Colin Lavin, Business Manager and Financial Secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 47, appeared on the AWF Union Podcast and spoke about the importance of passing knowledge from one generation of workers to the next and the need to invest in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
Local 47 is located in Riverside, Calif. and represents about 14,000 IBEW outside linemen.
He discussed the Local’s process for screening candidates who apply to its apprenticeship program. Once the individuals successfully interview and become an apprentice, the ropes of the trades are passed down from one generation to the next, he explained.
Lavin said the Local needs to grow its membership, and detailed some of the projects where members are working. He also talked about the infrastructure needed to successfully transition to EVs.
Currently, he is negotiating a Projet Labor Agreement to build EV infrastructure.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: