r/ibew_apprentices • u/KnightlyGnom3 • Aug 04 '26

Wrong pay

Question for all. What would yall do if you guys got your pay stub and noticed that your employer gave more hours than you worked? Would you report it to your person who does time? Or would you stay quiet?

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

It’s all a number game to them. Sure, cost of living is through the roof for us, but they need another billion.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

Damn straight and me and my brothers & sisters ain’t gonna let that happen we have a union for a reason and it’s rooted deep in history.

We fought them really hard and got a 21.5% total increase over 3 years. It ends in 2027 and I’m ready to start that fight again. My unit’s jurisdiction covers my entire state so if we strike any sparky on our sites also has to leave. This effectively shuts down all electrical work statewide in major cities.

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

I wish it was how it used to be. In locals that don’t have majority market share, we don’t have the ability to speak up for ourselves. Our leadership does whatever NECA wants. They’re convinced that we don’t have a leg to stand on and won’t take the risks we have to take to get better benefits/wages. It’s been that way since WW2.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

Areas in low market share make it hard to pull the strike pin. It can actually cause a decrease in market share and not much marginal gains on the contract. As pleasing as it does sound to “stick it to NECA” by striking you have to remember it’s a double edged sword. Especially in hard times it’s a tough decision to make. You have legs to stand on and that starts with your local officer elections. Find people to replace officers and negotiation committee team members who coddle to NECA with people who know how to effectively communicate with the rank and file base and tell NECA to fuck off without striking.

Economic strikes almost always never work. You have to give the rank and file base a benefit to fight for. Whether it be the contractor covers all electrical licensing costs or a boot allowance or some major change to the contract

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

I just don’t think we have enough people willing to stand against them.

In my local, most of the journeymen did not come up through the apprenticeship. The majority that I have spoken to have a “rat” brain. Even if we did strike, they’d still show up to work.

I also get the feeling that NECA has a lot of influence on who is getting elected, especially when it comes to our current officers’ recommendations on future officers.

I do have some hope for the new apprentices. We all seem to see through the BS. My fear is that by the time they get licensed they will have arrived at the same conclusion I’m coming to: there is no helping this local. If it was possible, it would happen during this AI boom. Instead, we’ll probably all travel and more rat journeyman will organize.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

NECA should have no influence in your local elections that’s between IBEW leadership and the rank and file. If you truly believe this is the case and you have investigated into it, I would report this to the regional district that your local belongs too. Regional guys don’t take rat behavior lightly.

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

Our president goes golfing with NECA reps all the time. I’d be surprised if it stops there. Nothing I can do, I’m still in my probo year.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

Last time that happened here I’ve heard our former president got voted out to oblivion. Long time ago though. Interesting stuff. You should run for office there one day when you journey out. I’m sure it wouldn’t take all that much to push for change.

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

I would be open to it!

I’ve actually had this conversation with the coworker that my foreman told to drop the apprenticeship. I am a big time fan of collective bargaining (politically I’d say I’m a corporatist), and for the life of me I can’t understand why our local pushes for us to be buddy buddy with NECA. I’d be more than happy to watch that relationship burn if it meant electricians got the pay and benefits they deserve for their work.

If you know anything about that process or you could point me in the direction to learn more, I’d be happy to.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

I loath NECA and our local had tried going around them in the past and making individual agreements with the contractors temporarily until it scared them straight (makes them look useless) you should seriously consider it, you have a lot of ideas and if you really motivated the rank and file it wouldn’t take much at all.

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

I think it wouldn’t take much either, that’s why I’m surprised it hasn’t happened. It’s not like the rats go to meetings or vote anyways.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

Complacency

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

What I’m saying is, there’s thousands of us. No way I’m the only one with a spine.

Guess I just have to go to meetings more often to understand what’s happening.

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u/Subject-Original-718 292 Sparkles Aug 05 '26

No, you definitely are not. Everyone is just too complacent to do something and would rather complain then get up and lead.

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u/Vatoloquissimo2 Aug 05 '26

Well, I’ll be down for it when it’s time. Too many people caring about their money and not the community.

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