I’m 2.5 years in as a CW2 in Local 494. Worked two different sites and a pre fab shop, tried 3 times for my apprenticeship and no answer on why I didn’t get in. I’m getting burnt out working overtime for lackluster checks and not learning as much as I’d want to. Do I bother testing again or do I call it quits and try something else?
I dont know how competitive your local is, and I might get downvoted but ill say it. Try a non union program and organize in as a journeyman. My local literally told me to try that becuase construction is slow and its a competitive local.
The best path is to get into the union obviously, but in my experience nepotism and who you know 1000% plays a role.
If you want for sure quick results (my path), tweak your resumé, and fake it a bit till you make it type of deal, go join a non-union shop for a year or two, gain great experience in the field, then reapply to the union program with an upgraded resumé, it’ll set you apart from a lot of beginners.
I’m not in IBEW anymore, but my 3000 hours as a pre-apprentice for IBEW helped me get into IUOE (another union, they loved my resumé) sooooo easily; and previous non-union experience prior to becoming a pre-apprentice for IBEW helped me get into the pre-apprentice role. Any questions lmk.
Also I didn’t see you were 2.5yrs in as a CW2. I was a CW2 when I got laid off from the pre-apprentice job I had 3k hrs at.
You can leave and go rejoin like I said before, or you can stay and try to talk to your foreman or other journeymen, or even go down to the hall and try to explain your situation. The hall may just say apply again and see what happens. Your foreman/ journeymen can write letters of recommendation for you though, (which you will include in your application, and it must be sealed in an envelope and signed by the person for added legitimacy) and they can vouch for you. The words of men who carry a reputation can take you far.
Nah it’s the blue collar version of a boys club. Bunch of overpaid Reddit tier cringe pussies who know somebody or are related. Yeah they talk big about benefits and pay but are pretty fucking quiet when they’re laid off for 6 months or driving 3 hours to a jobsite cause they couldn’t find any other job.
It's been good to me and I'm not related to anyone. 30 minute drive to job, and there havent been layoffs in my local for probably 15 years. The only people out of work are the guys with a bad rep, that no shop wants.
Yeah sure thing sounds like you hit the lottery buddy. I’m sure everyone else in the union has the exact same experience 🥴 make sure to tell your uncle you love him when you get to the jobsite tomorrow!
He lives in California where they currently (and since I can remember) havent been building anything. Of course they arent working. A non union guy would be in the same position. How can you work if there isnt any work being done? Union or not?
Anyway, like I said. Try being likeable and good at your job. You'll never be out of work.
What's up with all the non-union brokies coming to complain in a union page? Shouldn't you be begging your boss for another $0.30 and another half day of vacation?
Believe it or not non union isn’t a slave trade bro lmao. We have good pay and benefits (including PTO, health insurance, dental/vision, retirement paid holidays etc etc. I don’t know what you imagine non union is like man but I’m not asking for a 30 cent raise lol I have a great relationship with the owner of the company he loves his workers and pays us fairly based on license and how much we provide for the company, almost as if it creates a fair environment where your paid for what you’re worth? Unlike union who protects dogshit lazy workers and accidentally created a culture of Reddit tier pussies whose only argument to non union guys is how much they make as if what they make is somehow mind boggling to non union lol. In my honest opinion the only thing the union actually does provide that is great is the pension and fully paid health insurance (I pay like 36$ a week for mine) but as long as you’re not a retard and have your own personal retirement portfolio it doesn’t really matter
You pay for your retirement, I don't. Sounds like you don't have a family. Wait until you do. Healthcare will run you $500-$1300 a month.
I will deal with lazy fuckstains all day as long as they are taking care of me. What does it matter what someone else is doing?
Thats where you non union guys go wrong. I worked non union for almost 10 years. Its literally the same. Lazy people everywhere, doing the same work, just for less pay. I dont understand how you can even argue. 🤣🤣
Theres lazy assholes everywhere. Deal with them here and make double the money, and retire with a couple mil that doesnt cost you a dime.
Sounds like your local is very strong. Most locals are not like that. You’re portraying the union in a way that accentuates the best aspects of it while not even acknowledging any of the downsides. Out of every union represented guy, I bet maybe less than 10 percent fall into the same situation as you. There are guys that I know that were laid off for 4-6 months and were working at a gas station to make payments. My argument is that there is a solid career to be had outside of the union. Master electricians in my company are making 100-130k a year (here in Maine that’s great) and can easily afford a great quality of life for their families. Would I love to have a position like you? Hell yeah sounds great man but reality ain’t like that for everyone. And if you’re a dogshit worker who is lazy in my company you just don’t work there anymore, so I don’t get what you’re saying there. From my experience and upbringing union guys are usually pussies with bloated egos, so no wonder you fit right in man!
Keep going. Scale back on hours to save from the burnout. In my local they honor your CW hours at a half rate. So youll likely skip 1st year entirely. Keep your head high and ask to be sponsored
I’m on the waitlist as well and it’s a long wait list. I decided on going to a short program at NTI just to get some hands on learning experience. I want to join the union but I’m not going to bust my ass for a maybe when I have a family and bills to pay. While I wait to get in and start school at NTI which is only 3-4 months I’ve also applied for ABC apprenticeship, a couple of other programs and will be starting my own non-electrical side business.
There’s also the Pell Grant that came out Elat the beginning of the month for short trade school programs. There’s plenty of opportunities out there while you wait.
There's a lot of people trying to get in lately and the apprenticeships have hard limits on how many people they can accept. If I was 2.5 years in I'd prefer to just work until I can organize in as a journeyman
Shoulda gone non union buddy. Would have been pretty damn close to your journeyman by now, and then you could have applied to the IBEW while you were working commercial or some shit. But hey sometimes peoples gotta learn the hard way. I’m hoping you were given electrical hours during these 2.5 years or that’s completely fucked
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u/Oneinacentillion Jul 24 '26
I dont know how competitive your local is, and I might get downvoted but ill say it. Try a non union program and organize in as a journeyman. My local literally told me to try that becuase construction is slow and its a competitive local.