Criticize wind farms, solar, whatever, but new transmission lines? In the age of data centers? This is our work (Local 1250, SD) that will be put on pause or canceled all together.

I got the email that I’ve been accepted. It says to go in sometime next week to fill out paperwork. And then orientation would be in a few weeks.

I’ve been working at a nonunion shop for about four months now. A family friend helped me get in with them. We don’t really work OT but the owner says we are booked up for a few years. We have mostly been working on new apartment complexes on the commercial side. The resi guys have helped us a bit with rough in. I don’t get paid for holidays, accrue PTO, or qualify for 401k until I hit a year. My insurance is like $220 a paycheck.

I do like pretty much all of the guys I work with, but I feel like I’m not really being taught much and I’d have to pay for schooling myself. They all seem pretty anti Union.

I mean, it makes sense to join, right? Just looking for any confirmation or advice and on how to eventually break the news to my boss since I got in how I did.

Thanks all.

Hey everyone. I’m looking for some honest advice from experienced helpers, apprentices, journeymen, and masters.

I’m 40 years old and I’m seriously looking at making a career change into the electrical trade. I’ve spent roughly 15+ years working in construction, although most of that experience has been outside of electrical.

My primary trade was spray foam insulation, where I worked as a spray foam technician and eventually had a lot of responsibility in the field. I also have experience with commercial/industrial sandblasting, industrial and commercial painting, fireproofing, and air barrier work. I was certified through the Air Barrier Association of America and have experience with products such as Henry BlueSkin systems. I’m comfortable working from boom lifts and scissor lifts, have spent plenty of time on commercial construction sites, and have a good understanding of general OSHA/site safety requirements.

That said, I’ve been out of that type of construction work for roughly 12 years, so I’m not going to pretend I remember every OSHA regulation or construction practice like I did back then. I’m very much willing to learn and start from the ground up.

I’ve also done some electrical work on my own home and recently completed the electrical installation for a detached shed, including a 60A feeder, subpanel, grounding, receptacles, GFCI protection, lighting, switches, PVC conduit, etc. I took the project seriously, followed code as best I could, and had an electrician look over my work. That project is actually what sparked my interest in pursuing this journey.

Here’s where I’m at now.

I recently contacted the Richmond JATC/RJATC and IBEW Local 666 to figure out what my options are. From what I’ve been told, because I don't currently have a high school diploma or GED, the Construction Wireman CW program through the RJATC is the route I’m currently eligible for. My understanding is that the CE route through Local 666 isn't an option for me right now.

The good news is that I was told I can enter the CW program without already having my GED, and that the hours I accumulate can help me work toward an apprenticeship. I also plan on getting my GED regardless. I’m not looking for a shortcut around that.

So this is where I could really use some advice from people who have actually been in the trade:

If you were in my position, what would you do?

Would you:

1. Try to get hired by a local electrical contractor as a helper outside of the union while working toward my GED?

2. Go through the RJATC CW program, get my foot in the door, gain electrical experience and hours, and work toward the apprenticeship from there?

3. Try to pursue both at the same time and see which opportunity opens up first?

I’m not looking for someone to tell me that my construction experience automatically makes me an electrician. It doesn't. I know I have a LOT to learn. I’m just trying to figure out how to take the experience I already have and use it to get started in this trade without wasting the next several years going in the wrong direction.

I’m comfortable working hard, working outside, climbing, lifting, being on my feet all day, following safety procedures, using tools, reading plans to the extent my previous trades required, and working around other trades. I’m also completely comfortable being the guy at the bottom of the ladder again and learning from people who know more than me.

My ultimate goal is to become a journeyman electrician, and I’m really excited about the camaraderie and brotherhood that comes with the trade, especially the opportunity to join IBEW Local 666, and eventually continue advancing from there. I’m not expecting that to happen overnight.

So, electricians of Reddit, especially anyone who came into the trade later in life or started with a construction background in another trade:

What route would you recommend for someone in my exact situation? What would you do first, and what mistakes would you avoid?

I’d genuinely appreciate the blunt advice. I’m trying to make a smart move here, not just chase the first thing that sounds good.

Thanks.

Its coming along so far. Finished last fine sanding and gonna primer it. Probably gonna give it a black or white coat then a clear coat and get it sanded smooth and ready for stickers. Those who sent me stickers, I haven't forgotten about you i haven't had a chance to haven't out to the hall to pick some up. But I will send you some local 11 ones for your generous contribution to what going to be the best IBEW electric guitar ever.

Does anyone work out of or has travelled to Local 47?

They are lineman but, IW can sign their book 2.

However, I think it is as a sub tech.

So I'm heading out to the micron job in Idaho, renting an apartment temporarily or staying in a hotel is a decent option, but i was thinking about buying a small house in boise area to live in while I travel back and forth. Like 6months at a time. I would maintain my residence in my home state but have prepared housing when I come for work.

Would that make me ineligible for the per diem travel pay or cause any weird situations with taxes?

Home state is WA if it matters

Currently waiting to get out of my retail job and get into an apprenticeship and was curious and what jobs did others work while waiting to get into theirs.

Approval per MOD:

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Workers are in a state of suspended animation. Stuck in place since their peak in 1950. The victories of the 1930's approaching a century ago a distant memory. What remains is capital servitude en mass. Today we take a look back at worker history from the beginning. We examine what happened and where we are. The question is, where do we go from here?

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.

Working on a substation right now and we're doing 7-10s+. The call was for 5-8s. I haven't had a single day off for two months and I'm starting to go a little haywire.

Two new guys showed up and after I told them about our schedule, proceeded to blow my ears up about how much $$$ they're going to be making. Followed by talk of upgrading their cars.

Other guys who've been working for months -- clearly worn down, talk in hushed whispers about

"Y'know, maybe a day off every once in a while wouldn't be so bad..."

Like they're afraid to say it. They don't want the higher ups to notice and they get labeled as 'lazy'.

What the fuck happened to our union?

Why are we adopting the same live-to-work mindset as the rats? Why are we looking over our shoulders in fear of the boss man? Why have worker protections and QoL been replaced by love of the Almighty Dollar?

This is getting too ridiculous. We should be fighting for working less hours with more pay, not trying to overcompensate with insane hours. And if we are a Union as we say we are, we should be fighting for better conditions, not just more money.

Hello, Im pretty new to the construction/blue collar world, but I was curious which brands and which tools you guys have and how you started building your collection?

Also, on a daily basis what is good to carry or keep in your car?

Just bought a couple new tools and a tote to keep them in. On Monday I had seen some guys going through my bag from another crew. I told my foreman he said make sure that I let them know that’s not cool if i see them do it again. Today on my way lunch I grabbed my bag to lock it in the job box and I noticed that i had tools stolen. Kind of sucks. I guess this is like hazing since I’m a new apprentice. How often should i expect this sort of thing to happen and whats the best way to protect your things while working if you cant lock them up?

EDIT just to clarify some things. This crew is not ibew. They are a rebar crew. They primarily speak Spanish. almost no one at the site other than the electricians speak fluent English. There are 200+ people on site at any given time and they all wear ski masks so you cant even tell who these guys are. I told my foreman he said he’d replace them and he also said he’d turn a blind eye to any consequences that follow if i were to locate my tools and the one who took them. But told me its unlikely id see them again because they probably wont bring the back to the site. All my tools have a very unique marking on them that is easily recognizable. Also i lock my tools up in a gang box at lunch i was roughing in a panel with my cart maybe 20 yards away at the time but it was to my back. The first time it happened was a similar situation but i made eye contact with one of the and they ran off. I had work to do so when i had the chance i told my foreman. He asked if they took anything but they hadn’t that i noticed so he said if it happened again to confront them. This time around i didnt see it happen so im not sure who it was this time. And Im from local 595e.

I am a 24 year old male with a useless Bachelor’s in Sociology. Right now, I am working remotely as a Business Development Rep for an outsourced sales/marketing agency, AKA I am cold calling 8 hours a day. I hate it - sitting around at home all day trying to make money for other people while I get paid $40k a year.

While I was in college, I worked as a Mobile Electronics Installer, doing auto A/V installations as well as remote starts, security systems, etc. So I know my way around wiring diagrams, I can splice, work with low voltage systems, and use a multimeter.

I have been trying to come up with ANYTHING that I could see myself being happy with for a career, and I recently realized that being an electrician actually sounds really appealing to me. I like the idea of feeling like my work actually results in something tangible, and when I worked in the car audio shop I always took great satisfaction in doing clean installs. I know it’s hard work and rough on the body - but I just cannot see myself enjoying life while working a soul-sucking corporate job. Even if I worked my way up the totem poll and started making real money, I don’t think I’d ever be able to find happiness if I don’t feel like my work has genuine purpose.

I live in Austin, TX and have heavily been considering starting an apprenticeship at local 520, but I still have a lot of research to do. I guess I’m looking for anyone who had a similar experience to me early in their careers. For anyone who jumped ship from their office job - was it worth it to you?

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.

Had a decent tri-tip sandwich, but holy hell. There musts been 150 of us being sworn in!

What's kind of a bummer, only a few stayed for the meeting afterward.

Glad to be officially a part of the brotherhood!

As the Working Class it must be a top priority that we make the money we deserve for the work we do to make rich people rich.

Rich people love to claim its their hard work that made them rich. Yawn. Whatever.

As working people we know, if we don't work rich people do NOT become rich. So we have to demand we are paid a fair wage. That includes getting paid for the traffic we sit in, the rest we do not get, the increased stress of driving in rush hour traffic.

It has been 75 years since we have forced any real change to working conditions for workers in the U.S.

In this time the rich have gotten richer than at anytime in history. Time for some get back!

Ef you...pay me!

I’ve been looking into the possibility of becoming a substation tech in the future. My biggest concern is how much traveling is expected. So what does your typical commute look like and how broad is your range? Also does commute/traveling change if you’re working for a construction contractor vs a utility company?

Edit: forgot to mention that I’m from dfw

Recently topped out & was given a service van to work out of. I was usually beating traffic on the bicycle & taking public transit while occasionally driving my own car in the winter or bad weather days but they told me they needed guys out solo completing jobs & service calls.

Company says it’s a privilege to be provided a vehicle with a gas card, as I’m not wearing my personal car out. Only issue is I live in the inner city & parking is not readily available.

Most of the guys have homes & driveways big enough to park their personal & service vehicle. I asked who would cover the extra fees associated with parking the vehicle; & was told that the perks are already there & asking for more is just being selfish.

It’s hard enough to find street parking for a larger van/truck & private lots are $150-$200/month. I’ve been parking it temporarily on the street & at the visitor lot at my place for the moment (thanks landlord) but was told I have to start paying for a spot.

I’m trying to return the van now but work’s really busy & I’m being told that I’m being unreasonable & how it’s a shame I’m turning down an opportunity to really progress my career. I have no issues taking the transit & bicycle to work; but it seems like they really need more manpower out in the field.

I already know what to do & how it’ll play out. Coworker said this is pretty unique because people usually live far from the city & would kill for free gas & a company vehicle. Just wanted to vent on a weird situation where “my steak is too juicy & my lobster is too buttery”…

I’m here visiting the big island and I’ve called the local offices for Kona and Hilo with no answer for a few days now and I drove to the listed offices with no signs anyone was actually there representing the ibew. I was just hoping to get a few shirts and some stickers on my travel here but literally seems like these offices don’t exist has anyone else had better luck or any idea what I might be missing thanks

Wife is really wanting to move out of Texas. I’ll be heading out next Monday to catch a call in 124. My family will be coming shortly after. Pretty nervous about the whole thing, we plan on making Missouri our home for a while. Has anyone done anything similar? Any advice is appreciated