Articles from IBEW News

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Introducing: The Faster Labor Contracts Act (EW)

Rep. Donald Norcross, the only IBEW represented electrician in Congress has introduced the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would set enforceable deadlines for first contract negotiations, requiring talks to begin within 10 days of certification and moving to binding arbitration if no agreement is reached within 120 days. IBEW International President Kenneth W. Cooper is urging members to contact their representatives in support of the bill.

Introducing: The Faster Labor Contracts Act (EW)
https://ibew.org/house-bill-aims-to-speed-up-negotiations-for-first-contracts/

Clean Technology Training Trust Launches Podcast: Apprenticeships WORK! (EW)

The Clean Technology Training Trust has launched a new podcast, Apprenticeships WORK!, featuring 9th District International Vice President Dave Reaves discussing the history and value of IBEW joint apprenticeships and how they advance the interests of workers, employers, and communities alike. Available on all major podcast platforms.

Clean Technology Training Trust Launches Podcast: Apprenticeships WORK! (EW)
https://ibew.org/clean-technology-training-trust-launches-podcast-apprenticeships-work/

QTS Seeks $2B Refinance for 3 Data Center Campuses

Blackstone owned QTS Data Centers is pursuing a $2 billion Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities refinancing deal covering three campuses in Atlanta, Chicago, and Northern Virginia, the latest in a series of major capital market moves fueled by surging AI driven demand for data center infrastructure.

QTS Seeks $2B Refinance for 3 Data Center Campuses
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/qts-data-centers-seeks-2-billion-cmbs-refinancing-for-three-us-data-center-campuses/

Claims That AI Can Help Fix Climate Dismissed As Greenwashing

A new independent report analyzing 154 statements from major tech companies and the IEA found no verified examples of generative AI tools, including Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot, delivering measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers say companies are deliberately conflating energy-efficient traditional machine learning with the far more power-hungry generative AI to mislead the public about the technology's climate impact.

Claims That AI Can Help Fix Climate Dismissed As Greenwashing
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/feb/17/tech-companies-traditional-ai-generative-climate-breakdown

Climate Challenges, A Decade After Paris Agreement

Ten years after the Paris Agreement took effect, newly released climate data shows 2025 ranking among the three hottest years on record, with ocean heat and sea levels reaching new highs. Efforts to phase out fossil fuels remain insufficient, and with the U.S. having withdrawn from the accord, the world is on course to significantly overshoot its climate targets.

Climate Challenges, A Decade After Paris Agreement
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/climate-crossroads-decade-after-paris-agreement-2026-02-16/

Stronger Together: An IBEW and Civil Rights Veteran's Lessons on Progress (EW)

At 91, Charlie Horhn reflects on a lifetime at the intersection of the Civil Rights and labor movements. Beginning with his work organizing IBEW Local 2268 at a segregated Jackson, Mississippi factory in the 1960s, Horhn draws a direct line between economic justice and civil rights, and the enduring power of solidarity across both movements.

Stronger Together: An IBEW and Civil Rights Veteran's Lessons on Progress (EW)
https://ibew.org/stronger-together/

Climate Quote, Superfund Bills Spread Nationwide, Despite Legal Battles

Climate superfund legislation is gaining momentum across multiple states despite ongoing legal challenges from fossil fuel companies. The bills aim to hold major polluters financially responsible for climate change impacts and fund infrastructure improvements.

Climate Quote, Superfund Bills Spread Nationwide, Despite Legal Battles
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/climate/climate-superfund-laws-bills.html

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