Membership

IBEW LOCAL 607  | MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

25 S. 5th Street Shamokin PA 17872
Phone: 570-648-9831
Fax: 570-648-0176

MD Representative: Robert F. Phillips
email: robertphillips@ibew607.com

ARE YOU WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY AND INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN IBEW MEMBER?

What have unions done for us?

• 8-hour day and the 5-day work week

• Health Insurance, good retirement plans

• Higher wages and job security

• Overtime pay and job safety

• Family and medical leave

• Fair treatment for women, people of all ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities

Union members earn 28 percent more than nonunion workers, but stronger unions raise living standards and improve the quality of life for everyone. In the 10 states in which unions are the strongest, there is less poverty, higher household income, more education spending, and better public policy than in the 10 states where unions are weakest.

Workers have the best chance of receiving improved wages, benefits and fair treatment in the workplace by bargaining collectively as a union. Most of us have very limited bargaining power as one person, but as a group, we are strong. With a negotiated contract, workers have legal protections they would not have otherwise.

Forming or joining a Union is a federally protected right! The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a federal agency, conducts a secret ballot election. The process of forming a union starts with obtaining signatures from 30% of the eligible employees on union authorization cards. An authorization card is used as a “showing of interest” to the Labor Board to prove that there is enough support for union representation to hold an election. An authorization card does not mean that you automatically start to pay dues or that you are a member of the union.  If the labor board determines there is enough support to hold an election, they will schedule a secret ballot election. This election will be conducted and monitored by a Labor Board agent.  A 50% +1 vote in favor of union representation is required in order to certify a union at your workplace. Once the election is certified by the Labor Board, the union will begin negotiations with the employer and negotiate to get a working agreement.

The IBEW represents approximately 775,000 active members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.  The IBEW has members in both the United States and Canada and stands out among the American unions in the AFL-CIO because it is among the largest and has members in so many skilled occupations.