IBEW Local 25: Building Careers, Strengthening Communities, and Powering the Future

A Union Built on Opportunity, Brotherhood, and Service

At the Union Labor Advisory Network (ULA Network), our mission is simple yet powerful: to support, educate, and promote union labor in our communities. Through conversations with leaders, members, and apprentices across the labor movement, we aim to shine a light on the incredible career opportunities within the building trades and public sector unions.

One of the most inspiring examples of this mission in action can be found within IBEW Local 25, representing skilled electricians across Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island.

In a recent ULA Network podcast conversation, ULA Founder Michael V. Fina sat down with John Guadagno, whose life story and leadership highlight the transformative power of union careers and community service.

Their conversation wasn’t just about electrical work—it was about opportunity, resilience, mentorship, and building a better future for working families.

From Apprentice to Union Leader: John Guadagno’s Journey

John Guadagno’s journey into the electrical trades began in the early 1980s, when he entered the IBEW Local 25 apprenticeship program in 1983.

Like many tradespeople, his path wasn’t a straight line. After attending college and considering a career in politics, he discovered the electrical trades—and the union movement—that would shape the rest of his life.

Through dedication, leadership, and a commitment to giving back, Guadagno rose through the ranks:

• Apprentice electrician
• Committee leader and union volunteer
• Organizer and business representative
• Treasurer of Local 25
• Executive Board member
• President of IBEW Local 25 for more than a decade

Today, he is the longest-serving president in Local 25’s history, helping lead the organization through a period of unprecedented growth and opportunity.

One of the accomplishments he is most proud of is something every tradesperson understands: steady employment for union members.

For nearly a decade, Local 25 has experienced full employment, an extraordinary achievement in an industry known for economic cycles.

The Power of Apprenticeship: A Career Without Crushing Debt

For many young people today, the path forward can feel uncertain. College tuition continues to rise, while many graduates face significant debt and uncertain job prospects.

Union apprenticeship programs offer a powerful alternative.

Through the IBEW apprenticeship program, students:

• Earn while they learn
• Receive hands-on training from experienced electricians
• Graduate debt-free
• Gain access to family-supporting wages
• Receive healthcare benefits and pension plans

As Guadagno explains, these programs offer something invaluable: a real career pathway with long-term stability.

The electrical trade itself is incredibly diverse. Members of IBEW Local 25 work on projects that range from:

• Residential wiring
• Commercial construction
• Industrial electrical systems
• Telecommunications
• Renewable energy installations
• Data centers and high-tech infrastructure

In today’s rapidly electrifying world, the demand for skilled electricians continues to grow.

The Golden Age of Opportunity for Skilled Trades

Across the United States, infrastructure investment, clean energy development, and technological growth are creating historic demand for skilled tradespeople.

Electricians are particularly in demand due to projects involving:

• Renewable energy
• Data centers
• semiconductor manufacturing
• grid modernization
• large-scale infrastructure projects

According to Guadagno, this moment represents a “golden age of opportunity” for young people willing to learn a skilled trade.

Major projects—from semiconductor plants to renewable energy installations—will require tens of thousands of electricians across the country in the coming years.

For union electricians, these projects mean stable careers, strong wages, and the ability to support their families while building the future of America’s infrastructure.

Union Culture: Brotherhood, Community, and Service

What truly sets union organizations like IBEW Local 25 apart is not just the work—it’s the community.

Local 25 members actively participate in initiatives that strengthen Long Island communities, including:

• Blood drives
• Charity fundraisers
• Veteran home improvement projects
• Community facility upgrades
• Youth mentorship programs
• Scholarships for members’ children

Union members also organize social and athletic clubs that bring members and families together—from hockey and softball teams to sportsman’s clubs and community events.

This culture builds something far deeper than employment.

It builds solidarity.

As Guadagno often emphasizes, the union is not just a workplace organization—it’s a family that supports members through both good times and difficult moments.

Supporting Veterans and the Next Generation

Another critical focus for both IBEW Local 25 and the ULA Network is supporting military veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

Programs like Helmets to Hardhats connect veterans with apprenticeship opportunities across the building trades, allowing them to continue serving their communities while building a strong future for their families.

The ULA Network has also been actively working to amplify these opportunities through educational content, events, and initiatives like:

• skilled trades awareness campaigns
• veteran career pathways
• pre-apprenticeship training partnerships
• youth career exposure programs

These efforts help ensure that the next generation understands something many people overlook:

A union trade can provide one of the most rewarding and stable careers available today.

The ULA Network’s Mission: Telling the Stories of Labor

The conversation between Mike Fina and John Guadagno is part of a larger mission.

The ULA Network was created to amplify the stories of union workers, leaders, and apprentices who are shaping our communities every day.

From electricians and ironworkers to bricklayers, carpenters, and public sector professionals, these workers:

• build our infrastructure
• power our cities
• support our communities
• mentor the next generation

Yet their stories are often overlooked.

Through podcasts, blogs, video storytelling, and community partnerships, the ULA Network aims to change that narrative and highlight the essential role of organized labor in our society.

A Message to the Next Generation

If there’s one message that John Guadagno hopes young people hear, it’s this:

There are many paths to success.

College may be the right choice for some—but for others, a union apprenticeship can provide:

• meaningful work
• financial stability
• career growth
• strong benefits
• lifelong brotherhood and sisterhood

For those who enjoy working with their hands, solving problems, and building something that lasts, the electrical trades offer a powerful and fulfilling career.

And organizations like IBEW Local 25 are ready to train the next generation of skilled professionals.

Learn More

To learn more about career opportunities, apprenticeship programs, and community initiatives, visit:

• IBEW Local 25
• The Union Labor Advisory Network

Together, we can continue to support, educate, and promote union labor—and ensure that the next generation understands the incredible opportunities that exist within the skilled trades.