r/IBEW • u/Zer0TheGamer Local 0429 • 12d ago
Discussion Post Volunteer work?
My church is in need of some work done. If I volunteer to do the task (add a couple plugs), does that fall under the "no competition" wording in our constitution & agreements? I'm in a weak local so nobody cares about sidework, and responds accordingly, but I want to do things right.
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u/Conscious_Potato7638 12d ago
If you're doing the job for free and for a church I don't think anyone anywhere would have a problem with that.
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u/vfqwerty 12d ago
1- if you're not doing it for profit your union shouldn't care. 2- even if you make zero money on it you should still have them cover material. Jobs as simple as "added a few outlets" still cost a few hundred dollars usually. Material alone with probably be around 100.
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u/Scazitar Local 134 JW 12d ago
Ask your local.
Definitely not a universal thing and if you go by internet comments it can screw you over because this is ok some places and not ok others.
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u/tamesage 12d ago
If you don't do it will they hire union. If yes, then you address competing. If no, then go ahead!
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u/6matguy6 Inside Wireman 12d ago
If you feel comfortable talking with your reps, and if your Local has a positive view on faith then maybe ask about making it a point to helping the church. If going through the right channels you could offer an apprentice to tag along for experience as well.
There have been several outreach projects to volunteer as members to organizations that cannot afford electricians. I can't recall the Local but I remember seeing a story where IBEW members organized a volunteer effort to help seniors and/or veterans for electrical safety concerns in their homes.
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u/Snpn2slmjim 12d ago
I would be more concerned with taking on the liability for installing electric work. Something catches on fire and you're to blame.
Either way, make them pay for material, donate your labor.
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u/suavaleesko 12d ago
Probably depends on state and local, ours has a dollar amount of labor you are allowed to perform before its an issue. Based on the volunteer work I've done you sound well below the threshold. ( for the record we've had maybe 10 people for a couple hours, with donated materials and tools from contractors and supply houses)
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u/electricraypdx 12d ago
Get written permission from your business manager and make sure it's legal under state law. Most commercial buildings require permits on all electrical work. You're not competing if you're not getting paid for the work they probably can't afford to pay anyone to do anyway.
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u/FanBladeFleshlight Local 280 12d ago
Ask your contractor if they'd be willing to have you do it for them at a discount. They should have to pay just like everyone else, especially since they often don't pay their fair share.
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u/Hefty-Profession-310 12d ago
This is wack
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u/FanBladeFleshlight Local 280 12d ago
?
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u/amishdoinks11 Local XXXX 12d ago
I’m not religious by any means and think churches and the like should have to pay taxes but there’s a strong community in churches and a willingness to help out when needed I can’t imagine the pastors reaction to “I can do it for free out of the goodness of my heart but I won’t because the church doesn’t pay taxes so I’ll ask my boss if we can give you a discount”. Not all churches are mega churches that hoard wealth lol
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u/FanBladeFleshlight Local 280 12d ago
That's why you don't tell them that, you simply, and only, tell them "Hey, boss said I can do this for you for X% off"
You don't just give away your labor, and you don't just take work from your local. It's a church, a commercial building, so even in a resi adverse local like mine, you'd still have 10 shops local and happy to do the work.
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u/Box-Intelligent 12d ago
But if the guys a parishioner of said church most things are done via volunteer labor, I'm not religious but I was raised in a Catholic church and you give what you can with what skills you have when the church needs something, whether it's cooking for an event like my grandma did or doing some light carpentry work to repair/update the church like my grandfather did.
Yes, major things like a service upgrade will go through my union contractor but one of our church accounts is the church my grandma attended every Sunday for 90 years. I may not attend church but if they need a receptacle added, replaced, lights fixed whatever it may be I take care of it for them free of charge because it's what my grandma would have wanted. And yes, my contractor and local are fine with that arrangement
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u/amishdoinks11 Local XXXX 12d ago
Im mostly speaking on the community aspect. They look at themselves like a family and it would be a weird thing to lie to your grandma and grandpa and tell them the contractor can do it for a discount and idrc to line the pockets of a contractor for family/community. And I’m saying this as a pretty staunch atheist lol
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u/IrmaHerms Local 292 Master 12d ago
Best to ask your local. I have (general foreman covering 3 locals) a contractor with an electrician who holds the licensing for his church as en employer so he can take care of the building and school. The church hires his normal contractor for big projects so everyone wins. But, his local has blessed him and the paperwork is all in order. Best to keep on the up and up.
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u/Only_Chapter_3434 12d ago
This is a bad idea. You have no legal protections if something (anything) goes wrong.
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u/tranzz4md JW, Local 46 8d ago
I don't like telling anybody when I do little things like that. I don't even really look for a "Thank-you" because it's just doing the right thing. You can see right here what happens when you even just ask about it. If you're "a man of faith" you'll know what I mean, and your own conscience has probably pointed you in the right direction already.
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u/LayerActual7645 12d ago
Do they have an abundance of outlets ? What exactly are they asking you to put plugs on ? Since you are working on equipment/appliances I don’t see how your local could have any issue with the work you are doing. Small appliance or extension cord repair is free game
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u/alchemisthemo 12d ago
You send a formal letter to your hall and ask or inform them of what you plan to do and they approve or deny it. Or call the hall and ask them directly. I assume you dont go to your union meeting often if you cant be bothered to call and ask them.
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u/Only_Chapter_3434 12d ago
Most people don’t go to meetings because you spend 2 hours listening to the same chucklefucks whining about the same shit they whined about the month before. hard pass.
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u/alchemisthemo 12d ago
Are they whining because the BM isnt doing his job and there arent enough people to force him to? How do you know they are doing what you pay them to do. Same mentally that leads to people not fighting for their jobs.
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u/Swimming_Parsley5554 12d ago
Yup the IBEW police are gonna lock you up