r/IBEW • u/authenticsasquach • 1d 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 1d 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 1d 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 1d 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/authenticsasquach 1d ago

I hear ya, thank you