The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 says it’s aware that some employers are going to demand its members be vaccinated for Covid-19, because of anticipated rules from the Biden Administration, which are not yet fully published.
“Simply put, we will continue to insist that employers bargain with us regarding rules that affect you, our members,” the union wrote in a press release. “We are prepared to utilize all legal methods to bargain over the impact of such orders. We have been and will continue to distribute Request to Bargain letters to employers that are impacted by these regulations.”
A petition was circulated in Anchorage this week titled “Local 1547 Members for Medical Freedom,” and directed at IBEW Local 1547 leadership.
“The petition referenced the anticipated OSHA regulation for a vaccine mandate for employers of over 100+ employees. This OSHA regulation has not been released yet. The petition also references the perceived actions of five other IBEW locals and their alleged ‘stand against a vaccine mandate,” the union said.
The local unions in the five other jurisdictions have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
“This is a legal process by which the Local union requests to bargain after employers in their state implemented changes to terms and conditions of employment without bargaining with the union. If this happens here in Alaska. IBEW Local 1547 will do the same.” the union said.
“We have not and will not approach an employer asking them to adopt a vaccine mandate. However, when an employer approaches us with a vaccine mandate, we will continue to insist that they bargain over the policy. Our bargaining options are more limited when the employer is acting pursuant to a customer requirement or a federal law. But even in those cases, we have and will continue to demand that the employer bargain with us over the policy and will seek to limit the impact on employees to the greatest degree possible,” the union said.
