DORCHESTER — The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 announced its endorsement of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s re-election campaign today.
In a statement, IBEW Local 103 described itself as representing over 8,500 active members and 2,500 retirees, calling their organization “one of the largest and most politically active unions in New England.” The union praised Mayor Wu for:
- Securing $23 million through the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge grant to create the Regional Workforce Training System, designed to place over 4,600 residents into clean energy, healthcare, and childcare positions.
- Allocating $3.9 million from the Neighborhood Jobs Trust to 24 community organizations for job training for high-demand fields including clean energy and the building trades.
- Securing $3 million in U.S. Department of Labor funding to scale pre-apprenticeship programs for underrepresented groups.
- Commitment to using Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on large-scale, multi-phase construction projects throughout the City of Boston, including the Boston Public Schools.
“Mayor Wu understands that building a stronger Boston starts with investing in the people who live and work here,” said Renee Dozier, Local 103 Business Agent. “She’s made real investments in apprenticeship programs and workforce development, and it shows. We need her leadership to keep building a city that works for all of us.”
According to IBEW Local 103, on Tuesday, May 13, Mayor Michelle Wu signed a landmark Project Labor Agreement in support of the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Long-Term Facilities Plan—described as an unprecedented commitment to using skilled union labor on all major BPS capital projects. The union stated that, in partnership with the Greater Boston Building Trades Unions, the agreement will create a direct pipeline from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School into stable, well-paying union careers.
“There’s a lot of potential in young people in the city, and they need somebody to believe in and open the door. And that person is Mayor Wu,” said Erick Pires, 2025 JATC apprentice graduate. “Building trades are going in the right direction, especially with a new partnership with Mayor Wu.”