Two local affiliates of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have merged as of Nov. 1 — 191-member IBEW Local 970, based in Longview, Washington, will now be part of Portland-headquartered IBEW Local 48, which had 3,647 members prior to the merger.
Members of both unions approved the merger in voting held in September. Local 970’s business manager and president become members of the Local 48 Executive Board.
Wages and benefits are slightly lower in Local 970’s jurisdiction — Washington’s Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties — but those are slated to increase incrementally until Jan. 1, 2014, when they will equal Local 48’s wage and benefit package. Members who were on Local 970’s out-of-work lists were added into Local 48’s lists based on the date they registered.
Local 970 business manager Mike Bridges joins Local 48’s staff as a business representative for Southwest Washington, and Local 970 office administrator Sue Harris will join Local 48’s staff in a similar capacity.
The Local 970 business office will maintain office hours until January, and will be closed thereafter.
