IBEW Local 1316 members rally in support of VP Harris

“This election is too important to sit out," IBEW Local 1316 business manager Stacey Mixson said. "So I encourage my fellow Georgians to vote early.”

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — As early voting begins in Georgia, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) announced its support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Members of the union in Middle Georgia championed Harris’s record as the reason for their support of her run to the White House.

“As Vice President, she helped pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to create thousands of good paying union jobs across the state, including here in Middle Georgia,” IBEW Local 1316 business manager Stacey Mixson said

Mixson says he feels this election is the most important one yet for the security of labor unions across the country. Mixson says Project 2025, which former president Donald trump has repeatedly denied involvement with, would be detrimental for the causes IBEW fights for.

“Project 2025 would allow states to ban labor unions, eliminate overtime protections, and choose not to follow the national minimum wage,” Mixson said. “It would make it easier for employers to get rid of worker’s unions in the middle of their contracts.”

Gene O’Kelley is the 5th District Representative for IBEW. He has worked with local branches of the union across the southeast to mobilize voters. O’Kelley says he believes the passage of the Inflation Reduction and the Chips and Science Acts made President Biden the most pro-union president in history.

“It has created thousands, literally thousands of jobs and millions of dollars worth of work for organized labor,” O’Kelley said.

While he was disappointed to see Biden exit the race in July, O’Kelley is confident Harris will be beneficial to union workers if elected in November.

 “I have no reason to believe that she won’t continue the same practices under her administration, creating good paying jobs for working families, non-union and union,” O’Kelley said.

In a race that will likely go down to the wire, IBEW Local 1316 has one final message for voters.

“This election is too important to sit out,” Mixson said. “So I encourage my fellow Georgians to vote early.”