No shortcuts in construction

This Letter to the Editor was published in the Chicago Sun-Times on September 4, 2022.

We live in a time when quick wins are valued over long-term progress. Instant gratification delays real progress. We purchase products that are less expensive, to the detriment of the environment, human rights and, in the long term, our pocketbook.

Prioritizing near-term savings over long-term benefits happens in the construction industry, too. With the unparalleled level of education, focus on safety and access to training that electrical contractors and union electricians receive from the National Electrical Contractors Association and Registered Apprenticeship programs, as well as continuing education for journeypersons, there’s a real, demonstrated value to choosing a union electrical contractor.

At Powering Chicago, a labor-management partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134 and the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Chicago and Cook County, we stand ready to lend our expertise.

As we near the one-year anniversary of the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the distinction between union and non-union labor is even clearer. With funding to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, transportation improvements and more, it’s crucial to spend taxpayer dollars with a focus on high-quality work through highly-skilled workers.

One way the local union electrical industry demonstrates its commitment and long-term value is by investing in the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip. While non-union training programs vary, I’ve never heard of one that is as innovative, thorough and focused on safety as ours.

Not everyone has the desire or the means to pursue higher education. Careers in the trades can provide liveable wages, excellent benefits and real opportunities. Each person who completes the apprenticeship program makes a journeyperson’s wage, which can be close to or almost double the estimated $55,260 annual salary of a new college graduate during a 40-hour workweek.

This Labor Day, let us remember why construction is one area where we can’t afford to sacrifice knowledge and expertise for short-term savings.

Elbert Walters III, Executive Director, Powering Chicago