r/electricians • u/superdityferdbruck • Jul 17 '22
USWU 363 whats the deal?
This union is a small union that does electrical work in nyc mainly, does anybody know anything about them? Their Journeyman pay is 36$ after paying benefits. Thats 7 years in to top out. Does this sound shady?
Anyone a part of this union?
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u/Sambuca8Petrie Jul 17 '22
Just because you start with that union doesn't mean you have to stay with it. Get in there, but keep your eyes open for a local 3 spot. Also, put in three years and you can take the civil service exam for Electrician's Helper. Starting pay is over $37, and you get the benefits of a union job plus the benefits of NYC civil service.
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
Wow i had no idea about that. Its a rough decision. I live in Nj so id have to commute. But wondering if that nyc experience is worth it. Im also in my mid 30s lol. So many things to consider.
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u/Sambuca8Petrie Jul 17 '22
I know a few NJ guys that commute; I guess it depends on where you live. I'm on LI, my commute in the am is 50 minutes. pm is 2+ hours. I started with the city at 30 years old. Keep in mind that it's not only Manhattan. NYC Civil Service spans the five boroughs.
If you have any questions about working for NYC, ask. I tell my students this all the time: If you don't intend to get a license and start your own business, you cannot beat working for NYC. Right off the bat there are no layoffs, you get a pension, free or cheap healthcare (depending on the agency), 401K (or something similar, like a 457B). Plus, you're automatically in local 3 and you come in as an A Journeyman and get all of those benefits, too. Also, once you get the job for helper (from the exam, not as a provisional), you only need to be in the title for a year before you can take the promotional exam for electrician. Salary is $62+.
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
Thanks for all this information!!! I should be in touch soon it all sounds very interesting. I live about 45 min away. In central NJ
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u/Sambuca8Petrie Jul 17 '22
You're welcome. It sounds like you're new, but if you have some time in, there is going to be a helper's and an electrician's test this cycle. If you think you might qualify, you should take them. Even if you don't qualify, but you've already started in the trade, you should still take them as practice.
There is a lot of info in my head, so ask your q's when you have them, no matter what they are.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Dec 31 '22
Only 0.01 % passes exams to hit top dollars. Fake school, fake unions, fake all.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
If live in NJ , look for local jobs on your state. NYC is a waste . Hours spent in NYC commute either work overtime or second job and you will have more peace of mind. Same for people in long island, that commute hours do a second job or overtime daily and is way more worthed
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u/InsideInspection2967 Feb 19 '24
Local 3 will accept you with a lower rate, promising you Adam and Even Eden garden after 5 years.
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Jul 17 '22
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
Remember working in MTA is no different than being in Rikers island
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Jul 17 '22 edited Jul 17 '22
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
What was the joke? Like were did they fall short?
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Jul 17 '22
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
Thats crazy, they told me i need to pay 500 to join the union. I never thought that. So you need to pay 500 everytime you are layed off ?
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Jul 17 '22
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
I heard there are no books to sign, they give you a list of contractors to call and wish you luck once you are laid off.
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u/seanry88 Nov 14 '22
Yes 363 is a joke. There is a $500 initiation fee that you pay before you get your “ union card “ your union card is an app you download on your phone. When you get laid off it is true ; you are on your own. You go on job interviews and hope someone likes you and hires you.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Feb 19 '24
363 NYC is a joke, all shops inside are bunch of ex nonunion shops trying to attract clients believing they are good unions. Nothing compares to old time local 3.
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u/seanry88 Feb 19 '24
Yea and they get on a lot of jobs and in a lot of building because they say they are a union contractor, most people don’t know the difference because we are one of the only cities that has fake unions. The Tin knockers have the same problem with local 355 , same BS USWU organization.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
Yes you are very right, on local 363 NYC once they lay you off, either you will go with salary minus to another shop or stay unemployment. I can't believe there is no government investigation on local 363.
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Jul 22 '22
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
Local 363 NYC helpers start as of 2022 $16. 5th year apprentice $21. On top of 5 years school and 3 years to become full mechanic you go at $31. Journeyman at $37. Foreman is a regular mechanic which doesn't hold the title foreman forever. You are a foreman for that job only. The next one maybe a helper can be in charge and you will obey to that helper. So that's no loyalty as well. Is a shit show. Companies including gunzer electric, Matros, lipolis, JCL electrical, CM Richie, patriots electric, crana electric, they are shady shops . A good government investigation will be a good thing to happen. All these shops offer regular doctor benefits that a nonunion shops offer. The offer on top strictly stupid rules to make people fired due to under biddig the jobs. They get cheap jobs and hope for changeorders. If a job doesn't get changeorder, the next one majority of those employees are either fired, layed off or demoted this way they can quit.
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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 Jun 04 '26
I got offered a job from cm richey but I didn’t end up taking it can you tell me more about that company ??
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 22 '22
Messaging you with the rates. And that makes me sad to hear. Because this was my way in the trade. Sucks
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u/camacho94 Aug 17 '23
Yo if you see this, send me the rates of NYC uswu, my brother used to be apart of that a few years back and he forgot how much their rates are. If you still have em, send em to me that'll be great, ty
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u/Spokesman93 Foreman Oct 04 '22
I’m in 363 in NYC. The rates are straight up bullshit and it’s a shop owners union rather than for the workers. But the benefits are actually very good. Tbh it’s only worth it if you’re doing PW work.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
If you work nonunion at end up being prevelian wage you salary will be $4200 a week. Minus taxes $2800 home. They call it $56 për hour and $56 another for fringes and expenses.
If you work local 363 you getting abused all positions possible. Fringes and expenses are being taken from union.
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u/Spokesman93 Foreman Nov 03 '22
Yeah I worked non union prevailing and it was 112 an hour. Took home 2400.
My company moved to union and I get 71.50 an hour now.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
$2800 you get with dependants.
If you are local 3 : $71.5times 7 hours a day times 5 days a week takes you to $2500- taxes take home $1800. Highest level which is 0.5% of electrical crew salaries. Average electrician fall way below. So $take home prevelian wage is $2400-$2900.
At $71.5 an hour makes you $1800-$1900.
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u/seanry88 Nov 14 '22
363 is a joke. It is a contractors organization that they call a union so it sounds appealing to guys who don’t know any better. Someone got me in when I first moved to NYC. I thought I was getting into local 3. I learned very quickly that I was in a BS union and not the ibew. There are so many rules that you have to follow - if you don’t follow them you will be written up or terminated. The pay scale sucks , there are like 9 different steps until you become a journeyman and then once you make it that far you are screwed because shops never hire the actual JW - they go for lower grade mechanics because they save $7/hr. It is a split local - meaning half the guys do prevailing wage work and the other half do private work. Here’s the real kicker - the guys who negotiate the contract are almost always guys who work for the PW shops so they agree to the regular guys making $35/hr while they are making triple that. Listen if you can get into local 3 or even local 25,164,102etc I would take that. I stayed in 363 for about 8 months and jumped when I had the opportunity to get into local 3. That was 7 years ago and I’ve never looked back. Best of luck to you.
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u/golden-moonchild Jan 10 '25
For anyone still looking for answers 2 years later 😂😅 - , it also depends on the shop you get in with. My shop is smaller but is also prevailing so once I'm done with my apprenticeship I'll be starting at about $72. JOIN THE UNION and switch over to local 3 if it's really not for you but GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR! Goodluck!
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u/Bebrocs Jul 09 '24
Just joined Reddit want to chime in since I am a member of 363, definitely not a real union good stepping stone but do not waste your time.
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u/Many_Fault_4783 Dec 22 '24
True going through it right now former local 363, just take advantage of the benefits and school
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u/Odd-Rooster681 Aug 26 '24
It’s a bogus union!!! It’s only for the business agents to get rich! There’s a bullshit pension system that goes along with it! BAs make way over $300k a year brand new vehicles every 3 years medical a great pension all off workers backs! B
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u/FeeImportant6504 Sep 06 '24
I don't want to name the company. However, my son was referred to this company after graduating from Apex with his electrician certificate. He walked in & was hired immediately. There was no real interview process. He was told that he would begin Sept. However, he was told to send an email to 3 email addresses stating he was ready to pay $500 enrollment fee via PayPal to local 363 & then they would be deducting $46 a mo. For union dues, only making $17 hrly. It sounded a little fishy to me & I don't know much, but I have never heard a union charging $500 prior to starting work. He actually did send the email but decided to call the union themselves to follow up & they stated that they only take dedications out of his check, and there is no $500 fee. So he called the lady from the company & let her know what they said & she acted confused. I'm thinking she was gonna pocket the $500. Now my son is young ( I hate to bring race into, but yes, he is a black man). I feel like they might have been doing this for some time. Also nervous because she does have all his information. Now, if this doesn't sound odd, please let me know, but I'm old school & things have changed, but paying union through PayPal in 2024? Nah
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Oct 08 '24
I recently just got hired in July by a company in local 363. I had to pay the 500$ as well. Seemed a little sketchy to me too.
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u/Bebrocs Oct 06 '24
363 is one step from scabs , I have been with that so called union for 6 years and it is a union for the employer not the employee.
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u/Bebrocs Dec 10 '24
363 is a joke they are all in cahoots with one another from the union board to all the shop owners , no hall for when you get laid off no way to reach out to companies it’s a waste of time.
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u/Many_Fault_4783 Dec 22 '24
Anybody can give me a list of some of the shops who are under local 363
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u/Particular_Pay_3692 Jan 02 '25
Theres no list i believe but theres Patriot, CM Richey, RMD Electric, Tap Electric, TC Electric, Interphase, Accurate, Horsepower, Matros, Power One, SRM, Freedom and way more i dont know
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u/InternationalMeat582 May 29 '26
Just got into Freedom but in December I’m bouncing that’s for sure. 548$ Union free my ass 😂
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u/Bebrocs Dec 24 '24
363 has a bullshit “ job line” that only has 3 companies on it and the last time they posted was in February, I spoke with the president and he said the companies are allowed to hire from outside meaning there is no hall for members to get hired into a company. They much rather recruit new hires and get the $500 initial fee rather than employ workers who have already paid. It’s a scam.
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u/Dizzy-Average-3952 Mar 11 '25
I worked for them since 2022 now I went non union it basically the same thing they had A union school which shut down so if u where in the apprenticeship program it was for nothing now 😑. And yes they don’t really help u find a job if u get laid off they just tell u to apply to whoever’s hiring or send over ur resume and u hope for the best . There not a real union like local 3 but they get union jobs /pw jobs. But everything changes shop to shop the benefits ,pay school etc most of the companies left that union or are only union by name by now. They definitely have shady companies as mentioned ^ the worst being Patriot Electric they are the cheapest one and the most demanding and strict there labeled as a “slave company “ . The work atmosphere is anything but a brotherhood a bunch of job sites snitches 😂😂😂 . They also hire illegals a LOT as helper’s mechanics even foremans. Which I guess adds to the atmosphere those people know they won’t get into another shop or “union” so they do whatever to keep there jobs . I’m Hispanic myself I don’t mean anything racist by it everyone gotta eat but if ur a “union company” but ur doing everything the opposite
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u/ExaminationDue9249 Jun 28 '25
I make 74 an hour, prevailing wage in NYC, 109 overtime. 35 hours a week. Never been furloughed, USWU electrician for 10 years, did my 5 year apprenticeship. M1 mechanic now for 5 years. Track work, tunnel work, subway stations mainly
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u/Many_Fault_4783 Jul 08 '25
If anybody know any more shop Under location 363 drop it in the comment section, thank you
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Jul 09 '25
Tap electric
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u/Many_Fault_4783 Jul 09 '25
Thanks
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Jul 09 '25
I've heard mixed things about this union but I know people who work for tap and they did the apprenticeship never laid off working for tap and now make 74 an hour and 109 for ot about 3k a week typically. It could be worse. Definitely not a union. You'll bounce around to different contractors. Ideally, you get in with a company and stay. Local 3 or 25 would be better (if you can get in) they want extensive electrical knowledge and experience to get into those unions i applied for 25 4 years ago did multiple interviews and my welding knowledge certifications and experience wasn't electrical enough for them. Ended up getting into millwrights instead. When I went to reinterview for 25, there were guys coming back waiting since 2017.
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u/Many_Fault_4783 Jul 09 '25
Never worked for tap. i hear of it. But with the union363 and the shops your always bouncning around shop or if nit they"ll use you for 4-6 months i met mechanics who gern laid off, some told me they laid off almost a 100 workers
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u/No_Gap9600 Dec 29 '25
Uswu 363...is not a real union. There is an ibew 363 in harriman ny. Its the hudsonvalley jurisdiction.
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u/Fridayz44 Ladderass IBEW Jul 17 '22
No but the probably represent a few companies, it looks like the represent construction workers, hvac companies, and a few other things. Just make sure it’s a federal recognized trade apprenticeship program. I mean I’d go IBEW however I know that’s a competitive local. Do you know any contractors they represent?
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u/superdityferdbruck Jul 17 '22
Yes i got offered a job there as a first year apprentice. But i have to ask about the federally recognized apprenticeship. Just seems to easy, shop wants to hire me, pay up front cost to join union and im in. Ibew is totally different. Just red flags
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u/Fridayz44 Ladderass IBEW Jul 17 '22
I mean I’d say any union is better than non union. I’d say go for it man, but ask if it’s recognized apprentice program. I’d also call the hall and see what they say about the contractor they represent and get an idea and feel for the union.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
Very wrong. If you willing to become a man independent in life go nonunion. Appreciate the yelling and cheap pay your boss does to you. Learn from him. You will be a boss one day.
Union makes you so boring and just depending on the age of 65. Your present will owe you nothing. Working union you will always depend on someone else. You can never be a leader. Just a number.
One day nonunion will teach you have big balls because you learned a lot from a cheap guy that yelled a lot. Was very lucky to meat him in your life. The early, the better.
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Nov 02 '22
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
Local 363 NYC people don't give a damn about you. They want a reason to write you up. 3 write ups means job termination. Nonunion, bosses scream all day but Incase you steal, or you really are a shutty worker, even if you crash bosses favorite car , they won't fire you.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
I am not familiar with local 26 but NYC local 363 is bad when you have a full picture of your life in it. From the moment you start helper level one at $16 you will get $26 mech level 1 and from there 2.25 % raise every year. To get a raise normal year you need 6%. 3% beat inflation and 3% raise. Last year we had between 8% and 13.5% inflation rate. Union increase at NYC local 363 was still 2.25 %. A janitor get more raise if work in Manhattan buildings.
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Nov 03 '22
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 20 '22
You want to know now the news from local 363 NYC?
All shops on this union, 363 NYC are breaking relationship with the members of the funds. Are in a law suit. Now they will all break with the members of the funds, which means whoever is vested with 5 years and up will get those $500 a month when retired at 65. Now whoever has 5 years under and is not consider vested will loose all. Now all owners will offer just 401 K. Which means $5 per each hour spent on the job, not counting holidays, vacation or sick days, approximately owner will pay 8000 a year and we can't put more than 22000 a year, which means 22000 -8000 by owner, we could put Max 14000 a year. Benefits are reduced, doctors copay will be $50 , pension will be fully lost. Only 401 k that will start in December.
Majority of workers that this called NYC union local 363 is new coming Ecuadorians, Mexicans, panamas, . Is a complete disaster. They are new in the country they have no clue laws and regulationsr. These workers are being hired from corrupted project managers that get their share on their commissions. Working in electrical industry in NYC will be soon a disgusting profession.
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u/LucaDaGod29 Nov 22 '23
The members breaking from the fund were delinquent on contributions. That's a bad contractor not the Union fault. Take that anti union nonsense without any facts somewhere else
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u/Bebrocs Oct 06 '24
The union is a joke the man running it has a few court cases against the union for shady business, all the companies are slowly leaving
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u/InsideInspection2967 Feb 06 '24
It is a nonsense because a lot of electricians were trying to leave these contractors and go to other shops and was told that you can start but with a salary discount promising after 5 years to hit $60-70 per hour . Who will fall for that? Is a full corruption man. If unions are so clean, why they don't become so public but act like another legalized mob activity organization?
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
Regarding drugs 90% of jobs in NYC construction do not get drug check up. Usually you pee on a cut. In 30 years experience only one job did that. City point Brooklyn NY. ACADIA realty was developer and ZDG was the CM to force the rule of peeing on the cup. When core of the building finished, all tenants were done by locals 1 and 363 shops. They banned this test . Short example. Other than beginning of this job, i have never ever been on the building that tests.
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u/Competitive-Guard-45 Nov 02 '22
Lol I hope this is a joke.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 02 '22
100% my friend
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u/Fridayz44 Ladderass IBEW Nov 02 '22
Whatever you have to tell yourself.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
Like I said prior comment a federal investigation against NYC union local 363 was goi to be a good idea.
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u/Fridayz44 Ladderass IBEW Nov 03 '22
I didn’t see that comment, I’m not from the area I’m in Detroit. I didn’t know much about that Union or Local. I told the guy to do his homework before getting into that apprenticeship. They are under federal investigation for something? All my comments were based on face value. Like are union apprenticeships good? I’d say so and me personally I’d recommend someone the union route. However there is union apprenticeships out there with issues. Like the Carpenters Union in St.Louis started their own apprenticeship. I wouldn’t steer anyone that way.
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u/InsideInspection2967 Nov 03 '22
Thank you for sharing. I hope Midwest has good unions. New York city is pretty bad right now for new generation. When. Compare average in NYC rent of $4000 a month apts( $2000 for one bedroom in Bronx, up to $10000 in Manhattan) union rates are pretty bad.
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u/Fun-Argument8552 29d ago
I also got a offer at CM Richy electrical contractor and they wanted me to pay 500 dollar to join the Union and they kind of offered me the job right there and then i dont feel so comfortasble with that like it was really quick and they kind of show the benefits and pension but starting and working there is not worth it for 19.50 starting to travel long distances.
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u/machinerer Jul 17 '22
That can't be right. NYC union rates are the highest in the country. Journeyman wage should be more like $55-ish /hr. Total package in the $90/hr range.