes and Chris (“Hippie”) Van Alstine are on the Executive Board, and Tanner Brockmiller is the WWAFLCIO’s Sergeant of Arms.  It’s commonplace to see area IBEW workers involved and assisting with communications and other council projects.  Their involvement is key to the success of the WWAFLCIO.