IBEW 26 Members Shine on Silver Line Project

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)More than 200 IBEW Local 26 members have been working to complete Phase I of the Silver Line and bring Metro even farther out into the Virginia suburbs, improving access to Dulles Airport. The Silver Line expansion is the largest expansion project since Metro first opened its doors in 1976. Dozens of Local 26 members have been proudly serving as leadership on the job, overseeing as many as 325 electricians at the project's peak. "The work of the Local 26 crew has been challenging and difficult, but rewarding," according to a report in the Fall 2012 edition of In Charge, Local 26's quarterly magazine. In addition to extensive electrical system installation, "Local 26 electricians were responsible for installing quite a few safety systems along the entire line," the report notes. "There is no denying that this project is just big—big in size, big in employment for our Local Union and big in the impact it will make on the Dulles Corridor. Another 'big' part of this project is the pride felt by the Local 26 crew working on-site. They know their work on this project will live on indefinitely, and they know their work will have a profound impact on the millions of people who will be riding the Silver Line once the trains hit those tracks. And, making that kind of difference on the area in which you live and work is no small thing!" Click here to download In Charge magazine and read the complete report. - photos: (above) Derrick Stoutamire and (below, from left) James Jenkins, David Houck, Claro Solorzano, Howard Green, Foreman Erick McCowin, Scott Waters, John Deardorff; photos courtesy IBEW 26