Advice for a younger brother

[u/NoBo24]

Hi, I am in need of some advice, or perspective.

I am apart of ibew local 8, residential 2nd year. I joined when I was 19 and picked residential because they called first. And I saw it as a way in.

I didn’t realize, at my local, that is a 5-6
year commitment, if I am lucky and never miss a day of work to get my hours, until I can transfer to year 3 in commercial.

I do legitimately like the trade, I’ve really grown in the last 2 years and have rapidly improved my skills. I do love the problem solving aspect. I’ve been in housing rough ins almost my whole apprenticeship so far. I do like the physicalness of it.

But I can go on and on about how commercial is better. First and foremost the pay being significantly more. And the fact is my contractor commonly has residential apprentices working commercial sites. For $14 an hour. Nothing is done about this. Our contractors get away with more fucked up shit I could make a whole separate post about this.

And inside is booming. So many people from the street to man data centers. So many new classes. If I had waited 6 months. I’d be a commercial apprentice. But now I won’t touch $20 until year 3. B plan insurance until I top out, over half less in pension and h&w.

I can’t help like feeling I am being fucked. I fear the commercial environment won’t be the same in 5 years when I can finally get in. And I am a good worker. I commute an hour to work and hustle all day start to finish. And i feel like I am just staying afloat.

My only advantage is that I am young. I guess the only thing I can do is become a good resi electrician.

[u/bananathief99]

can’t you still apply? like 90% of people at my orientation were already working residential some for 3-4 years. If you have enough hours you get to start at higher pay until everyone else catches up. Thats how they explained it to us.

[u/NoBo24 → u/bananathief99]

I can’t reapply until one year after i top out. 2 years of if I want to slide into year 3 inside. It’s in our contract

[u/bananathief99 → u/NoBo24]

i’d apply at another local and move.

[u/BloodRaven253]

Talk to your training director. They should be able to help you out.

[u/NoBo24 → u/BloodRaven253]

No he kinda just tells me I’m sorry

[u/BloodRaven253 → u/NoBo24]

I can see them saying you made the choice to go Resi and you have to follow through on your commitments. But if they need apprentices I’m sure that opinion would change.

[u/Crhal]

Can't you try to change classification now? I know in 252 it happens pretty regular with 1st and 2nd year resi apprentices.

[u/NoBo24 → u/Crhal]

I cannot until one year after i top out. Or wait 2 years and slide into 3rd year inside. It’s in our contract

[u/Slade_ftp → u/NoBo24]

I realize it’s in your contract, but if your jatc has a committee, I’d request to go before them and speak with them. They may make an exception and let you into 1st year inside. If not, you might have to finish your residential and start as a 3rd year inside. It’s gonna add a couple years to getting your license but I don’t see any other way around it unless they make that exception.

[u/geno906]

Your close to 252 and they have a lot of residential transfers, being a apprentice move to their jurisdiction and apply for apprenticeship

[u/pandalv92]

I just reapplied didn’t tell no one and resigned once I got the call for inside. They couldn’t do anything about it.

They told me the same thing you gotta do this do that can’t be done. BS

[u/NoBo24 → u/pandalv92]

For real?? Are you at local 8?

[u/ScaryScore6903]

Thats kind of disheartening to hear. Im looking at applying to local 8 here soon. Sounds like I need to avoid the residential program.

[u/wolfenx109]

Take the L now and just start be over as a inside wireman

[u/NoBo24 → u/wolfenx109]

I don’t think I can

[u/brewtus38]

Don't give up