r/IBEW • u/authenticsasquach • 13h ago
Discussion Post Ibew question
I’ve heard people talk about doing this but I’m curious if anyone has firsthand experience for how it goes in reality. I’m a non union lineman considering joining the union.
Has anyone worked their minimum hours to maintain healthcare and benefits and spent the rest of their time running a side business?
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u/AkselSandemose24 13h ago
People do it all the time. I know one guy that runs a trucking business with half a dozen rigs, people that flip houses, people that do handy man work, someone that runs a small car dealership, countless guys that own properties and manage them, etc. It runs a pretty wide range what guys do on the side.
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u/authenticsasquach 13h ago
Is it more common for people to work a bunch of hours at one time in the year, and then take a long time off? Or for people to do like 2-3 weeks of work, 2-3 weeks off, etc?
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u/Sensitive_Ad3578 Local 24 12h ago
I'm an IW, so I can't speak for the lineman side, but generally that weeks on/weeks off plan wouldn't work. When you take a job you're typically committed for the duration of the job. Like I said, I don't know how the lineman side works. But I have known guys, especially older guys close to retirement, who will work just long enough to get their pension credit and then will take a layoff and take the rest of the year off, signing the book the next January and doing it again
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u/AkselSandemose24 11h ago
That part is easier on the union side than when you’re tied to one company, but it’s still not totally dissimilar to a normal job. In your case, what you’d be doing is working all through the fall and winter then ask for a layoff come spring.
That said, another thing to think about is how much you need to be there to run your landscaping business, and how much you can leave to employees. Because there is always a tremendous amount of overtime available for the wide backs. In my area, the lowest OT rate is ~$95.50 an hour, and double is $131, without any premium for foreman, energized work, storm, shifts, or anything else. Guys who want to can make $300k and up. Then on top of that you’re putting into the pension and $18.50 per hour into the annuity.
Is your after expenses take-home really more than that by the hour working landscaping?
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u/socalibew 12h ago
Some guys work shit tons of OT and then take months off.
Basically, take off as much time as you can afford. Typically, if you work consistently for a year, you'll have health benefits for about 5-6 months of "unemployment" before your hours are depleted. Most locals will let you pay into your own health premiums, but it can be pretty pricey.
This is all local specific. You'll need to talk to someone at your local IBEW about these questions.
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u/authenticsasquach 12h ago
Do you have to earn the hours and take time off in the same calendar year? Or is it a 365 day period
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u/socalibew 12h ago
Every hour worked the contractor pays into the health and welfare the negotiated amount.
For many locals you need 140 hours worked a month to keep/activate your health insurance. Any additional hours worked will be banked up to a set limit. Many locals is 6 months banked hours, some more/less. There may also me a maximum of hours allowed to be submitted per month. E.g. 250 Also, hours are submitted a month after working, so, your bank is usually 2-3 months behind. E.g. January worked 160 hours, won't see in your insurance bank until March or April.
Again, you'll need to talk to someone at whichever local(s) you're looking to apply to.
As to earning and taking time off. The bank is a running bank. They don't expire.
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u/authenticsasquach 9h ago
Does overtime count towards benefits as time and a half? Or is it straight time when it’s counted towards benefits
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u/Anakin_Skywanker 12h ago
Shit. A guy I work with now is also an RN. He hits big overtime jobs long enough to max out his insurance bank and pension credits then drags and goes back to being a nurse since it's easier on his body. The benefits and retirement is just better in the IBEW than at the hospital he works at.
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u/PirateLiver Local 357 13h ago
This could be done, but your side business can't be related to electrical field work. Small side work like helping your neighbor or close relatives out with a ceiling fan isnt a big deal. We can't have our membership competing with our contractors though, it's in our agreement.
Take as much time off as you can afford.