05/20/2025
We have updated the Resolution for next year's convention. Mainly clarifying that each local has their own Book 2 and this is just about how you get on, resign and maintain the book. If your local might be interested in joining other locals as a sponsor let me know. We are also happy to speak with anyone to answer questions on the resolution and how it works at Convention.
IBEW Book II Resolution
WHEREAS , among the main objectives of the IBEW is to work to assist each other in sickness, secure employment and to elevate the moral, intellectual and social condition of our members, their families and dependents; and
WHEREAS, our members who are laid off are suffering great economic harm to themselves, their families and their futures due to being unable to have work in their home Locals; and
WHEREAS, laid off members are having to bear a greater economic burden by having to pay to travel to other Locals to sign their Book II and have lost even the minimal support that the tax code used to provide; and
WHEREAS, many Locals have varying rules of how to sign and resign their Book II that creates confusion and difficulty for those of our members who already are facing the worse difficulties due to lack of employment; and
WHEREAS, many members facing economic hardship often have to change phone numbers, cancel cell phones or change addresses and have to contact every single Local they sign at to inform them of this there can be missed calls that further damage our members who are facing the worst effects of this economic crisis; and
WHEREAS, the rules for resigning Book II often creates more work in the home Local of the travelling member that causes Business Agents to spend hours on faxing, emails, “good guy letters”, and phone calling when they could be spending their time on serving members; and
WHEREAS, different Locals sometimes change their Book II rules and members who have signed it may not find out about the new rules and through no fault of their own lose their position on that Book; and
WHEREAS, ‘double booking’ hurts workers who are unemployed by preventing them from moving up in position on Book II and Locals have no decent way to ascertain that a member has taken other work; and
WHEREAS, one of the major advantages of union labor is being able to provide enough manpower and some locals struggle to find enough workers fast enough to fill calls due to not enough workers signing their Book II; and
WHEREAS, one of the greatest guiding principles of every union is to help those of its members who are most vulnerable and in the spirit of Brotherhood try to aid them in economic adversity by making it as easy as possible for them to acquire employment;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the IBEW International Office establish a working group to create a system for an IBEW wide Book II signing system that will allow out of work members to sign the Book II at their home Local, indicate geographical areas they are willing to work in, handle resigning at their home Local and each Local still has their own Book II list; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IBEW International Office create this system as expeditiously as possible to help lessen the economic harm that the current Book II system signing system is creating to our most vulnerable members and help IBEW Locals and Contractors access available manpower.
