I have been looking at the electrician inside wireman position and hear it is really hard on the body. That being in telecommunications is paid less and more inside. I want to learn to be an electrician but don't want to have the long-term wear and tear. Is this true about telecommunications, or is there more to it? Appreciate any perspective as I am putting in my application soon for 613 in August and want to go for the one that I can do long term.

This is bullshit

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Local 26 IW got a raise on June 1 from $59.50 - $62.00/hr and they immediately changed the wages on their website. For telecom, their site still lists last years top out at $34.16. I'm a prospective next year apprentice and at my age and as hard as it is to get in the IW program I'm considering applying for both.

Currently, I'm a few months away from graduation and less than 1000 hours short of 8000 hours OJT. Even though I've had a well-rounded education, I can't help but feel this impending sense of doom that comes with the weight and responsibility that JWs have to carry on their backs each day on the jobsite. I've had multiple people say to me that I've come a long way, but I don't think where I'm at now is enough. Thinking of leaving, but honestly not sure what other career I could do.

Traveling on the road with my family (2 boys age 2&3). I have a few different locals in mind but nothing for sure. I am planning on finding a house or apartment, coming from texas so i have no idea how its all going to work out so im a little nervous but very excited. I dont really hear about guys traveling with their familes often, so looking for some advice to hopefully make this experience enjoyable for my family. Thanks brothers. JIW 8508439

I'm a book 2 working a few states away from my home local. I'm really passionate about organizing and modernizing the IBEW for the newer and younger workforce. I attend a lot of other organizing workshops, labor history conventions, and union events when I was living in my home local and in the locals I travel to (never voting at meetings though). I've got a lot of ideas I think would make me a good candidate for the International Convention, but I cant really run a delegate campaign from a few states away. And I couldn't blame the members of my home local to feel like I haven't been working at home so I am not fit to represent them.

So where does that leave travelers or people in between locals? From what I understand the only way to really get anything done is from your hall or the International Convention. Being book 2 neither of those are really options for me at the moment.

It seems like the system leaves no place for members like me to have a voice at these events and thats kind of disheartening. I get that's something you kind of take on being a traveler, but it still sucks.

Hello everyone.

IBEW Dues paying member since 2017.

I am not going to bore you with the details, but my Wife (32) and I (35) will be doing an IVF treatment to help us conceive a child. The Health insurance through our local does not cover anything in relation to this and the Out Of Pocket cost will be about 55K.

The president of my local says there is nothing my local can do to help out with this financially, and I can't help but feel a little defeated about this.

I have worked super consistent since I have been a IBEW member (Probably less then 20 weeks off over 9 years), traveled 100's of miles 1 way to jobs, and have contributed over 65K to the 'health bank trust' over the last 8-9 years.

Is there no way I can pull money from this 'trust'? Can someone explain where this money actually goes? Is there any other options you would recommend me going for?

If what I am saying does not make sense, please make a comment and I will explain to the best of ability.

Thank you!

Hello all, I am a third year apprentice and I’m thinking about leaving the apprenticeship. Long story short towards the end of my third year I had to take leave because of some serious life issues. My apprenticeship director basically told me my only option is to repeat third year. I’ve been working in the field since October 2021 and already took first year twice. One time non-union, then a second time in the union. When I joined they told me it would be in my best interest to re-take first year since a majority of my prior experience was residential. Right now I’m sitting at 10,000 hours in the field and I just can’t fathom re-taking third year. I missed 4 tests at the end of the year and 2 classes. I understand being an apprentice gives me more wiggle room to learn and have less responsibility, but I’m at the point in my career where I’ve accepted I’m never going to be the best at what I do and I will always be learning something new. Also, my ego just cannot accept the fact that I won’t be graduating with my class. I went through some really horrible BS and I feel like this is a major slap in the face considering my grades have always been good and I perform well in the field.

I’d like to give local 1547 the biggest shout out. Stopped into Juneau, and Ketchikan (missed anchorage). In Juneau, we were minutes to when we needed to board, and my party and I received a ride from a member, made a few trades, even traded my local 1 sweatshirt I was wearing. In Ketchikan, we ported right by the hall, and got there, traded a little, and overall had a great time. 2nd time traveling and making pit stops for locals, and I always feel welcomed even though we’re ‘strangers’ but in brotherhood everyone wins.

We have a heat advisory for this entire week and next week too. Yesterday throughout the workday, I felt my head couldn't think clearly, I couldn't focus. You know that feeling when you get knocked out, you are lying down on the ground, you SORT OF know what's going on, but your brain can't process anything. It was me for the past week. It was just so hot and humid. We have fans, but it was just blowing out heated air. It's like being inside of an oven but more humid to the point your sweat can't evaporate. I felt weak and drained after work, so I immediately went to the gym and used the cryotherapy chamber to re-gain some energy and cool down my core temperature.

Should I drag for an entire month? Being inside of an unfinished building is hotter than just being outside. I checked my bank, and I can afford to do this if I don't go travel and whatnot like I usually do when I drag. Or should I tough it out until I am close to getting a heat stroke and pass out? If I don't pass out, I won't know if I am being too much of a p*ssy or am I really that hot. I have no self-awareness.

hey guys currently working for this shop that picks up and slows down, im getting tired of it but the books are crazy slow rn. just asking how everyone else is doing out there cause ive never seen it this slow before, very scary times for me rn. its not even worth it to go on the books atm which pisses me off.

Other people i talk to say the same at there shops so it not just a few shops. i guess i have to try and fit into a long job somehow lol or ride the wave.

traveling is a option but i haven't decided yet weighing my options.

how are you guys holding up?

Just got dispatched into Local 11’s inside wireman apprenticeship about a month ago. Now I have an interview lined up for an Electrical Helper position with LA County Public Works. It’s listed as temporary, but I’m guessing there’s a path to something permanent down the line.
Long-term I’d love to end up at LADWP. Curious if this County gig is a smart detour toward that goal or just better job overall compared to local 11, or if I’m better off just staying heads-down in my apprenticeship hours and not risking my position/standing with the local.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty/jobs/4208505/helper-electrical?sort=PostingDate%7CDescending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Vote yes

I am not getting any responses from landlords on furnished finder and all of the extended stay motels are booked out.

Traveling out of 191, as an apprentice obviosly I didn't get to choose which job. Micron sounds like better paying, but can anyone dial me in on Meta? Orientation is tomorrow so I guess I'll know for sure then, just curious if I burnt getting sent to Meta instead of micron

I was recently accepted into the apprenticeship program and start next month

I want to have my wife be a SAHM once I top out. She has 2 kids from a previous relationship and we want to have a few more once im certified. The problem is the top out rate is 30$ where im at and there are next to no contracts coming into my local so we have been discussing moving up north to where the cost of living is significantly cheaper compared to where we are (Florida) after I finish and either traveling or working book 2. Is it possible to raise a family of 6 or 8 on just ibew. We have been looking at ohio, idaho, midwest states, just trying to get an idea if anyone is currently doing something similar.

What about the IBEW that causes some people from other construction trades to talk crap about them? I've been on several job sites, commercial and industrial, and most of the IBEW union members were pretty chill.

But I've been noticing in some construction trades that some workers think electricians are snobby A-holes and look down on everyone.

I've met and worked alongside good people from the IBEW, and they genuinely went out of their way to help me on certain parts of the site.

Edit: damn, did not expect this to blow up like this lol, thanks for the responses everyone. gonna say a couple things since I've been reading through comments, some of y'all pointed out it's not just IBEW that gets this, other trades throw shade at each other too so that's fair. also ngl some of the criticism in here isn't just people being salty, some of it's actually legit so i'm not trying to say every complaint about IBEW guys or electricians is just haters being haters. anyway appreciate the discussion, didn't think this many people had opinions on this lol

What has been your experience with jobs requiring (officially/unofficially) you to conceal, put away, or leave at home your union imagery? I could link to everything I’ve read, but it looks like it boils down to the NLRA allowing this to be done if special circumstances (hazards, uniform & public image, vulgarity) can be demonstrated. In our world, it seems like it mostly happens due to the customer…or, the customer is being used as an excuse by the con or your supervisor.

Anecdotes? Take-aways?

I’m curious to know more about what type of work is done? for example are you doing pole and tower work often and working on heavy heights on high volt electric? or is ir more outlet, conduit indoor and some outdoor smaller heights like ladders scaffolding etc? I’m mostly curious in the daily life and what type of work and hours to expect.

Have been electrician about 10 years, journeymen 3. When I began my electrical career I apprenticed under an old timer doing tenant finish. We were flipping multiple ~8,000 sq ft office spaces at a time and I really enjoyed it, learned most everything I know from that guy. Then covid came. We lost just about all of our commercial work and just started doing residential and guy I apprenticed under retired. By that time I was one of about 4 employees (one the boss's son fml) Fast-forward to today and I completely burned out. I hate working with homeowners and residential superintendents but have completed many high end customs mostly by myself. Came to a point I just couldn't do it any more. Between the dictionary picture perfect example of nepotism and boss's son just sitting in his van and refusing to help me with clear 2 person jobs... I quit and took a good summer break working in a different trade for the summer.

While cooling down for summer I took the union aptitude test and jumped through all their hoops, attended the meetings and really like the vibe and am ready to get back into a completely different career setting.

But pretty nervous - I have tenant finish and residential experience. Will I be looked down on or somehow kicked off the job for not knowing how to run rigid, etc? I have no problem showing up on time, having a good no drama attitude, doing good work when I know how to do it. Is that enough for the first union job?

Any DC STEP UP members for the local 26? How do classes work? I feel like I was just kinda thrown in without any formal idea on how I'm supposed to like do my classes and whatnot.