International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: Let’s get to work on American infrastructure

The tragic Miami Beach condo collapse and last winter's failure of the power grid in Texas demonstrate the catastrophes that crumbling and inadequate infrastructure or blatant disregard for code enforcement can unleash.

That's why today more than ever we need a comprehensive plan of action to rebuild America. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, an essential piece of the American Jobs Plan, is both bold and necessary. It will upgrade critical equipment that we depend on every day, including bridges, water systems, the broadband network, mass transportation and electricity systems.

This moment provides us an opportunity to rebuild not only our rundown infrastructure but the middle class, with the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. For this to become a reality, the IBEW is working to ensure that all infrastructure bills include robust labor standards safeguarding workers' rights to organize, bargain collectively and join a union.

As a skilled professional who works in electrical manufacturing, I am a member of IBEW Local 1362. I call on Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Rep. Ashley Hinson to support a meaningful investment in our future that includes high road labor standards and prevailing wages.

Before another disaster strikes, let's get America's infrastructure on the road to recovery. Members of the IBEW stand ready to deliver the manpower needed to make this proposal a reality. Let's get to work.

Tom Haugen

IBEW member

Norway