Trade unions are conservative institutions that generally serve to maintain the capitalist-imperialist system intact, while suppressing workers’ direct actions and more radical alternatives that don’t define workers just by their “trade.” International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1505 is the union representing over 3,000 Raytheon workers in Massachusetts. As the Business Manager of IBEW Local 1505, Michael Zagami, has written, “For 75 years, Local 1505 has been a driving force in Raytheon’s success. The relationship provided good jobs both within Raytheon and in many vendor companies in the area.” In 2017, during the union's protest for better wages and healthcare for Raytheon workers in Andover, MA, Zagami said that workers creating "sophisticated weapon systems" should not make less than $15 per hour.
IBEW fights for more “equitable” contracts for its workers, but does not challenge Raytheon’s imperialist agenda. IBEW is invested in Raytheon’s continued existence, and generally works against the closing of Raytheon plants in Massachusetts. In 2021 IBEW objected to Raytheon’s supposed plan to reduce its Massachusetts workforce (in Andover) by half by the year 2023.
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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1505 is the union which represents Raytheon workers in Massachusetts. As the Business Manager of IBEW Local 1505 Michael Zagami has written, “For 75 years, Local 1505 has been a driving force in Raytheon’s success. The relationship provided good jobs both within Raytheon and in many vendor companies in the area.” IBEW fights for more “equitable” contracts for Raytheon workers, but does not challenge Raytheon’s violent and imperialist agenda. IBEW is invested in Raytheon’s continued existence and generally fights against the closing or downsizing of Raytheon facilities in Massachusetts, objecting for example to Raytheon’s supposed plan to reduce its Massachusetts workforce (in Andover) by half by the year 2023.