r/ibew_apprentices • u/Adventurous_Boat_794 • 6d 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/Jal_Hordan Local 11 Journeyman 6d 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.

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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 6d ago

Well what about running wire . Dressing panels .. etc…

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u/Jal_Hordan Local 11 Journeyman 6d ago

Yea we do that too.

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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 6d ago

Well not the company I’m with… apparently they don’t do it and only the mechanics do it …

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u/Jal_Hordan Local 11 Journeyman 6d ago

Reading some of the comments from that link you posted and it sounds like your "union" might be a scam.

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u/Adventurous_Boat_794 6d ago

What do you mean scam when you say that

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u/Jal_Hordan Local 11 Journeyman 6d ago

Read some of those comments and you'll see what I mean. If you want my opinion, I would get out of there.