Windsor, Ontario electricians’ union official Sol Furer now on International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers executive

Sol Furer will be the sole Canadian voice on the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) International Executive Council. Furer is serving his fourth term as the Business Manager and Financial Secretary at IBEW Local 773 in Windsor, Ontario.

Windsor business manager Sol Furer will be the sole Canadian voice on the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) International Executive Council.

Furer’s recent election will see him sit as representative for Canada, the eighth district, with seven IBEW members representing the various districts within the United States. He is the first one from IBEW Local 773 in Windsor, Ontario to be elected to this position.

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“I’m looking forward to the task and the challenge and looking forward to represent Canadian members on the executive level.”

He defeated the incumbent from Calgary and one other candidate from Vancouver for the prestigious position. Furer is serving his fourth term as the Business Manager and Financial Secretary at IBEW Local 773.

The IBEW represents approximately 725,000 members in Canada and the United States who work in fields including construction, utilities, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.

“The IBEW represents a broad workplace. But mostly we’re electricians and there are some things that can happen in the United States that can’t happen over here and vice versa.”

Furer announced his candidacy in April and ran based on his view that there needs to be more transparency at the executive level to the membership in Canada.

“We get a report, it’s a very vague report of what goes on and it’s published in our journal two or three times a year, but I think the membership wants to know more,” he said, acknowledging that there are of course certain things that need to stay confidential. “I think those things that can be discussed should be known to the membership and it just wasn’t happening.”

This position is a five-year term. He said Canada is a little bit different than the U.S. with different construction laws and licensing.

“That’s what makes the job daunting is representing the country coast to coast, not just three or four states, I’m actually representing the entire country, which is a daunting task,” he said. “There are different interests between the states of Ohio and Michigan, never mind the differences across Canada.”