IBEW Local 40 ready to celebrate 100 years of powering Hollywood

Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 40, Stephan Davis, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the Local’s upcoming 100th Anniversary event, the Hollywood Basic Crafts negotiations and their unique retirement plan for members.

IBEW Local 40 is located in Hollywood, Calif. and represents more than 1,000 members who work in special effects, new construction and the maintenance of studios and theme parks in the area.

In 2023, IBEW Local 40 turned 100, the 100th anniversary celebration of the charter was initially planned for 2023, but due to the strikes in Hollywood, the Locals pushed their celebration back to stand in solidarity with their union Brothers and Sisters. The Local has been around longer than many studios and was chartered before the first silent movie was ever released. Davis discussed the anniversary celebration and what members can expect on May 4.

Over the years, the studios and unions have gone from contract to contract without addressing many of the day-to-day issues for the members, Davis said. The relationships between the two sides still remain positive, but he said that this negotiation cycle is more contentious. As a joint bargaining unit with other Local unions known as the Hollywood Basic Crafts, they have begun the initial negotiations, but there hasn’t been any movement on the bylaws that impact Local 40 members. This group hosted a unity rally on March 3. Davis said that more than 1,000 people attended, including several members from SAG-AFTRA and WGA, in solidarity with the Basic Crafts group. 

At Local 40, Davis said their retirement plan is fairly new. Their inside construction bargaining unit previously had a defined contribution retirement plan, but Davis and Local 40 had to get creative to improve on this. He discussed the way the retirement benefits were improved for members without putting pressure on the employer with a plan known as a variable contribution plan. Davis said this new retirement plan would be available to members as early as age 55, including inflation protection.

Listen to the show above to hear more from Davis on IBEW Local 40.