Here’s how you can support striking electricians

As IBEW 46 strike begins its 4th week, call NECA and sign solidarity petition

KENT, Wash. (May 3, 2024) — The strike by Limited Energy (LE) Electricians represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46 in the Puget Sound area begins its fourth week today. The union reports that there has been no significant movement from National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) negotiators from their contract offer that was unanimously rejected by the IBEW 46 members.

LE electricians install and maintain multiple life-safety systems, such as fire and security alarms, building access and HVAC controls, computers, phones, emergency radios, and more. However, they are paid significantly less that other Puget Sound-area unionized electricians and NECA negotiators have refused to grant them something that most workers have: paid holidays.

TAKE A STAND — The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO is urging all union members and community supporters to support striking IBEW 46 members two ways:

Call 206-284-2150 and leave a message for Jameson Schwetz, executive director of the Puget Sound chapter of NECA. Tell him:

“I support IBEW 46 Limited Energy Electricians on strike, and I urge NECA to settle a fair contract with the workers ASAP, including fair wages and paid holidays.”

Sign this Solidarity Petition urging NECA to “come to the table ready to negotiate a fair contract and to stop disrespecting our hardworking IBEW 46 siblings.”

Since January, IBEW 46 has been bargaining for better wages, paid holidays, and a fair contract for LE electricians to replace the one that expired on March 31, and was subsequently extended for 10 days. But the union says that NECA negotiators refused to make any movement from their rejected contract offer and instead have insulted this workforce by suggesting they are easily replaced.

Effective April 11, the LE electricians went on strike against NECA unless they are working on a job site covered by a Project Labor Agreement/Community Workforce Agreement. Since then, some individual contractors have been separating from NECA and have been removed from IBEW 46’s strike list. But the strike drags on as NECA refuses to improve its rejected offer.

The IBEW 46 LE electricians’ strike is sanctioned by the Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council and its 19 affiliated building trades unions, representing more than 15,000 members. IBEW 46 picket lines have shut down multiple job sites around the area since the strike began. And hundreds of union members and elected officials have joined in rallies in Seattle and Bellevue to express their solidarity and support for IBEW 46 to strike “One Day Longer, One Day Stronger!”