local3ibew.org | Issue no. 203 | August 4, 2025

A Message from Business Manager Chris Erikson

Critical thinking is the ability to choose the most effective course of action toward a desired objective. Local 3, IBEW has been teaching Critical Thinking for more than 50 years. Every “A” journeyperson who graduated the “A” Apprentice program since 1978 has earned a college degree. If there was ever a time to apply those skills it’s now.

There’s real concern in America that our Democracy is at risk given the actions of the present administration on the extreme right, and conversely the mayoral election in NYC has a Democratic Socialist at the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket on the extreme left. Where does that leave you?

Wikipedia defines “democratic socialism” as “a left-wing economic and political philosophy that supports political democracy and some form of a socially owned economy, with a particular emphasis on economic democracy, workplace democracy, and workers' self-management within a market socialist, decentralised planned, or democratic centrally planned socialist economy. Democratic socialists argue that capitalism is inherently incompatible with the values of freedom, equality, and solidarity and that these ideals can only be achieved through the realization of a socialist society. Although most democratic socialists seek a gradual transition to socialism, democratic socialism can support revolutionary or reformist politics to establish socialism. Democratic socialism was popularised by socialists who opposed the backsliding toward a one-party state in the Soviet Union and other countries during the 20th century.”

“To establish Socialism,” did you read that part? Not me, not ever. Trade unionism is all about freedom, equality, and solidarity. Strong unions are how we continue to flourish and have progress in our capitalist society. I believe organized labor is the only answer to corporate greed and the wealthiest top 1% who could care less for the working class in America. If the choices are a dictatorship or socialism, I choose Trade Unionism and we all should be prepared to fight for it. Keep the Union Strong.

Voice Your Support for Metropolitan Park

Use this page to quickly submit comments to the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in support of Metropolitan Park, or send an email directly to MetropolitanParkPublicComment@nystec.com.

Metropolitan Park is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the 50-acre asphalt parking lot next to Citi Field into a year-round destination replete with a new public park including athletic fields and playgrounds, a renovated train station on the 7 line, and a casino, hotel, and live music venue. Under this proposal, New York Mets franchise owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock will invest $8 billion and create 23,000 good-paying permanent and construction jobs.

Earlier this year, the City Council overwhelmingly approved a zoning law to move this project forward. And thanks to lobbying by Local 3, IBEW members, state legislation sponsored by Senator John Liu and Assemblymember Larinda Hooks passed both chambers and was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Now, the Gaming Facility Location Board (GFLB), which received eight applications vying for three new casino licenses in New York City and Yonkers, has to gauge public support through project-specific Community Advisory Committees. The Metropolitan Park CAC is accepting comments in writing and at public meetings to be announced. It is crucial that they hear from Local 3 members who live and work in Queens and know the huge economic impact that Metropolitan Park will have on this borough.

PINCC Assists Apprentices with Tools & Resources

NYC Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers (PINCC) is a workforce development program that helps low-income and young New Yorkers enter apprenticeships and successful careers in construction, transportation, and other critical industries with good-paying and unionized jobs. Established by a “Good Jobs Challenge” grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, PINCC is led by a partnership between the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent), and the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE).

On July 24th, PINCC visited the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center and distributed toolkits and transportation resources to 98 apprentices. Each toolkit included brand-new equipment necessary for their hands-on training during the five-year electrical apprenticeship. Milwaukee Tool and two union signatory employers, Louis Shiffman Electric and Turtle, also donated equipment.

PINCC plans to return to the EITC next month to distribute more toolkits and resources to the new apprenticeship class starting in September.

(Photo courtesy of PINCC.)

Affordable Workforce Housing Coming to College Point, Queens

Together with the NYC Economic Development Corporation, Cirrus Workforce Housing, and the Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC) of Greater New York, Mayor Eric Adams unveiled the plan to build 3,000 new affordable housing units with union labor on the site of the former Flushing Airport, which has been vacant since 1984. Local 3, IBEW members showed their support at the press conference on Monday, July 28th, along with members of BCTC-affiliated unions, housing developers, the local business community, neighbors, and elected officials.

Located in College Point, Queens, this housing development will be funded by a partnership between Cirrus and BCTC, using pension funds to invest in building affordable housing for workers and creating union construction jobs across the city. Construction at this site is expected to begin in 2028 and put over 1,300 BCTC union members to work.

Jena Optical Vision Care in Electchester

The following is an announcement from the Joint Industry Board (JIB) Safety Department:

The expiration date of your Site Safety Training (SST) certification is stamped on the front of your SST card. Letters with renewal training information are mailed from the JIB four (4) months prior to the expiration date. Please anticipate receiving mail from the JIB and allow for sufficient time to comply with these training requirements.

Become a mentor! Today more than ever, it is important that our new members get the best training, guidance, and information available in order to navigate through their apprenticeships and careers in the electrical industry. If interested, contact the Local 3 Mentorship Committee at mentorshipcommittee.lu3@gmail.com.

Local Union No. 3, IBEW and the Joint Industry Board of the Electric Industry (JIBEI) both believe in the power of communications to inform our members and plan participants about vital benefits, programs, and news updates. Nothing is more important to us than your health and well-being.

Similar to Local 3’s Rank & File e-newsletter, the Joint Industry Board offers general and plan/personal information via email and text message. Sign up at signup.jibei.org to stay connected. Visit jibei.org for online forms and more information on employment, medical coverage, education, and training plans and services.

Happy Monday! ⚡

Keep on tagging @lu3ibew in posts and stories on Instagram and Facebook to share updates for and by the best electricians in the world!

On our website, some content will be on a special members only site. This will include back issues of The Union World and Political Action items. The local will no longer be sending the login information through the mail. Instead, we will be sending it out through the Rank & File. Login details are below:

Username: lu3member

Password: uworld3

Google Data Breach Update: As you may know, Local 3 uses the same password (lu3member, uworld3) for all members to log into our website. Some members are getting alerts from Google that the password is found in a data breach. Please ignore this warning since we are using a shared password and your personal information will not be affected by using the shared password.

●    National Night Out in Electchester - Tuesday, August 5, 6:00 p.m. Electchester Shopping Center, 70-63 Parsons Blvd, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. Visit natw.org to find an event near you.

●    General Membership Meeting - Thursday, August 14, 5:00 p.m. Electric Industry Center Auditorium, 67-35 Parsons Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11365.

●    Labor Day - Monday, September 1.

●    NYC Labor Day Parade - Saturday, September 6, 10:00 a.m. The Labor Mass and banner procession will be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 8:00 a.m. Details on Local 3, IBEW’s assembly time and location are forthcoming.

●    89th Annual Outing & Field Day - Saturday, September 13, 12:00-5:00 p.m. Monsignor Scanlan High School, 915 Hutchinson River Parkway, Bronx, NY 10465. Hosted by the Westchester Mechanics Association.

●    Scholarship Dinner Dance - Saturday, September 27, 6:00 p.m. Electric Industry Center Auditorium, 67-35 Parsons Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11365. Hosted by the Amber Light Society.

●    Columbus Festival - Saturday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. Electric Industry Center Auditorium, 67-35 Parsons Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11365. See the flyer below for more details.