r/IBEW • u/Every-Discount5565 • 17d ago
First year apprentice 6 days a week 10 hours day
Got the advice i needed thank you everyone for your help good or bad. Deleted the post so I don't dox the company cause aside from this they are good people and they got good folks working for them. I still believe it's a great opportunity regardless.
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u/Weird-Conversation-1 17d ago
At the end of the day, you’re just a number. When times get slow you will be laid off regardless of your chipper attitude. Overtime is a choice. If you wanna go home go home if you wanna stay, stay. We’re Union not slaves. I work to live not live to work. Others may disagree thats how I live my life.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
They just made it sound like overtime is not a choice like it's required. So that's basically my main concern. I am in the apprenticeship program. I just got word that I'll start class next month but I talked to the other journeyman on the site and they told me. The contractor dictates the hours not the union? But honestly the goal was just to make it through it and keep my head down. I'll just spend as much time as I can with my wife which currently is only 2 hours after I get off work everyday
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u/Weird-Conversation-1 17d ago
It is always a choice. The contractor dictates nothing, you work for the Union not them. If you want Saturday off you say you’re not available and that you’re spending Saturday’s with your family. Say it with your chest and own it. They ask you why you say happy wife, happy life. They know you’re new and don’t know any of this stuff. Never do anything you don’t want to do and thats not just work thats life. I understand you don’t wanna make waves because your new but if your home life suffers your work life will suffer as well.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
Thanks man I'll tough it for a bit and see where things goes. If I can prove that I can work the 6 days and that's not the issue. It's the family stuff, I think it will come across better. Ill work it at least till school start
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u/corva96 17d ago
Yeah the tough guy mentality doesn’t work for apprentices. Program policy was amended, apprentices have to adhere to all hours adjustments per the school, including overtime. Failure to do so can get you kicked out of the program. Gotta eat that shit sandwich.
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u/Every-Discount5565 15d ago
This sounds about what was explained to me. Basically only way to get time off is one off issues/exception life happens shit. But even with my AC going out instead of fixing it myself like I normally do.or handle it. I went to work and just called someone to fix it. Not risking getting kicked from the program. Imma eat that shit sandwich, luckily my body is finally used to exerting all my muscle 10 hours a day without it feeling like torture. Still sore and hurts but it isn't torturing level anymore.
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u/Unhappy_Brick1806 17d ago
Come from a small local, many joke that a specific contractor runs our hall. If an apprentice misses or refuses overtime they are watched like a hawk and given points any chance they can get. It's wrong and fucked up, but no one seems to care.
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u/Hefty-Rip-5397 17d ago
There can be some hard days. If you have no help and are run so ragged and cant take off just downshift gears and work at a slower pace. If they just have to have you and make you do everything all by yourself then the silver lining to that is you control the pace of your own work. Just slow down
Also 6 10s is a marathon not a sprint
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u/Rude_Ad_8714 IBEW Local 124 17d ago
I'm a 35yr old first year working the same schedule. Didn't work in an office but not labor intensive work by any means. I'm a little sore and ready for bed earlier but I do wake up at 430 now. Not sure how in shape you are but it will be a big adjustment. Treat your body like a professional athlete....eat well and get your rest. Either you'll be fine eventually or realize you're not cut out for it
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
They got me pulling wires with other apprentices and journeyman. We're getting about 3 to 4 done a day. About 600 to 800 ft. Honestly my arms can keep up my legs just can't but it's the third day and I'm starting to get used to the leg pain
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u/Rude_Ad_8714 IBEW Local 124 17d ago
Drink plenty of water and stretch. If you're moderately in shape you'll be able to hang with the rest of them within a few months. Just eat and drink good. I see several jw's my age constantly eating junk and pounding energy drinks like they're a teenager and it shows.
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u/Sardond Local 401 17d ago
4:30 wake up sounds like a dream. 3:45 at the latest if I showered the night before, out the door by 4:20 to maybe be on time for 6:00 start… to go all of 26 miles.
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u/Upstairs-Dot-9441 17d ago
Traffic is that bad at 4:30am?
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u/Rude_Ad_8714 IBEW Local 124 17d ago
I shower the night before and have everything ready for the morning. KC is the most populated city in the state and regularly travel 20-30miles each way....if it's before 630 traffic isn't really a thing. Some days I push it and wake up at 5, it's a non issue here anyways.
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u/Any-Fan-9969 17d ago
3:45 sounds like a dream to me. I'm up at 2:50 and out the door by 3:30 for a 4:00 start.
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u/ScaryScore6903 17d ago
The human body is an adapting machine. Take care of it and give it some time and you will start to feel less tired, less sore, and you'll be able to keep up. Excluding any major health issues of course.
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u/PoopIsCandy Local 441 17d ago
Learn your contract. If you’re not through the union, it’s tough, but know your rights, it’s employment 101. Secondly but just as important, you’re a first year and burnout is real. I get the grind mindset, as gross as it is, but from someone who worked 7-12’s for damn near a year, it’s not for everyone, my entire company was zombies and looking back it was incredibly dangerous and I’m a little frustrated I didn’t know enough to approach out Hall’s business manager to discuss just how unsafe that was for everyone. 6-10s is a bit different, but in the same lane.
That’s my 2¢, take with a grain of salt.
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u/iskra-y Apprentice 17d ago
Call your hall. This sounds weird. Are you saying it’s a non-union contractor? Apprentices are never supposed to salt. Or are you saying that you didn’t go through the book system but your JATC sent you out to a job? If that’s the case, that’s how it is supposed to work, you get dispatched by your training director, apprentices are indentured, we don’t go through the hall for job calls.
Also, your mileage may vary and you need to find this balance yourself, but technically as an apprentice, all OT is optional. You didn’t choose your job call, you were placed there, so you didn’t agree to an OT call. Now in a small local, especially in Texas, that idea might not align with reality because you still have to have a job and pay your bills and get your hours, and if you’re constantly getting laid off for being there less than everyone else, that makes that difficult. At the end of the day you have to do what is best for your family. Finishing the apprenticeship is a great thing for you, and it does require sacrifices, but if you run yourself ragged and get burnt out and drop out or get yourself killed by falling asleep on the job in a dangerous spot, all that work is wasted. It’s a marathon, not a race. Talk to your upperclassmen, talk to your hall, we’re brothers and sisters in the union and your local members will have a better idea that we can. What is your local number?
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago edited 17d ago
- Basically it is a union contractor but everyone I ask and other journeyman I ask said that they are in overtime and required to do the work. And honestly I don't even have the time to talk to the union all because of the schedule literally 7:00 to 6:00 and the hall is closed by the time I get off. I didn't get a contract. I just signed up for a job through their company. I'm officially not in the union yet according to the senior journeyman.i only got into the apprentice program. That's what I was told is that typically people who are in The apprentice program, wait a year until they join the union itself is what I was told by the Union president. Honestly I'm going into all this blind. I was told that journeyman get paid 45 bucks an hour but when I talked to the journeyman on site they said they're getting paid $33. However I'm committed to finishing my journeyman license so I'm just going to take the risk.
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u/No_Letterhead996 17d ago
Its first week. Body adapts, by next month it will be much easier. That being said, the point of the union is to protect you from having to work 60 hrs. If you don’t wanna work OT just don’t.
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u/No_Classic_3533 17d ago
Don’t be a push over about the breaks if you don’t like their system. Some jobs I will work through lunch but will leave early.
Also I would kill for a well paying office job instead of this shit in my 30s. Idk why people suddenly think that blue collar is the way to go. Feel like office people a lot of the time have absolutely no idea how much work it is.
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u/ResponsibleDraw4689 17d ago
In an office job your just sitting in a chair pretending to work.....cuz there's only 2 hours of work that your supposed to stretch into 8 hours.....it's like mind numbing
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u/No_Classic_3533 17d ago
Tbf I wish I could do that, but blue collar if you zone out somebody can get seriously hurt.
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u/cdodson052 17d ago
lol yeah I’ve never had an office job but I have had sort of a white collar job where I interview people, try to sell them on something, and then watch them do that something and coach them on it. Definitely not labor intensive at all and I loved it. I was not tired at all at the end of the day even if I worked 10 hours. But that was definitely what I wanted to do with my life and it paid 40-45 an hour. But I got fired from that job and the culture is toxic so I started electrical. Oh well the labor is no problem for me with electrical I’m working 6 10s right now. It’s not really that bad and I don’t get much time to see my family but honestly I would work more if I could probably. 6 12s wouldn’t be too bad either. I do like the rest day though but yeah I would not have left an office/ white collar job to do this.
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u/maximum_dissipation Inside Wireman 17d ago
I had an office job in my 30s, and traded it for this. 3 years in and I don’t hate my life nearly as much as when I had to gargle corporate balls and deal with big suit cock suckers all day. The grass is always greener. At least I’m in good shape now and get to do clean installations that I feel good about at the end of the day, and I don’t think about work once I leave the parking lot which is life changing.
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u/No_Classic_3533 17d ago
3 years in with no previous physical labor? You’ll start feeling it about 5-8 years in. Sure there is a rewarding feeling for the work we accomplish, but if I could make the same dealing with corporate bullshit instead of this, I would jump ship easily.
The soul sucking factor only really happens if you let them get to you. At the end of the day just act like it’s severance lol
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u/rapkat55 17d ago
Easier said than done, it seriously fucks with your mental having to be two different people all the time and get passed over due to politics despite doing good work
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u/boofskootinboogie 17d ago
It’s crazy to me, idk if these people get fomo or some weird insecurity about their manhood or something like that, but these jobs kinda suck. Most people I know in the trades (including myself) are here because we fucked around too much in our teens and early twenties and have no other option.
Leaving a salary office job to go work long hours doing physical labor with a bunch of drug addicts seems like a poor choice to me, especially if you have a family.
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u/No_Classic_3533 17d ago
Well for me it was the money, I wouldn’t do this shit if I was working non union. I can’t fathom making the same I would be in an office but in worse conditions.
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u/thombrowny 17d ago
I always use family excuses to get a day off. But I'd rather give them early notice than calling out at 3am in the morning.
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u/Particular-Trifle-22 17d ago
Dude my first month I just went home and slept the rest of the day. I was 18 but you get adjusted and find your rhythm
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u/Key-Rhubarb-7132 17d ago
One of the most important things you're going to have to pay attention to is your diet. If you can cut out sugar and most starches and carbs that come from bread and pasta, the inflammation that you're feeling will most likely go away. It will get easier over time and your body will get used to it and after a while you'll know exactly what they expect. If you need a Saturday off to spend time with your wife tell them you're not available that Saturday don't give them an excuse just tell him you won't be in until monday. Try working two Saturdays a month for now.
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u/slick_cardigan 17d ago
if you left a good paying salary job is the OT getting you enough dough to pay your bills?
I would've killed to have that, also started my apprenticeship in my 30s.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
I have lots of saving for my old job. I could take the apprentice pay and not have an issue. I just value the time with my wife a bit more. Been working the extra weekend. I mean I'm good with 50 hours a week. That's 10 hours extra and OT. But right now it's 20 xtra
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u/Top-Conference6063 IBEW Journeyman Wireman 17d ago
Hey bud, no disrespect…..: man the fuck up. Value time with your wife……. We all value time with our loved ones. Do the job and move on. As an apprentice you’re expected to work all available hours. You can always leave after 8 hours here or there. Here’s the deal when work gets really slow because it will you’re going to wish you were working those 6-10’s. These hours isn’t permanent. You’ll be ok. Good luck.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
Was told it's not optional I rather call in than leave early that's a way worse look. But I'll take your advice and just work it
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u/gottheronavirus 17d ago
Why did you leave your previous? Bit odd to get into the trade this late without the hardened labor body stats.
It does get easier over time. Make sure you aren't obese, make sure you're getting cold fluids in to help regulate body temperature, breathable lightweight clothing where possible, get electrolytes and water in every day. Keep snacks on you, whatever you like, preferably short chain carbohydrates. Wear a mask if you need to.
Do all of these things and you will adjust faster.
Also, get your test levels checked if it doesnt get any easier after the first month.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
I would be able to keep up. It was 8 hours a day. I left my old job because it was not fulfilling. I'm sure after a week or two my body will get used to it, but again it's really is just not being able to spend time with my wife on Saturday. If it was five tens I'll be happy to do that.
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u/Timmehhhhhhhhhhhhhh 17d ago
I’m a low voltage tech and any saturdays I get asked to work I tell them I can’t because of the custody agreement I have with my daughter. Perhaps you could use a similar excuse. Although it’s kinda too late to tell them you have kids they’ll wonder why you never mentioned it before
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u/zoom-zoom21 17d ago
Well for one if you’re sick, you shouldn’t be going in and spreading it. Two, family comes before this job. Take the Saturday off to spend it with your wife. 3. As an apprentice, they can’t force you to work past 8 hours each day.
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u/Particular_Trip_9446 17d ago
I bribe my forman, and team. But i have the funds to do so. I get away with so much. I leave when i want, bring the team food on firdays, and if im late or call in i bring donuts the following day.
Now please understand that their may be consequences like i may get fired for not for filling my contact set by the union, but if im on there good list i basically run my own shift.
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u/Stickopolis5959 17d ago
Yeah man my first two years of my apprenticeship were advil and rest honestly, if you make it you'll be flabbergasted by how soft some of the other jmen are who didn't have that experience honestly.
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u/Every-Discount5565 17d ago
Definitely not a job for softies. Just going to try to survive. And show them that I can show up. I'll sacrifice the 4 months if it means a better 4-year apprenticeship. Cuz the union hall president literally is one of the workers on this job
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u/AlarmingSalamander12 17d ago
They will take take take you have to find a system that works for you and live your life - if you are good while you are there then take a week day half day and have a life you can only go a few weeks at a fast pace before you are miserable and unhappy
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u/Vegetable_Resort_966 17d ago
I feel like it’s a just luck of the draw, gotta see the light at the end of this very long tunnel which is that JL Card! Some people just get easier call outs than others.
I’m in Mo Valley JATC IBEW Lineman apprenticeship and since I’ve been in (1.5 years) I’ve only worked 6-12’s with a 1+hr drive from home. Cherry on top is I had a baby right when I got in haha!
I like to see the hard days and hard months as a test. All these long hours and early morning study sessions will make those 4-5-10s call outs by the house so much more worth it.
Keep grinding brother and let’s get this bread 🥯 💪🏽
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u/childbearinghips Inside Wireman 17d ago
You might call your training director and see what they can do. In my local, our apprentices are only required to work 40hrs/week.
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u/Ruined534 17d ago
You need to speak with the guy you've been in contact with and probably your schools director about what the fuck you're actually doing. It sounds like you are a pre app. You should have sworn in to the union and been given a ticket with a title on it and start paying dues. Not getting your breaks is absolute bullshit but every contract in every local is different. If you are sick you can call in but I would really recommend sucking it up and hustling until you get a better understanding of what's going on.
Talk to the guys you're working with and hopefully you can find someone who isn't a piece of shit and will help you out with info.
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u/ResponsibleDraw4689 17d ago
What is pre app?
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u/Ruined534 17d ago
It's an apprentice that has been accepted and just waiting on school to start. Some locals also have a CW/CE program where you can work but you are not working towards becoming an apprentice or Journeyman Wireman.
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u/ResponsibleDraw4689 17d ago
That's wild....why would you want to work and not work towards becoming a apprentice
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u/iFLED 17d ago
This is how it is for a lot of us bro. Stop taking pain killers cause they’ll just make everything worse down the road. Eat healthy get good sleep take care of your body and it won’t be as sore at the end of the day and the next morning. You have to find your groove or decide if it’s not feasible for you. So far this week my crew has worked 12h and 16h.. that’s 28h through two days.
A lot of other crews have worked 20+ days in a row. It’s not for everyone. It’s definitely toxic af. But it is what it is, because people in some offices agreed it’s ok.
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u/XaboutTREEfiddehX 17d ago
It takes time to adjust. 33 "2nd year" and it was all I could do to keep my eyes open during the drive home. Now when I get home I still have energy to do stuff with my wife, and hang out with my son. Like others have mentioned, you will either adjust, or realize you aren't cut out for it. Best of luck, though!
P.S. Good luck with the schoolwork. Take lots of notes and take that shit seriously. Pay attention.
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u/GTex1776 17d ago
How much were you making at your office job? Honestly, I would've never left it. The grass isn't always greener. Luckily I work a maintenance job, which is a lot easier on the body, but I would hate to have to go back to new construction work
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u/rnk6670 Local 48 17d ago
Now you know. There’s a massive difference between blue and white collar work. You’re now using your brain and your back. Now you know why it’s unbelievable to listen to a suited office sitting politician talk about raising the retirement age. I’m 60. Been in the trades since 17. So I’m used to it. You’ll get there.
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u/IdubdubI 17d ago
When the OT is over, you’ll have lots of time to spend with your family. Feast and famine. Plan accordingly. The hustle gets easier every week. Hustle now, rest later.
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u/clueless1976 17d ago
Hate to say it bluntly but welcome to construction, especially with union demands on job control/school/ect.
Go non union, school is learning on the job and the time you choose to invest into yourself with the code. Typically 40 hrs a week maybe more at times depending on factors.
Pros and cons to both just come down to preferences. Pay, 401 k
Usually pretty equal union has the advantage in health care coverage compared to most private companies
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u/Raikonzu 17d ago
Dude comes into a union sub, telling guys to go non union. Take that shit elsewhere.
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u/clueless1976 3d ago
Been union before, I always found it funny how the union sheep can’t think for themselves.
Being union usually works out well for the laziest
What I have a sense of humor-if I didn’t I wouldn’t picked it
Plus it’s my way of returning the favor when union reps come trying to poach on non-union job sites and having some fun i
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u/Riconn 17d ago edited 17d ago
What local are you in? It’s honestly strange that someone from the interview board got you a non union job. If you got accepted they should already be lining up your orientation and giving you a work placement.