West Texas Building and Construction Trades Council

05/22/2026

If you’re an electrician in Texas, listen up.At the May 20 TDLR C...

05/13/2026

BLACKROCK, ABBOTT, AND TSTC CALLED IT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Texas electricians saw the shortcut.

On May 6, Governor Abbott stood with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink at TSTC to celebrate a $30 million electrical workforce initiative.

BlackRock’s own announcement says the TSTC grant supports a new electrical technology program creating a college-based pathway to prepare students to test for a journeyman license.

Then came the proposed TDLR JEEP rule — an accelerated pathway that would have given major on-the-job training credit for completing an approved education program.

That is the problem.

A journeyman license is not a press conference prop.
It is not a workforce pipeline metric.
It is not a corporate philanthropy deliverable.
And it is not something politicians should cheapen to meet construction demand.

We support education.
We support real training.
We support bringing more Texans into the electrical trade the right way.

But classroom and lab instruction should not be treated like thousands of hours of supervised field experience.

Texas electricians showed up.

The advisory board vote was 4–3 against JEEP.

That should send a clear message to BlackRock, Governor Abbott, TSTC, TDLR, and anyone else trying to rush people toward a journeyman license:

Fund training.
Respect apprenticeship.
Protect the license.
Do not water down the trade.

Apprenticeship builds electricians.
Shortcuts build problems.

Texas AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
Amarillo Central Labor Council
West Texas Building and Construction Trades Council
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

05/11/2026

Amarillo Labor Town Hall

Join us for an Amarillo Labor Town Hall on Tuesday, May 12, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at:

IBEW Local 602
200 S Fannin St.
Amarillo, TX 79106

RSVP is required: http://bit.ly/amarillolabor

Please make sure to open the RSVP email/link and confirm that you will be attending so organizers have an accurate count.

Come be part of the conversation and help strengthen labor’s voice in Amarillo.

We want to hear from union members like YOU.

04/15/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: AMARILLO is the next stop on our statewide listening tour!

Are you a union member? We want to hear from you! RSVP for our Labor Town Hall on Tuesday, 5/12 at bit.ly/amarillolabor

02/23/2026

The 8th Annual IBEW 602 / WTX-NECA Golf Tournament is set — mark your calendar and start building your team!

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM
📍 Ross Rogers – Mustang Course
💲 $125 per player | $500 per team
🏌️ 4-Person Scramble (Blind Draw Flights)
🍔 Lunch + 4 drink tickets included
🏆 Contests: Closest to the Pin • Longest Drive • Longest Putt
🎁 Top Prize: (2) $900 gift cards to Golf Headquarters
📲 Sign up: (806) 376-9945
🔗 Info: ibew602.org/golf-tournament

11/05/2025

⚠️ OSHA 30 Construction Training – Free Course!

📅 Dates: November 6, 7 and 13, 14, 2025
🕗 Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (each day)
📍 Location: Amarillo College West Campus
Building A, Room 109
6222 SW 9th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79106
📘 Campus Map - https://www.actx.edu/campusmaps/west/

The OSHA 30-Hour Construction Industry Outreach Training is a comprehensive safety program designed for anyone involved in the construction industry — especially safety directors, foremen, and field supervisors.
This course provides complete information on OSHA compliance and workplace safety standards.

✅ Students must attend all four days to receive the OSHA 30 card.
💸 Classes are free of charge, underwritten by Texas Mutual Insurance in partnership with Amarillo College.

📲 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOUHwnYUT04L3KVSZUPhGmKJpy3lHW5YGT2ThGbk9gDwmsmw/viewform

09/01/2025

04/28/2025

On Workers Memorial Day, America’s unions mourn the workers who have lost their lives or been injured or ill on the job.

Every worker should be able to go home at the end of the day safe and healthy, and we’ll keep fighting like hell to make that a reality for EVERY worker.

12/25/2024

🎄 Merry Christmas from the West Texas Building and Construction Trades Council! 🎄

This holiday season, we are reminded of the strength, dedication, and craftsmanship of our union brothers and sisters who help build a brighter future for our communities every day.

May your day be filled with joy, warmth, and the company of loved ones. Thank you for your hard work and unwavering commitment to excellence throughout the year.

Here’s to a safe, happy, and prosperous holiday season for all.

🎅 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! 🎁

11/28/2024

🦃✨ Happy Thanksgiving from the West Texas Building and Construction Trades Council! ✨🦃

This Thanksgiving, we are incredibly thankful for the hardworking men and women who build and strengthen our communities every day. Your dedication, skill, and commitment to excellence are the foundation of our success, and we are proud to stand together as a union of trades.

As we gather with loved ones to celebrate this season of gratitude, let’s reflect on the progress we’ve made and the bright future ahead.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, joyful, and blessed Thanksgiving filled with love and unity. 🛠️🍂🧡