Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- IBEW Local 1928
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) was founded on 21 November 1891 in St. Louis, Missouri, making it the oldest electrical union in the world. The first Canadian local was founded in 1899 in Ottawa, Ontario. There are approximately 950 locals in North America representing more than 780,000 members. In Canada, there are some 90 locals representing more than 60,000 members.
Local 1928 established its charter on 1 January 1955. In 1973 IBEW amalgamated System Council U29 into Local 1928 when Nova Scotia Light & Power, Eastern Light & Power and the Nova Scotia Power Commission amalgamated to become the Nova Scotia Power Corporation. The majority of Local 1928's 1700 members are employees of Nova Scotia Power; the local also represents members at Emera Utility Services, Black and McDonald, Town of Antigonish Public Works and Electric Utility, the Municipality and Town of Shelburne, Sears Canada and the Town of Lunenburg Electric Utility. A 2016 merge with Local 1432 in Prince Edward Island added employees of Maritime Electric, the City of Summerside and the University of PEI.
IBEW locals establish their own bylaws, general rules and policies in concert with the IBEW constitution. Locals have autonomy in the election of their full-time officers, table officers and executive boards (e-boards) and in negotiating collective agreements with their members' employers. Local 1928 holds elections every four years to determine its business manager and e-board, which consists of four officers—including a president, treasurer and recording secretary—and nine unit chairs, who represent geographical divisions.
The business manager is responsible for all of the business of the local, while the president and other officers are responsible for local union governance as outlined in the IBEW Constitution. Each local unit elects a suite of officers that mirrors the executive board and holds monthly meetings, which are attended quarterly by the business manager or his/her representative.
The business manager hires the local's assistant business manager and office staff and also appoints shop stewards for indefinite terms. Shop stewards receive training both from the local and from the International IBEW office.