The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is a labor union which represents workers in the electrical industry in the United States, Canada, Panama and several Caribbean island nations; particularly electricians, or Inside Wiremen, in the construction industry and linemen and other employees of public utilities. It was founded in 1891 shortly after homes and businesses in the United States began receiving electricity. The mission is to educate our members to insure we are providing the Electrical Industry with the most highly trained and highly skilled workforce possible.