IBEW Local 197

08/26/2026

Joshua has consistently been a strong advocate for Union labor in our community especially with the most recent support of our PLA with Heartland Community College. He is going to make a great County Clerk.

07/30/2026

Please come and celebrate Brother Cavitt’s life.

06/20/2026

IBEW LU 197 Election results are in. Here are the winners:

President: Matt Strupp
Vice President: Tom Peasley
Recording Secretary: Jennifer Raney
Treasurer: Stephanie Ashenbremer
Business Manager/Financial Secretary/Delegate to the convention: Mike Raikes
Executive Board: Keith Ashenbremer, Alex Dickey, Jason Francis, Randy Holland, Jake Knobloch, Ryan McCoy, Brian Stufflebeam
At large Delegate to the Convention: Matt Strupp

06/18/2026

Awesome news for our local labor!

Heartland trustees approved a project labor agreement, advanced a tentative FY27 budget with a projected deficit and awarded contracts for drainage, lighting, building maintenance and prairie work Tuesday in Normal.

06/11/2026

Thank you Congressman Sorensen for voting yes to this bill! Unfortunately Congressman Lahood voted no as usual.

The House has approved a bill to slash the time it takes for newly unionized workers to get a first contract. The measure allows for government intervention if a deal is not reached within 90 days.

05/03/2026

Great op-ed in Sunday's Bloomington Pantagraph by Trades & Labor President Jason Pascal on the ISU AFSCME strike.

04/30/2026

Please consider helping our AFSCME Brother's and Sister's.

04/27/2026

Please join us tomorrow morning at the White Oak Park pavilion at 6am. We will be honoring fallen workers on Worker’s Memorial Day. Coffee and donuts will be provided. The address of the pavilion is 1514 Cottage Avenue, Bloomington, IL.

04/22/2026

“Just as we expect everyone to take action in case of an on-the-job accident, we all have to be ready to recognize and step up when someone is struggling mentally. That’s what the IBEW is all about. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.” - IST Paul Noble, 2026 Construction & Maintenance Conference