Celebrating International Workers’ Day

Take a look at the things around you. Are you in your home, place of work or school? Do you see roads, houses or modes of transit? Maybe you’re reading this on a phone or computer. Chances are that one of these items or systems was shaped by a labor union.  

In education, transportation, manufacturing and many other industries, labor unions have influenced how our world works today. Labor unions like International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 965 have also played a crucial role in Alliant Energy’s efforts to put energy on the grid. 

Early labor unions were formed in response to poor working conditions, low wages and long working hours. Over time, labor unions have fought hard to negotiate for things like weekends, pay transparency and safe working conditions.  

In celebration of these victories, May 1 was declared International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day. The holiday was first marked in 1889 and has since been celebrated with parades, rallies and demonstrations around the world in an effort to unite workers in the ongoing struggle for better working conditions. 

“Unions protect workers’ rights and their best interests. They exist so workers have a voice,” said Dillon Gorman, Business Manager of IBEW Local 965. As a third-generation union member, the fight for workers’ rights is in Dillon’s blood.  

After finishing line worker school in 2010, Dillon started working with Alliant Energy as a meter reader, often reading hundreds of utility meters each day. His journey to union leadership started when he developed an interest in legislative decisions about workers’ rights and labor union protections. Dillon wanted to better understand the negotiation process in Wisconsin’s government and how he could help protect workers’ rights. 

As the Business Manager for IBEW Local 965, Dillon brings the worker’s voice to the negotiating table with Alliant Energy. His goals are simple: to provide the union members with clear communication about discussions with Alliant Energy and to negotiate with the best interests of the union members in mind. 

This representation of workers’ best interests was especially important when Alliant Energy announced plans to transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources. Dillon brought the collective voice of Local 965 to discussions about the future of energy production in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Workers needed to know what the path to renewable energy looked like, what was expected of them and what skills would be needed to fill future jobs. 

Dillon knew his responsibility was to take care of all the union members putting energy on the grid. Local 965 believes that as the world evolves toward renewable energy, these jobs should continue to be filled by union members because of the pride local workers have when providing for their community. Sometimes this means securing training materials for workers to learn new skills or adapting current skills to future job placement — all while ensuring job security for each worker.  

Organized labor unions have had to adapt throughout their existence, and this adaptability is a key reason for their success across all job sectors in the economy. Labor unions strengthen local workforces, keep project dollars in the community and boost the local economy. Their commitment to safety and history of delivering quality work on time and under budget are among the many reasons that Alliant Energy has longstanding partnerships with local labor unions. In fact, Alliant Energy’s partnership with IBEW Local 965 dates back to 1937.  

IBEW Local 965 provides a voice for their members, promotes their best interests at the bargaining table and plays an important role in delivering safe, reliable energy. Thank a union member today for their commitment to building a better tomorrow.