The IBEW Second District held its annual Progress Meeting on June 2–4 at the MGM Springfield in Springfield, MA. The 2026 Progress Meeting brought together local union leaders from all six New England states to discuss critical industry trends, union organizing, and legislative priorities. The meeting also covered recent changes to the National Labor Relations Board and updates in labor law.
The two and a half day gathering included meetings for leaders in the different yet connected industries represented by unions of the IBEW Second District. Inter-industry sessions were also held, such as the Utility-Construction Summit. Second District leaders discussed changes to traditional strategies in the Digital Organizing & Communications Workshop. The goal of the various sessions was to assess the progress union leaders have made and how to best offer representation and protection to workers in the future.
During the Progress Meeting, organizers also took the time to acknowledge the successes of some of the union leaders in attendance, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyards Business Manager Glen Sell of IBEW Local 2071. Glen received an award for successfully keeping his local going, even after the federal government failed to honor their contract. With dues from only 10% of his members, Glen was able to maintain operations and support IBEW Local 2071 members when they were forced to work without pay during the government shutdown in the Fall of 2025.
About the IBEW Second District
The IBEW Second District is led by International Vice President Michael P. Monahan. The district represents 44 local unions in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont and has tens of thousands of active members across the construction, utility, telecommunications, broadcast, manufacturing, railroad, and government sectors. The Second District’s headquarters are located in Milton, Massachusetts.
