The American IBEW #113 – Cyber Workforce Initiative
Building the Nation’s First Union-Based Cybersecurity Workforce
In partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the AFL-CIO, this initiative will train, certify, and deploy American workers into high-paying cybersecurity careers while strengthening national defense.:
America faces a growing wave of cyber threats—from ransomware attacks to international fraud networks—while simultaneously lacking a trained workforce to defend against them. This policy proposes a bold, practical solution: creating a national cybersecurity workforce pipeline through organized labor.
The IBEW Core Policy Commitments:
1. Launch the National Cyber Apprenticeship Program
- Establish paid, union-supported apprenticeships in cybersecurity
- Provide hands-on training in:
- Network defense
- Threat detection
- Digital forensics
- Create pathways for veterans, students, and career-switching workers
Goal: The IBEW Cyber Security Union will train tens of thousands of new cybersecurity professionals across the United States.
2. Establish a Union-Backed Cybersecurity Certification System
- Develop standardized certifications through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Ensure certifications are:
- Industry-recognized
- Affordable and accessible
- Continuously updated to meet evolving threats
Goal: Replace fragmented certification systems with a trusted national standard.
3. Strengthen Public-Private Cyber Defense Partnerships
- Formalize cooperation with:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Department of Justice
- State cybercrime units
What this means:
- Union-trained professionals can support cyber incident response
- Experts assist in digital forensics under legal authority
- Faster identification and mitigation of cyber threats
4. Create Rapid Response Cyber Teams
- Deploy certified cybersecurity teams to:
- Protect critical infrastructure
- Respond to major cyber incidents
- Support municipalities and small businesses under attack
- Protect and Empower Cybersecurity Workers
Establish fair wages and job classifications
Protect workers reporting vulnerabilities or security risks
Promote ethical standards and accountability
Goal: Build a respected, stable cybersecurity profession. - Crack Down on Cybercrime Through Coordination
Improve reporting pipelines from trained professionals to law enforcement
Support investigations into: Malware distribution networks
Fraudulent call centers
Organized cybercrime operations
Why This Matters
National Security
Cyberattacks are increasing in scale and sophistication. A trained workforce is essential to defend America’s infrastructure.
Economic Opportunity
This initiative creates thousands of middle-class careers without requiring traditional four-year degrees.
Workforce Modernization
Just as unions built the skilled trades of the 20th century, this program builds the digital workforce of the 21st century.