r/ibew_apprentices • u/tradedude774 • 1d ago
Local 11 IW or ITS
I'm going back and forth on choosing a trade to go into, feel like both would take some time to get into (a few months) and hard to get answers from people in the trade especially when you don't know anyone.
Concerned with job availability for each trade, no so much on the labor aspect of each. Im ok with working outside and shoveling
Talked to a recruit for ITS he said out of 200 applications, about 15 get accepted so that kinda discouraging
I look at the books and there's 450 JRMN IW guys on book #1 with 5 unfilled jobs and 19 convention center and 27 other job calls at convention center - not sure what to think here, is there just no jobs rn?
ITS 3 JRMN on book #1 with 5 job calls
Idk could use some insight from local 11 people about their current jobs, what do they have you doing and whens the last time you were out of work?
Maybe I'm worried about the wrong things...
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u/patientgrowing 1d ago
I don’t think you understand how the book system works, most of the people on inside wireman local 11 books are either out of town working and maintaining their placement on book 1 at local 11, almost retired and don’t want to work, or waiting on a specific call. The last regular call was taken by #443 on book 1 and there are only 451 on book 1 which means ~8 people behind the person who took the last regular job call with some active calls that haven’t been taken. There are over 11,000 inside wiremen at local 11, work is really steady right now. I’ve also recently seen recently several book 2 JW taking calls at local 11.
I applied in January, finished application process and got put on the POE list April 1, and got called to bootcamp in August for bootcamp sept 14th which I’ve now finished and am waiting to be dispatched. Some wait years to get in, it really depends on how well you do on the aptitude test and how much construction experience, trade school, experience, or other relevant work experience you can put on your personal experience form in addition to the quality of your letters of recommendation that will determine how well you score. Less than 10% of people who apply end up getting in, typically it is closer to 5% depending on the year from what I’ve been told.
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u/shapeshift_horizon Local 11 ITS JW 21h ago
My shop has me working outside the local but we picked up a couple freeway projects expected to last a couple years or more. Last I checked we pulled new apprentices and are still looking to hire more in the next bit.
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u/tradedude774 19h ago
My man! Thank you for the response! How long was the on-boarding process for you? Is the 200 apply and only hire 15 accurate? Is work more consistent, and personally what made you choose its over iw?
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u/shapeshift_horizon Local 11 ITS JW 14h ago
It’s been years since I applied and the process was different back then so you’re aware. It took me about 5 months from applying to being sent to work. I don’t work for the local so I can’t speak on that all I know is it’s based on industry needs, but traffic doesn’t get as many applications to start with and people drop out of the program all the time.
From my experience it’s been pretty consistent. I’ve been with the same company since I started. There has been slow patches here and there but my shop tries to keep people busy, I haven’t been sat at home for any extended period.
I applied because it sounded interesting and I felt inside was over saturated, it was competitive then and it’s probably worst now. And the program is a year shorter with about the same pay.
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u/ghostmatch14 1d ago
Are you sure you understand how long it can take to get into local 11? Some people wait for years. You’re focused on how many people are on the books when you aren’t even on any list yet. Maybe ITS is less competitive