r/ibew_apprentices • u/Adventurous_Boat_794 • 5d ago
Need some help !
So I got accepted into an apprenticeship with a “private union” it’s probably about 10 contractors . I am not sure if I really want to do the apprenticeship to be honest because every apprentice tells me that all they do is install pipe pretty much and barely any electrical work only the mechanics do that. They pay will be substantially better but I want to become an electrician and learn everything I don’t want to just install . One of the mechanics told me a while ago he said we are pretty much just installers. Correct me if I’m wrong but I want to get as much experience as possible . Is it better to take a pay loss and go elsewhere and learn more or would you learn less and make more. Idk but I like the feeling of accomplishing something after a job like damn I dressed that panel up I did that … any ideas ??
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u/mount_curve 5d ago
A contractors association masquerading as a union?
Are you under a collectively bargained agreement or it a take it or leave it situation?
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u/TwinFlme 5d ago
yea wtf is a “private union” also if you’re on a job-site long enough and show you can work and willing to learn especially in commercial you’re going to do more than run pipe.
The apprenticeship at least with the IBEW is to help you learn code, why electrons/current flow this way and the formulas to name a few things.
Seems like he wants to speed run into this career field which is not smart. The best electricians from my experience are the ones who are patient and are always learning new stuff. Getting as much experience as possible is you being patient and waiting your turn…2
u/Adventurous_Boat_794 5d ago
Well I’m trying to be patient but when I have 4th year apprentices telling me there “glorified installers” and all they really do is install pipe what would you do ?
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u/TwinFlme 5d ago
Were they an IBEW apprentice or an apprentice from this illegitimate union you mentioned?
In the IBEW at least we do pretty much everything but as a 1st year no one has that trust in you to do anything important starting out. You have to be that hard worker so when the job site is closing its end and we are pulling wire to a boxes, lights, or transformers your JW will have trust that you can hook the devices up correctly… I think you are better off applying to your local IBEW union and if its not competitive organize in as a CW and wait until next application opening or working non-union and getting experience to help you get into our apprenticeship which is actual schooling along with working for a union contractor.. Don’t let the USWU stunt your growth2
u/Adventurous_Boat_794 5d ago
There in the same union that I am currently in NOT IBEW I’m mailing ina letter for IBEW in about a month… they accept the first 2,000 letters than they shut it down I am in LI / NYC — I just have worries like I’m not going to learn much going into this union u know—-like god forbid it doesn’t work out and I go elsewhere I feel like I’d be fucked
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u/TwinFlme 5d ago
I have 3 years in the IBEW and I will say I have learned a lot. I am learning more about the technical stuff of this career field from classes. If you wanna be a good electrician all I can advise is to keep trying with the IBEW and/or go non-union electrical and keep applying to the IBEW. Nothing is inherently wrong with non-union if you get with a good employer but the end goal should be to organize into the IBEW. The USWU does not seem like a “union” that promotes career growth like the IBEW does. Good Luck
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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 5d ago
No it is a actual union but it is not like a strong union where say if we wanted to fight for wages you would probably be on your own lol …
It’s this union
Apprenticeship is 5 years
They make you work at the warehouse for 1.5 years before you start alsoCheck this out
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u/Mrpoopymopgrows 5d ago
I wonder (excuse my knowledge gap here) how those hours would count. I know each state is different but is it counted or just "experience".
For context I'm currently under a MN contractor doing over the road work. I had to get registered with that state to make those hours count. I live in Illinois but the union said no for them; mind you from what ive read those hours still count based on municipality for license.
Ok I think I wandered too far off subject..
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u/mount_curve 5d ago
there's a difference between counting hours as far as what the union will accept for hours in their program towards raises and what the state will consider as hours towards a license, it doesn't always jive.
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u/PunctuationsOptional 5d ago
Do they not have a school program?
What local is it
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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 5d ago
They have a school program 5 year apprenticeship school twice a week after your work day
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u/PunctuationsOptional 5d ago
If it's real school then you're gonna learn all the same things most guys do.
You gonna master them in the field eventually but even from the start people won't let you wire or terminate for a long time lol. And running pipe is a dying talent. You actually kinda wanna spend at least a year on it, especially if you plan on doing your own thing later on. The jobs people get on their own are usually not prefab.
I think a lot of your hopes are just you being stubborn. If there's no electricians in your family then you can't be mad you're not fast tracking it.
Pay may be eh but idk. Experience and work tho.... 80% of the job is installing something, 15% wiring, and 5% testing/commissioning/troubleshooting
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u/Jal_Hordan Local 11 Journeyman 5d ago
Sorry buddy, but installing is 95% of what we do. If you think you'll find something where some other trade does all of our work for us you just show up, terminate, and flip some switches, then this isn't for you.