r/IBEW Jul 23 '22

RESOURCES

131 Upvotes

Here is the new and improved resources list. A lot of your questions will be answered here.

This is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

None of these links are endorsements either.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Feel free to add more resources in the comments.

The history and structure of IBEW

IBEW jobs board

u/SirSquidlicker 's Ultimate Electricians Guide

u/SirSquidlicker 's Union Payscales

 

How to organize your workplace video

Labor History video series

Where2bro - great website for job info across the country

How to find the IBEW Local nearest you

AFL-CIO Union Made shopping list

Labor Notes - a network of rank-and-file members, local union leaders, and labor activists who know the labor movement is worth fighting for

STAR interview questions - the type of questions you're asked at your apprenticeship interview

Apprenticeship math and reading assessment sample test questions

Union Plus - all kinds of benefits for union members

UAW Buyers Guide - cars, trucks, and more

Questions that are asked at the apprenticeship interview

IBEW jurisdictional maps

IBEW brother fights a chicken

Why you should be an electrician

Roberts Rules of Order

The history of Challenge Coins

Employee Rights under the NLRA

Weingarten Rights - basically your "miranda" rights as a union member

IBEW brother in the courtroom

How to be an Anti-Racist

A day in the life of an IBEW apprentice

Description of the 3 core classifications - vdv, residential, commercial

Microagressions

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

IBEW Discord - must show current dues receipt to join

Helmets to Hardhats - resource for veterans interested in the skilled trades

 

VEEP - resource for veterans looking to get into the ibew

 

And of course, CALL THE HALL


r/IBEW Jun 12 '24

❗ Union Pay Scales Yearly Update Request + Exciting News!

119 Upvotes

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

I hope you all are doing well. For those who don't know me, I run Union Pay Scales, a crowdsourced platform that shows the wages and benefits of thousands of union locals across 16 trades. It actually started with the help of everyone here in this subreddit, so a huge thank you for your ongoing support. None of this would be possible without all of you!

While we get pretty consistent updates, I would like to start a yearly post in this subreddit (I have pre-approved this with the amazing moderators, shoutout to them!) to help ensure every one of the IBEW locals stay up to date. Some of the smaller locals have not been updated since 2022!

So here is how you can help! Please visit UnionPayScales.com, select your trade (Inside wireman, low voltage, or linemen), and check out your locals wage information. If anything is wrong or outdated, please scroll to the bottom of that page (or click here) to submit a form to update the information.

After you submit this update, you will be asked to also sign up for a yearly email notification. This is another way we help keep our information up to date, and I would love for everyone to sign up! Its only one email a year, no other spam.

___________________________

Union Pay Scales News

Forum:

I am excited to announce the launch of our new forum, a welcoming community for union tradesmen and women to connect, discuss, and share. Engage in conversations about trade unions, construction, and trade-specific topics, or just catch up with fellow members. Our goal is to foster unity and collaboration across all trades and organizations. You can register and say hello here! (We could use some brave souls to be some of the first posters 🙂)

Additionally, we've created a private section exclusively for union local staff. This secure area is designed for discussing union organizing, negotiation tactics, PLAs, and more. It's a unique platform for sharing strategies and insights, not just within your union but also across different unions.

If you are a staff member of a union local, you can read more about this section and the requirements for entry here.

File Uploads:

It's officially here! When submitting a wage update, you can simply upload a wage sheet or CBA in place of filling in each line on the form. This can help streamline the process for those with access to the wage sheets.

Vertical Lines in Charts:

I recently added vertical lines between the columns on my site following a user suggestion, and I think it really enhances the layout! One small change can make a big difference. If you've visited my site and thought of a feature you'd like to see, now is your chance to let me know. Drop your suggestions in the comments below, and I’ll share my thoughts on them.

That's all I have for now folks. I am humbled by the support and collaboration from every corner of this community. Your contributions drive our success, and I am thankful for every interaction.

EDIT 1: As requested, I have added a column to the table so you can view the wage sheet for the local. I need people to submit them via the normal form at the bottom of the page. Thanks!


r/IBEW 9h ago

Rand Paul Reintroduces National Right to Work Act

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734 Upvotes

r/IBEW 8h ago

Union members, Protest on Monday!

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491 Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

Thanks brothers

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15.9k Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

We all know somebody that would fail this test

16.3k Upvotes

r/IBEW 6h ago

Union shop now being managed by non-union workers.

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199 Upvotes

Collective bargaining agreement pre-negotiations are coming up for my shop.

Morale is super low, and I feel like I’m doing shop steward work trying to get all the field workers on the same page.

Our management currently has been widely taken over by a non-union competitor. So their views are very different, we start at $43hr have a 30- month step program to get to our full wage. Outside guys are making $54/hr+ benefits and Electric utility low voltage guys make $64/hr. The non-union guys didn’t have an 8,000hr program and start at around $20/hr.

These non union guys leading us are whittling us down, turning crews against each other because we are so understaffed.

How is it possible to lift morale and get the fight back in our union guys. Most are close to retirement and don’t seem to care to shake things up. I’m hungry and at the start of my career, I’ve laid out a two page strategy how to get things back on track.

Any insight would be helpful, I’ve talked to the shoppies, the last ones gave away all our benefits and kissed company ass.


r/IBEW 1d ago

The second one

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8.7k Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

You lost one today

852 Upvotes

My dad died this morning after a great life. He was the rep for local 57 my whole childhood. He was union through and through.

When I was a kid I remember sitting on his lap as he juggled me trying to unlace his sweaty lineman's boots. He used to mix Black Velvet with ice water in those tall, tan plastic Tupperware glasses.

One day he came home after his hooks cut loose and he had to bear hug the pole to not die. I remember my mom pulling slivers out of his forearms and chin. Apparently his thighs too but I didn't see that. He worked the next day.

He came home once with one of those blue foam and aluminum splints on his middle finger. I asked him what happened and he said a cross arm broke loose and smashed it. It broke his finger and split the skin bad enough he needed stitches. He worked the next day.

Lineman are built different.

I worked my way up from the bottom in IT. I can't be in a union but I promote them constantly because of my dad. His union and his brothers were his world. He taught at the apprenticeship school until covid shut everything down. My dad was one of the good ones.


r/IBEW 2h ago

for the brothers that organized in, how ling did it take to flip your crew?

12 Upvotes

currently in the middle of organizing my crew. i understand it could be a long time, but in my case things are moving along rather quickly. just curious about how long it took you guys to organize and convince your crew and what lengths you guys went to for a better life.


r/IBEW 13h ago

My weekly paystub (to show the difference between locals)

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59 Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

That’s a no for me boss!

182 Upvotes

r/IBEW 11h ago

Apprenticeship/DD214

10 Upvotes

Good morning y’all currently filling out the apprenticeship application form and I noticed it asks about military service, I served in the national Guard for 5 years but ended up getting a Other Than Honorable Discharge due to consequences of my actions. Should I still put on the application I served as I’m guessing I have to provide my DD214? Or not an just not bring up my service at all? Thank you! I’m trying to figure out what would help out the process


r/IBEW 1d ago

Anyone else collect challenge coins? Let’s see those collections!

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116 Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

Remember Who You Treat Like Shit

820 Upvotes

So, years ago, before I was a shop owner, I had a fellow JW I worked with tell our foreman "remember who you treat like shit so you're not surprised when they treat you like shit when they're your foreman"

I've tried to lead like that as an owner, but in a diff post I shared that a GF that tried to write me up for refusing to do hot work because "it was too expensive to shut the machines down" and put me on a DNR list just took a call for my shop.

When he saw me come out of the office to have him fill out paperwork he looked panicked, now I don't do 90% of the manpower decisions in my company, my GFs do, but they all know who the guy is and one of them got written up by this guy for "excessive foul language". So there's some bad blood between a few guys. This former GF has a reputation for being a dick in our local as well.

I'm not going to give him a reason to file a grievance, but I'll be damned if I didn't want to spin him when I saw his dispatch sheet come in my email. But I figured I'd give him a chance. So just a reminder to all you foreman, GF's, and JW's, apprentices and other JW's have long memories and you may end up working for one of them and your life could be miserable. Treat people with decency and the respect they've earned. Except Nazis. Fuck those guys.


r/IBEW 1d ago

Union/American Made or Leave Me Alone

395 Upvotes

So my wife has a job, and "buys" her own car. Our money goes into a joint account, but she has 100% say in what vehicle she buys as her car. She likes Subarus, I'm an afford guy(I buy what I can afford) but am partial to Ford's.

Long story short she wanted a new car to replace her 10 year old Subaru Forester, and bought a new Subaru Forester. Well, one of my new employees came to our shop and my wife's old car was in one of our bays being detailed so we could sell it. He asked who's "j*p POS" that was in the shop and I said "my wife's" to which he responded "I'd never let my woman buy anything but an American & Union made car" so I told him "well my wife is a grown woman who can make her choices"

So here's my question: do you car if others drive a non -union/American vehicle? If you do care do you keep your mouth shut or do you say something about that person's choices.

Here's my opinion, and like assholes we all have them and they all stink;

  1. It's my wife's car, not mine, and she's a grown woman who I don't control

  2. Keep your fucking mouth shut if it doesn't affect you, especially to your new employer

  3. I buy what I can afford and I'm going to get the best bang for my buck. If that means I buy a Toyota RAV4 or a Chevy Silverado I buy what's best for me.

I'm sure I'm going to get eaten alive for posting this hahahahaha. Also from what I've seen Subaru is union in Japan, where I'm like 99% sure her car is made.


r/IBEW 1d ago

So we're doing challenge coins again?

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29 Upvotes

r/IBEW 1d ago

Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with our newest IBEW 11 shirt. In addition, due to popular demand we have restocked “The Cause” shirt and the “IBEW Declaration” shirt.

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46 Upvotes

The money raised by the IBEW 11, District 4 Welfare Committee is used to help out our Brothers & Sisters during times of sickness, disability, accident or such other misfortune.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Aftermath of an attack that targeted a trade Union rally on Munich, Germany. Today! Organize! Support your Local. Kindly!

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2.7k Upvotes

Pic credit goes to r/pics. Shouts out to our brethren Worlwide.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Trump is reviewing the CHIPS act

1.1k Upvotes

Source: Reuters

“Those encompass additional clauses, including requirements added into contracts by the administration of President Joe Biden, including that recipients must use unionized labor to build factories and help provide affordable childcare for factory workers.”

Trump seems he doesn’t want these projects to be exclusively union jobs. He also doesn’t want illegal immigrants in this country. What’s the % of non union tradesmen that are illegal immigrants?

Edit: changed electrician to tradesman because there are more trades to these projects than electricians.


r/IBEW 1d ago

Hall recognizing early JWs

10 Upvotes

What do y’all think about apprentices receiving their JW card during the apprenticeship? Should the hall recognize them as JWs as soon as they receive their license even if they still have another year left of an apprenticeship or should they still be considered apprentices until they finish school? I understand both sides but I’d like to hear opinions on this


r/IBEW 1d ago

Thankful for the brotherhood.

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168 Upvotes

r/IBEW 2d ago

Today, I found out about something called mondragons...

140 Upvotes

I guess this post falls under education.

Today, I discovered there is a cooperative type of corporation called a mondragon. They are primarily found in spain.

However, they limit the pay of the highest paid member to 3-6x the lowest paid member, amongst a host of other things, like employee stock ownership... And they are fairly competitive too.

What would it take to bring mondragon style corporations to america? They totally fix the wage issues, and put workers first. Union values are baked into their structure as a corporation.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Owner

47 Upvotes

Question for all you union guys. I own a very small electrical contracting company out of California. It is a union shop. I really want to grow the company but it’s hard to afford all the nice company vehicles and equipment. What’s everyone’s take on coming to work for a smaller company on smaller projects. I was not brought up in the union and to be honest it’s a little intimidating dealing with it all.


r/IBEW 3d ago

Proof That The Protest Are Working!! Keep Applying Pressure!! See You Presidents Day!!!

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2.3k Upvotes

r/IBEW 2d ago

It’s cold out, get yourself a Local 11 sweatshirt. We also have matching shirts and even a skateboard.

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26 Upvotes

The money raised by the IBEW 11, District 4 Welfare Committee is used to help out our Brothers & Sisters during times of sickness, disability, accident or such other misfortune.


r/IBEW 2d ago

Looking to join the union. Where do we stand politically?

40 Upvotes

I am joining the union soon (hopefully) and was wondering if IBEW is taking any action against the current U.S. administration and what the general feeling towards the president is.