I am a retired UNION pipefitter 31 years. The old timers told me BE ON TIME AND HAVE 6 MONTHS RESERVE IN THE BANK. MY PENSION IS GOOD. LIVE BETTER WORK UNION!!!
Great info man. I'm on the list to start my apprenticeship and have been told that I should be in within the next few months. Really excited to start my career with IBEW! Appreciate you taking the time to make this, so thank you!
I’m Broke Every Winter. I’ve been on Both sides for almost 2 decades. Union you make good money and benefits when it’s booming. C mon man to say that non union are hacks, that’s a bold statement. For you youngsters out there, hacks are everywhere in every trade, has nothing to do with union. It’s about pride in your work and appreciation for the skills you possess. This is all info coming from an inexperienced electrician, he’s got a lot to learn especially if he keeps wiring apartments which is no brainer work in this trade.
Jonah Chambly so dems/unions bad. Rep/non-union great. Lmao. I’ve been on both sides and got more pressure to vote republican in an open shop and have recieved none while in the union. Everyone has a different story for sure, but you’re blinded w/ bias if you think there’s not corruption and BS that goes on behind the scenes on both sides of this argument. I’ll take more money, way better benefits and a much better life for my family, irregardless of the BS behind the scenes.
For those who can understand this: If a Union worker makes $45/hour, (= $1800/week), versus a NON-Union worker making only $10/hour, (=only $400/week), you can see that it COSTS the NON-Union worker only $1400/week to have the "priveledge" of working WITHOUT having to pay some Union dues! Good Luck!!! = GO GET INTO A UNION!!! ASAP!!!
guloguloguy nobody where I work down here in Houston makes 10/hour. Average ENTRY level apprentice makes 13/hour. And those wages increase with experience and license level as well. We also get Holliday pay and vacation time with pay with so much more freedom. Non Union is the way to go. My average day consists of so much more exposure than this guy sees in a week.
I am not an electrician , I am a maintenance technician in an industrial plant. Not in a union. Free market and no regulation on my trade. I think Unions only prohibits other people from participating from the job market. Joining a union is giving up your opportunity for someone who has more seniority than you instead of knowledge or skills. I get retirement funds and bonuses etc. I do not pay a union a share of my wages, only the government takes money from me in the form of taxes. Why would you want everyone to have the same wages? It should be based on experience, technical skills, and negotiation skills. What an excuse for free-loading off the smarter guys. This is why in software development there is no unions, it is all based on skills, either you can build and grow it, or you fail. The most fairest thing ever.
lol all you brainwashed union plebs. why should someone be making the same money or more than I am when I can do double the amount of work they do and we have the same amount of experience. union teaches people to be lazy, that's all it is good for.
Thanks for the video man! Im just in...1 month in to my apprenticeship and have been wondering abiut this because we are non union at my job. But im loving it! Getting lots of hands on experience!
I’m thinking I’m gonna give the IBEW a shot here in Dallas-Fort Worth. There was a guy on UA-cam telling me I should just give it a try and there’s plenty of work, if you’re willing to do it. My biggest fear is that they’ll run out of work and I’ll be taking a hefty pay cut. Think I’ll jut apply and see what happens. This seems like a really good career path.
razberryclownsac here in Pittsburgh Local 5. There’s a thing that is called a collective bargain agreement. Which basically means the union meets with the contractors Association And Negotiates Our wages And Benefits then they bring that negotiation to us and we vote on it if it passes then it goes into contract. So even if work is slow the contract is a contract are we just can’t be cut or Benefits can’t be cut. Me as an apprentice I’m going into my fifth year I’ve been laid off four times first time I was off A couple days second time a Week, the third time I got laid off on Friday went back to work Monday, the fourth time I was off a week, this time I’m off almost 2 1/2 months but that’s only because of the corona lockdown
@@juniorharris9545 That’s good to hear. I just got a job as a forklift mechanic (back to wrench turning), but I may still give the electrician path a try. It may take a while, but I’ve got time and a job now lol.
when they run out of work which is rare they send you to another job. no making resumes, references or negotiation of pay. your education and hall are your references
+tallblackpunk i believe it's cumulative, maybe brush up on the reading to make up for the math? Why not answer the math problems you know first then the rest? Don't leave anything blank. Wrong answers don't count against you so a guess is better than nothing at all?
my 2 cents.... I was born and raised Union Proud, Local 112. I also worked for a Union Shop as a Estimator/Project Manager. Some thoughts on Unions are, it is really tough getting jobs in a job circuit with non union shops... and lots of people don't see that. The material would be all the same from the project estimated, but the only big difference would be labor.. right?? Union shop wage was, lets say $65 an hour, Non Union Shops shop rate would be (lets say) $59 an hour. Now these are for big projects.. if you call in and have an electrician come out THAT shop rate will be higher... I am only talking project pricing... which a lot of people do not understand or even know about.... Non Union Shops pay less for their employees.. they do not have to cover alot of the Union costs.. another thing that some people do not know about. So back to the wage; lets say a job is bid at 2500 hours, small commercial job... Union labor will be $162,500.00.. Non Union will be $147,500.00. $15,000.00 difference (10% difference). Guess who gets the job.... Non Union. Not a big project you would say, no it is not BIG, but decent size for the shop I worked for.. I have had a couple jobs around the 25,000 hour mark, one as big as 45,000. On that jobs Union wage= $2,925,000, Non Union wage = $2,655,000.00... all these wages are around 10% difference. Union HAD what was called FMR, this was a fund for Union shops to go against Non Union shops to equal out the wage difference. It worked, till the Union stopped using FMR... they told me to just cut the profit from the shop and make up the difference. Seem simple... till you realize that we only had 4-5% mark up on projects like this (remember the wage difference was 10%)... so they told me to cut the mark up... well thats my wage from the company, estimators are not in the hours for the job... we are Overhead, and in lots of the time, my wage came from the Companies "profit"..... lots of times they told us to cut things out from the Company, the Company that is putting the Union workers to work... you now, the "company" where he said "they just call up and ask for a Journeyman, Apprentice, what ever..." yeah... that Company.... Its not cut and dry like the "workers" think. most have no idea.... Also, this video is 22:42 long....my guess is he spent at least 1-1/2 hour making this video during the day.... guess who paid him to make this video.... yep, the company he works for.... My guess is the Estimator did not put any extra hours in the estimate for him to make a video for his youtube channel... also my guess would be that he did not make this on his lunch break or mandatory two 15 min breaks. I know non union Electricians that make 28 an hour, have a company truck that they take home, and have Matched 401K and PTO....ohh and Medical, fully paid by company and partial family. And yes, even the Non Union workers are trained in 3Ph Delta and Wye.. and yes, I typed this on my break... took me 9 min to type this (and it probably shows... haha)... I listen to youtube while I am working. and also Yes... I am still Pro Union... I just wanted to show the "Company side of Unions, not just workers" and no, you do not get "scrap wire" that is for the shop..... and yes, it adds up.. to compensate for union wage. Taking wire is theft..... 7 hour work day??? and anything is over time??? bull... anything over 8 is OT.. unless 4-10s, than anything over 10 hours is OT.....and he does Electric on the side?? and hes an Apprentice??? holy shit..
Aarong520 you are totally right. I just uploaded a video talking about your point in working non union based on where you live. I am aware that i live in a bubble. In those cases, some companies actually keep their guys working, pay for benefits and it might not be as much as union but youre working. The problem with that is that you wont have the representation, you could get fired without any prior knowledge. I would do what it best for me and my family based on where i live and how the market is.
The LMT Channel yup totally agree you gota do whats best for you. In my case where i live man unless u live in LA the union as of now is having a tough time out here but i heard itll pick up soon we'll see. Like I said i respect the whole union thing and yea i could get fired whenever for whatever but so many non union companies got work out here I'd have a job within the week whereas if i were union id be sitting on a book longer than that most likely. It's less pay yes but it's more consistent where i live.
Good info bro. I just found out I scored a 98.8 with Local 617 in San Mateo so I'm keeping my fingers crossed i get the call this year because im sick or workin security haha. Again good stuff and keep the vids comin
J Sou Lay offs are part of the trade. It WILL happen. About burning your name, goes with the attitude of they cant fire me or the sense of entitlement that millenials have now a days. That goes with the idea of building your resume at every shop you work for. In the end you only have your reputation. A reputation you create or destroy.
J Sou No the union does not lay you off. We dont work for the union. We work through the Union. My check says Joe Blow Electric pays The LMT Channel. It doesnt say Union local # pays The LMT Channel. Company lay offs are something of the trades. With the union i sign book 1 and probably with a day or two im back to work at any of the many signatory contractors. Thats the beauty of the Union.
proud to be a teamster!! union got to grow for hard American workers for pension plans and health benefits and great pay right to work is a couplet opposite it is like cancer it kills the American dream of the middle class work it has to stop our unions will die
IBEW Local 5 Pittsburgh here. Some Republican Senator out west trying to put a bill that was going to charge us an extra 10% tax on top of what we would draw on retirement under the impression that it will help other unions. It it’s just to break our pension. We don’t pay out of pocket for a premium for healthcare. We work and money goes towards healthcare then after so much the money gets banked up so 6 months work of premium. If we’re off it draws from the bank to pay for our premium
All I can really say is that opinions are like assholes everyone has one. The union is not for everybody there's benefits to being in the union and there's benefits to not being in a union. I'm a highly-skilled professional non union electrician. And I can't really identify with some of the issues you pointed out about skilled non-union electricians. Financially particularly. Somehow financially I have landed on the top of a lot of union electricians. I understand that my situation might have been very unique some years ago when the union had all of its power. but times have changed. Now today it's much different in this economically driven society. For me and my colleagues the picture that you painted is nowhere like how we live our lives and how we engage in our careers as electricians. I could hit on many different topics that you mention but I'm only going to hit on one for now: 1. The Rat Race The fact is when a person join a IBEW union and they first sign the forms to be a indentured Apprentice. They are in fact signing up to be indentured servant for life. Trapping them self in what is called the Rat Race. Meaning you will have to work in order to retire. In many cases for 20 to 30 years. Just to retire. For most people that's most of their life depending on when you start working and when you die. Thus when you become part of a union you have to play by their rules and follow the ordained routes by the union. It is like when a rat is inside the test lab inside of a rat Maze and they're on like this fairest wheel thing where it spins around round and round and rat is running as fast as can is trying to get to no where. The rat really going nowhere and they're spinning the wheel round and round and round as fast as they can really going nowhere. At the end when you retire and get your pension you're just going to be really back where you started after working 20-30 years. For me and my colleagues we don't have that problem. All we work on is Public Works projects. As non-union electricians we were able to take a different route that is not set by the union and retire a lot earlier. No hate here just love. Because our unionist brothers will never be consider a threat to our professional careers. This society is a capitalist society based on merit principles. That is what makes this country so great that even a non union electrician could thrive.
Just curious if a union electrician wired that lighting controller at 17:19. That’s not something I would brag about. Someone needs to brush up on how to train wires in a panel.
Sounds a lot like my local (LU 20 Dallas/Fort Worth) except for the school and vacation pay and 401k. Apprentices pay for school every semester and it count as college credit. We have pension, NEBF, and annuity. Some contractors have 401k. Vacation is a percentage of our choice or we can opt out and we can choose to have dues paid out of that.
In regards to my pension. It is self funded. I meant to say it's not a burden to the economy beiser it doesnt need tax money or government help. It's a separate entity.
Got a question for you ab something you said..if you get laid off at your local, can you travel and get on the books at another local? How does that work
Daniel Bigelow our union you can. But our dues go back to the home union. As an apprentice we can’t but we go back to work quicker because we’re cheaper
Do you get laid off often in IBEW? Im currently considering applying to IBEW Local 302 In Martinez, I recently got my E.T card but hard to get hired for not having electrician experience, thats why I wanna apply to IBEW
+DanielC510 i don't get laid off much but work is BOOMING and there is no shortage of work. Here is a video I made about your question. ua-cam.com/video/iiGGQgBAa60/v-deo.html
Current 302 apprentice been laid off for 1 week out of my 2 1/2 years so far. And when I applied for the union I had no electrical experience, they look for high test scores and personality traits such as motivation, attitude they can mold into a journeyman
Hey man I have no expirence at all, I really want to be an electrician. Should I get some expirence first and then apply for the union, or just go ahead and apply ?
Apply soon too, even if you are not sure. There is most likely a waiting list. My friend here just inquired about my apprenticeship. He missed the application date by a week now must wait about 8 months for the time my Local will accept app.
No future in non union No pensions No annuity Low wages Union is the way to go if you want to retire and have good wages . Ibew ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼 Let’s go Non union race to the bottom Let’s continue to rasie the bar
I guarantee I am 💯 percent on this that if you are non union you do not make even close to the ibew wage I’m your are takehome amd including benefits that’s a fact . In nj ibew jw wage is 52 ph , pension, annuity , healthcare , bacationcheck , total package 80 ph No. Union is not even close to that on nj I mean not even close you can’t compare ibew to non union. If you work mom union you get a pension , annuity , free healthcare , vacationchecks , and 52 ph I find that hard to believe I worked non union and it’s a joke the only one that benefits is the contractor . Ibew is the way to go
Mike Capone maybe in nj but over here in Los Angeles California I take home more than some of my buddy’s that are in the ibew and all my benefits for free no dues paid
Local 11 Los Angeles total package is around 80 ph And our dues are paid from vacation checks that the contractor pays for anyways . Plus we get 5 years of schooling for free so the union electrician is still better off . Plus if you get payed of or fired you have to read negotiate your wage all over again so you make $80 per hour just like the local 11 Ibew in Los Angeles I find that very hard to believe no matter what you say you just cannot compare Ibew wages pensions annuity and benefits to the nonunion sector it has been proven fact that your life and family’s life is better off when you work through the IBEW the proof is in the pudding just do the numbers are pay our wages our benefits are higher than the nonunion sector all across-the-board
Unions wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a need. Management created that need with subpar wages and working conditions. A need existed in the past and a need will exist in the future. Go union.
San Diego. I applied to IBEW, scored high on the test but failed the interview because of my Criminal record. ABC picked me up and now im 2+ years in. I would rather be union but i gotta play my hand. Im considered a good apprentice. school comes easy to me. i did carpentry before this so my mechanics are dead on. that said i think my exposure has been good. from single line to trim, motor controls to mc TI work. But it is rough non union. i freaking gotta carry all my tools. deal with alot of bs employers.
Hilario Hernandez its the same here. i dont have to carry my tools but there ia also bad employers. we have a say with the union and put them on check. otherwise theyre alright. the beauty is that i can go to some other shop if i chose with the same pay.
salvatore DeAngelo ABC is the best school, better than weca and other non union indentured apprenticeships. I went to la/Ventura and encourage you to finish before going union. I know guys that went union after abc and ibew made them start at 4th
Hopefully you can in at ajk their legit, don't even try to pay their journeymen like union but very professional, some of the best electricians in so cal work there
Hilario Hernandez whats up bro i have a grand theft auto felony, im currently 21 and this happened a week after i turned 18, will this affect me in any way getting into a union? Sorry if its a stupid question, i have one more year of probation and i want to start to do something for my future, im in LA County , any info will be appreciated
Non union 10 years. 3 weeks off in total due to being slow, Union 7 years, 2 years off in total for slow times, but I still worked and hustled and moonlighted the fuck outta work.
Question - I just moved to a union state, and I just completed a non union apprenticeship and got my journeymans license right before I moved, 8 years non union experience. Will the union take me, and what will I need to do? Thank you.
Contact your local Union. They might just allow you to "upgrade" into their apprenticeship program starting as a 2nd, or 3rd year apprentice. If not, SO WHAT, Your Good Non-Union work experience might enable you to out qualify some other high-school kid who has NO experience in construction, and Viola! ... You might be ON YOUR WAY!!! Good Luck!!!
There are so many non union jobs in my state why bother besides, all those union brothers all become a little less civil with each other as soon as layoffs are in the air. They make more per hour but (without ot) I'll compare w2's from the last 15 years with any of them.
@@tinybubbles3724 I guarentee your pay and benefits don't compare to our union pay and benefits. You need to really understand what the union does for you.
I want to become an electrician for the union, and my local community college offers electrical technology classes including some that you stated(fire alarms, lighting controls, motor controls). I looked at the degrees that the college offers when completing those classes, and you can earn either a certificate in electrical technology, or an associates in science (A.A. degree) in electrical tech. If I wanted to join the union with my certificate or degree in electrical tech, would I start at a higher level/wage than beginning apprentices, or would I be at a beginning level just like them and have to go through the courses again? The reason being is I just turned 19, and I personally don't think I'm mature enough to work with journeymen and be an apprentice just yet. I would really like to go to to school for those classes, while also working my retail job(Home Depot), but if getting that degree won't benefit me in the union, then I won't waste my time going to school.
Vicdog408 dont waste your time. The union is in conjunction with an accredited college. In the end i get an assiociate in electrical engineering and a state license. the union teaches you the skills. I recomend to join and forget the college. youre not required to know anything. i was an ironworker and accounting major when i joined.
The LMT Channel thanks for the fast responses! One of my main reasons for wanting to go the college route was because I don't know too much about an electrician's work, and if there's a chance that I don't like it, then it would be way less of a hassle to drop those classes rather than quit the union. But I looked more into it and I'm going to try applying for my local IBEW, which is the San Joaquin one.
Vicdog408 Thats a good reason to try it out by going to college. Just my 2 cents. Here is SF it doesnt get better than my IBEW electrician job. The next step is to work for google, facebook but you need a degree and fight with millions of other candidates with the same or better experience. I wont be rich but it fits what i want. Things are paid and still have time and money to spend with family and take vacations, etc...
The LMT Channel also would you happen to know which specific training IBEW focuses on between residential work, industrial work, or commercial work? Or do they focus on a little of everything? Would it be a good trade for someone who enjoys math and attention to detail such as myself?
Vicdog408 the IBEW specifies in every aspect of electrical work. You must look it up on your own what classification you want. My classification is Inside wireman. Comcast type of work is Data Com. PGand E high voltage work is Lineman. It depends on your area. For me, Insidewireman has the highest pay rate and the largest scope of work. That means i will have alot more opportunities for work. That scope of work changes from region to region. Now with low voltage switching, data com guys say its their work. yes its low votage control switching but for high voltage things. Those are some grey areas. Look it up with your local union apprenticeship. They can help you with that.
great info. I just got a letter to come to orientation for ibew. I heard that u have to work, or go to class rathet, two weeks without pay.. is that true?
Ashlie Loper its one week of school every 4-6 weeks. As a tradesperson, we dont get paid when we dont work. The week of school, you get your check from the previous week of work. During school, you claim unemployment. Youre in a state approved aprenticeship and the state gives you the max amount. As far as the state goes, the first week you claim goes as a deposit for some reason? Any week after that you get the full amount. It is possible that the first week of school will be hard. If you plan accordingly, everything should be smooth. They tell you when you have class, when your going to get a raise, when to turn things in for the raise. Just plan accordingly. Money will start to flow very fast. The first year, youll see a raise from the contract. Every year after that, you will get 3 raises of about ~$3/hr. 2 of those are raises based on hours and your apprenticeship and the 3rd is from the contract negotiation. Welcome to the trade. Ive been in many and this by far is the best for the employee.
Hey scabos I made 54 bucks an hour as a high voltage splicer 164 Jersey City. Tell your boss you need a raise. I moved as fast as I could to do terminations and splices . Every day the contractor got his monies worth.
I’ve also been on both sides. Yes there are big differences. I’ve heard and seen it all. We maybe a number on the books, but we aren’t a piece of paper having to interviews and practically beg for a fucking 20 an hr wage and on top of that bringing all my tools breaking my back and working for a contractor who doesn’t want to give me what I’m worth and not supply tools for making THEM $. One comment mentioned here was salting. I’ve salted a few companies and found out that a lot of those workers wanted to go union but were just scared. Go to a hall and check it out. I’m from Las Vegas 357 and I make 45$...on the check. Free healthcare. If I get laid off, I still get 6 mths of insurance. If I don’t wanna “wait” for a call, hit the road. Easy work. Not stuck to one contractor being a wormy bastard trying to keep a job. I can work 6 mths, take mths off at my scale, at a non union scale, you HAVE to work all yr WITH ot and I still come out on top. Do the knowledge to that shit
Shannon Smith lets say i havent worked for less money. i still wear a tool belt. i still dp the same stuff. i just chose not to work for less pay. union is better for the employee. non union only helps the contractor and lead man. idk what youre into but im into making more money.
I'm done with trade school, just waiting on the certificate, but I have all my other certifications. Anyways, sorry for getting back to this video late, but was in trade school since May 2017, now I graduate the program next Friday! So excited.
Another reason why i love my private company. My journeyman isnt afraid of getting dirty. My journeyman gets in the trench with me and kicks ass. I get taken care of so well. I get scrap wire, I get paid vacation, if we get the job done ahead of schedule and get off work a bit earlier my and my boss likes the profit he made he gives me my full 8( he doesnt have to do that, thats just who he is). Ive been in the union and I didnt appreciate my experience. Everyone around me at the time were getting promoted on no other merit except for the fact that they had a friend higher up in the chain of command. Favouritism, politics, and games. Wasnt interested.
I'm with IBEW in a bottling plant. Well paid, awesome benefits (through the union, not the company). The unions at the plant all work hard for the company to succeed, cause then we all win. Good life doing a great job (automation controls).
francis w --- I've also been non-union and union and there is good and bad in both. The union good outweighs the bad but, there are things that aren't good for some people. I happen to not be a Democrat, and the IBEW is one of the biggest contributors of large amounts of money to the Democratic party and in the past, that was a good thing because Democrats were pro union now, these days some say they are pro union but they aren't. They don't care about the unions and that is proven by the amount of contractors leaving the union and the large jobs that were always union are now being bid by large non union shops and the union shops are being under bid and not getting jobs. I got my journeyman card in San Jose (Silicon Valley) and I worked there and in San Francisco , where this guy is that made this video. Working in The City, like he said, you only work 7 hour days. He made it sound like it was a good thing. The reason they work 7 hour days was to keep from laying off a shit load of men. There wasn't enough work to keep all the active members working 40 hour weeks and the apprentices were going to class at night like normal but they weren't working like they are supposed to. For every, 3 journeyman on a job there has to be an apprentice and every fifth person on the crew (3 journeyman and one apprentice is 4) the fifth has to be a journeyman over age 50. That isn't every local but most. They do that to make sure that foreman and contractors don't hire only younger wireman because they will do that. But back to the 7 hour work week. He mentioned overtime. If I remember Local 6 bilaws were after 8 hours of overtime at time and a half rate, or maybe 10 hours, then every hour after that. Also he mentioned vacation pay. It used to be we got actual 2 weeks off work paid per year. Then the bargaining agreement with the contractors which gets renegotiated every 4 or 5 years, the union reps, gave away our vacations and some of our national holidays. We no longer got 2 weeks off work paid because the contractors thought it was too much trouble and they were laying guys off when they took vacations so they agreed with the union arbitrators that they would deduct what ever, a dime for every hour you worked and put it in their own bank account and earn interest off it and when you've worked a year they gave you your 2 week pay check but no time off. Those are just a few of the little things that I will talk about. There are more but union is still better than non union in most ways.
Kenneth Kaiser Wow that's an essay about that. Maybe for some people they are happy where they are at and don't want to be in the union but as far as my personal experience I have been killing it. Yes there isn't vacation pay but the retirement is insane. I just went through the apprenticeship and already have 40k in 1 of my funds. As of last year I worked 2600 hours and made 190k last year. I don't know anyone that is non union that could even come close. Dems vs Republican come on man you are gonna tell me that Republicans are so much better and more virtuous. Political stuff will happen and as a small minnow I have to provide for my family the union has been so much better.
francis w ---- I never said that Republicans are more virtuous than Democrats. You said that. I said I didn't agree with the union taking money from our paychecks and giving it to the Democratic party without an option to give to another party. I'm not even political. Hell, I lost my right to vote completely for 10 or 12 years. I will never be able to own a firearm, ever, not legally anyway. As far as the money you are making congratulations, you almost make as much as me. When I put my journeyman card on hold as a member in good standing back in 2012 the hourly rate we got on our checks, after retirement and benefits, etc... was $55.00 . That's not bad, but it's nothing compared to what I'm making working for myself. I put in a lot of hours because it's only me. I hire another journeyman or a Helper sometimes for some jobs but I everything else, estimates, purchasing, sales, invoicing, customer service, accounting, etc... but I love it and the money
Kenneth Kaiser glad you are doing well running your own business it's a lot of work but in your case has paid off. I hope to do that one day but I'll remain signatory and keep my pension moving forward.
francis w --- that's good to hear. I do regret, to a limited extent that my 16 years as a IBEW journeyman falls four years short of me collecting on my full retirement pension. I will get some of it but what is a drag is the investments that were made with that portion of my pension plan has taken so many hits from the economy taking big hits back a few years ago and I lost almost half of what was being invested. It has managed to gain again but not get me back to where it would have been had it not been impacted the way it was. I'm not relying on that though. I'm single, no kids, no alimony being paid to some ex bitch, and I just recently became the bearer of credit cards to build credit for myself and the business. I've never built any credit, always paid cash because I made such good money while in the IBEW (and being single) that if I wanted something I just saved for a couple weeks or a couple months and bought it. I'm the same way still. Even with credit cards, which I've had for about 2 months, I buy using the cards and I immediately pay off the whole amount as if i paid cash for it. But, as long as my work stays steady, I'll have a nice retirement built up from my own different types of investments and savings. Good luck to you, Brother.
Hank Wilson No experience needed. Appremticeship is "training". its actually better if you dont know anything because its easier to break bad habits. the idea is that there isnt any bad habits. what you DO need it drive and willing to work/learn. THAT cannot be taught. it comes from within.
I just had my union interview. Passed everything and got my letter the other day saying that I didnt get in. Pretty sure they only take a small group of people who has recommendation letters from union members
They take the top of the top. Our union allows a few thousand to sign up and go through everything and yes only the top of the top get in. It can be very competitive.
@@Gordonlanguam in my case my group had 190 people applied and 190 people going to class. it varies but drop out rate here is 50% and if you drop out you gotta pay whatever they "invested" into you. in my case 2,500. knowing someone in 98% of cases is the only way you'll get in unless you're in the top 20 on the alptitude
I'm 35 and I joined about 7 months ago. I've honestly felt like I have a better mindset than a lot of the younger guys, and I get more exposure as a result. My advice would be to go for it. I honestly feel it's the best decision I've ever made.
Who cares what others think bro do you your probably better than the people who cast judgement on you maybe not as skilled cause of the trade switch but fuck em one day you’ll be a boss and those guys might end up asking you what too do
You can always drop out of the apprenticeship. Why leave money on the table. Do it right, all the way or dont do it at all. Scared money never made money. Nothing to it but to do it.
Unions are the backbone of our country Without them corporations can do whatever they want and pay litterally nothing to workers which is what they do today And unions are a brotherhood , they watch out for eachother no matter what, and believe me thats a good thing Im all for them after working my whole life in non union jobs and never getting anywhere our making anything I was a non union electrician trained on the site by union workers Im hoping i can be accepted soon
I want to join the IBEW right now I'm on the wait list to get in the CW program but I'm scared I'll get laid off a lot and not Have a steady income. Probably sounds stupid but I'm just worried and being cautious, any info?
I disagree. This aspect is subjective. There is good and bad electricians everywhere. Just like there is good and bad drivers. Good and bad doctors. It's part of this world. Btw, the person who said that is a very bad boss. Everyone has a place. Everyone is good at "something". The problem is finding out what they is and placing them accordingly in the chain of events of a job.
Luis Ruiz if we compare and contrast we will see that most things are the same. only thing is that SF union electrician make about $1/min. no one else gets paid this much. yes, the contractors MAY make more but the electrician doesnt. You and I dont make that non union.
@Tony G yes your right where non union takes all thatoeny home but will you make more than you make now upon retirement? How are the benefits package? Is prevailing wage ALL the time on ALL the jobs? I make prevailing wage ALL the time. I dont have to negotiate my wages anymore. It's the same all the time where ever I go within the jurisdiction. The stress is alot less too because I'm not job scared. For better or worst i can go back to the hall and pick up another call to another company or job site. For better or worst it's a possibility. Both sides have their ups and downs but union is for me.
@Tony G I am in maryland and a non union company has offered me a apprenticeship. What is this your writing about 80+ dollars an hour ? I would love to get that ! 😂
Look up your local Union office, which should be in a town, nearby. Then call them and inquire about applying to get into their apprenticeship program. Make sure you have good grades in school, have a good job history, and no criminal records, and are not a drunk, or drug addict, and being ex-military is a BIG Plus! Go take some technical classes thru your local/community college, and be prepared to work hard, and learn a lot about basic electrical theory, and physics. It's WELL WORTH IT!!! You'll have knowledge and Skills that you can profit from for your entire life!
For the record. I pay my dues. We all put Work boots on the same way every morning. If you want a career with good benefits, Union. Just save your money cause you will be layed off at some point. If the economy shits, good luck. If you can kiss ass and “network”, well you can play the game and get by. Eventually buildings are done being built. Not very many maintenance opportunities for residential electricians out here. Just saying. You how many out of work Ibew guys I’ve seen crawling to Non union outfits when it’s slow. Haha.
@@lmt9856 i think my plans are to get a technical degree first then persue apprenticeship that way my bases are already covered IBEW is certainly my first choice and would be a great way to expand my knowledge beyond the techical degree but i wouldnt want to put all of my eggs in one basket either but boy oh boy that benefit package is the cats meow!
J Sou Not for 4 to 5 years. If youre good and can do more, you wont do the bitch work. Its simple math, if you cant do the dumb work, dont expect to do the smart work.
I love your videos man but whatever the camera is doing in this one makes me feel dizzy. Idk if its a special effect or just lagg xD Thank You for the info in this one :)
no but the wages are a reflection of the cost of living for the area your local represents. I live in the bay area and I'm working with 617. I don't live in the San Mateo county but I do get paid the wage for there. My commute is an hour right now which isn't bad compared to other co-workers commuting almost 2 hours. a lot of work in northern California is centered around the bay area but housing there is expensive. I'm thinking of moving to the valley myself. At least with union you can make a good living elsewhere. Non-union varies. Some of them will give you a hotel if you live outside the bay, but they'll pay you less. I've worked non union construction and it is pretty brutal when it comes to wages and benefits.
I have 0 bills im turning 20 next month im in san fernando valley it seems ibew isnt far. This sounds like a good trade i can get into. To find everything out should i just call the union and ask them what i need to get into the apprentic program? Or should i just find a electrician and help him or do i go to a trade school for the basic 12 month training? I want to be trained the right way and be as safe as i can while working as hard as i can.
abrizuela2691 good luck buddy. union and non union, both turn on the lights but in the end who made more money? who had the potential to make more money? The union way is easier to surpass on average, non union wages. There are a select non union guys who have that opportunity but not all. trust me, youll love it.
i love it already and im only a light tech lol i learn new things everyday. im trying to rack up my hours and apply for my local in orange county. i see what you mean about surpassing non union wages.
abrizuela2691 yeah. the customer only sees the lights and switches work. they see the almighty dollar. why undersell our work for cheaper when we can all agree to charge a similar amount. Thats the beauty if the union. we all agree not to undersell our work for less.
abrizuela2691 ive said it many times. there isnt any definative time. you will get laid of if you suck. like any job. after a few layoffs you will be known for that. some layoffs are because of the com0any ability to keep bidding jobs. sometimes it gets slow. its normal. if you plan it right, you make soooo much money that you shoukdnt sweat it. dont go thinking about layoffs. they happen. go into it thinking you want to get picked for the next draft. your currently working to make the cut list for the next job. thats it. lay offs dont hurt or feel anything after your first one. ive got them befofe. went to work the next day or the next 2 days. it depends.
You now how many receptacles and switches could've been installed in the time wasted making this video!!!! Keep it up though Cuz it keeps my cash flowing picking up the slack! Lol!
colby webber all the perks of the union come from politics. vote, be present, dont cross pickets, be active in your society. thats how things are voted in and made into a norm.
ÈWord\ Up Brother; Basically We Love & Have This Traight \Up PPE+ The Man.When Push Comes To Knott; 424 RULES Ya Man All Men+ Women; The Ultimate we stand by is PPE & ToolBox+ Security; WORKS With Our 5Lès Which Is WTF We Are Made Of ; We Fu__èen\A RULE, Think How We Think.......Etc.... .!È That Is Awesummer Bro ; We Have Your Back; We Have Bean There Done Datt....... Etc.... .!È
I am a retired UNION pipefitter 31 years. The old timers told me BE ON TIME AND HAVE 6 MONTHS RESERVE IN THE BANK. MY PENSION IS GOOD. LIVE BETTER WORK UNION!!!
Not really
Great info man. I'm on the list to start my apprenticeship and have been told that I should be in within the next few months. Really excited to start my career with IBEW! Appreciate you taking the time to make this, so thank you!
Woah, if it isn’t the legend himself
@@TESHUVAAIRSOFT Haha! So funny you found this!
How did it go? Where are you now??
@@tuinfarto608 you should check out his channel
@@tuinfarto608 He is a journeyman electrician now, and he has one of the most informative Electrician related youtube Channels!
I’m Broke Every Winter. I’ve been on Both sides for almost 2 decades. Union you make good money and benefits when it’s booming. C mon man to say that non union are hacks, that’s a bold statement. For you youngsters out there, hacks are everywhere in every trade, has nothing to do with union. It’s about pride in your work and appreciation for the skills you possess. This is all info coming from an inexperienced electrician, he’s got a lot to learn especially if he keeps wiring apartments which is no brainer work in this trade.
but he had to install a receptacle for a communications panel and a doorbell...!!!! LOL
Most non union guys are hacks. Not all must are. If they weren't they'd pass the test and join the union. Why leave money on the table?
Through the years I've learned and agree with you. Now that I run a large crew, i get to see what you mean.
@Jonah Chambly I dont know about your locals but my local is strong. We get large turn outs when voting.
Jonah Chambly so dems/unions bad. Rep/non-union great. Lmao. I’ve been on both sides and got more pressure to vote republican in an open shop and have recieved none while in the union. Everyone has a different story for sure, but you’re blinded w/ bias if you think there’s not corruption and BS that goes on behind the scenes on both sides of this argument. I’ll take more money, way better benefits and a much better life for my family, irregardless of the BS behind the scenes.
For those who can understand this: If a Union worker makes $45/hour, (= $1800/week), versus a NON-Union worker making only $10/hour, (=only $400/week), you can see that it COSTS the NON-Union worker only $1400/week to have the "priveledge" of working WITHOUT having to pay some Union dues! Good Luck!!! = GO GET INTO A UNION!!! ASAP!!!
+guloguloguy well said brother.
guloguloguy nobody where I work down here in Houston makes 10/hour. Average ENTRY level apprentice makes 13/hour. And those wages increase with experience and license level as well. We also get Holliday pay and vacation time with pay with so much more freedom. Non Union is the way to go. My average day consists of so much more exposure than this guy sees in a week.
I am not an electrician , I am a maintenance technician in an industrial plant. Not in a union. Free market and no regulation on my trade. I think Unions only prohibits other people from participating from the job market. Joining a union is giving up your opportunity for someone who has more seniority than you instead of knowledge or skills. I get retirement funds and bonuses etc. I do not pay a union a share of my wages, only the government takes money from me in the form of taxes. Why would you want everyone to have the same wages? It should be based on experience, technical skills, and negotiation skills. What an excuse for free-loading off the smarter guys. This is why in software development there is no unions, it is all based on skills, either you can build and grow it, or you fail. The most fairest thing ever.
lol all you brainwashed union plebs. why should someone be making the same money or more than I am when I can do double the amount of work they do and we have the same amount of experience. union teaches people to be lazy, that's all it is good for.
No such thing as seniority in IBEW. Try again scab.
Extremely helpful video, thank you.
Thanks for the video man! Im just in...1 month in to my apprenticeship and have been wondering abiut this because we are non union at my job. But im loving it! Getting lots of hands on experience!
Learn as much as you can and do your best
Very accurate.. Going on 20 years this year, IBEW! The best advice you gave was, "show up on time". Lol!
Mike K what Local you from brother? 357 in the house
I’m thinking I’m gonna give the IBEW a shot here in Dallas-Fort Worth. There was a guy on UA-cam telling me I should just give it a try and there’s plenty of work, if you’re willing to do it. My biggest fear is that they’ll run out of work and I’ll be taking a hefty pay cut. Think I’ll jut apply and see what happens. This seems like a really good career path.
razberryclownsac here in Pittsburgh Local 5. There’s a thing that is called a collective bargain agreement. Which basically means the union meets with the contractors Association And Negotiates Our wages And Benefits then they bring that negotiation to us and we vote on it if it passes then it goes into contract. So even if work is slow the contract is a contract are we just can’t be cut or Benefits can’t be cut. Me as an apprentice I’m going into my fifth year I’ve been laid off four times first time I was off A couple days second time a Week, the third time I got laid off on Friday went back to work Monday, the fourth time I was off a week, this time I’m off almost 2 1/2 months but that’s only because of the corona lockdown
@@juniorharris9545 That’s good to hear. I just got a job as a forklift mechanic (back to wrench turning), but I may still give the electrician path a try. It may take a while, but I’ve got time and a job now lol.
when they run out of work which is rare they send you to another job. no making resumes, references or negotiation of pay. your education and hall are your references
I failed the math portion...twice. Any tips besides the "kill myself" tips from trolls
+tallblackpunk i believe it's cumulative, maybe brush up on the reading to make up for the math? Why not answer the math problems you know first then the rest? Don't leave anything blank. Wrong answers don't count against you so a guess is better than nothing at all?
Your IBEW local website should have links to online classes you can take as preparation for the test.
tallblackpunk go to www.electricprep.com this study course is sponsored by the JATC and it's right in line with the test
tallblackpunk master rules and reps to compensate for math weakness
Study
Very helpful videos! I've been watching them in an effort to learn about being an IBEW worker. Thanks for all the tips!
my 2 cents.... I was born and raised Union Proud, Local 112. I also worked for a Union Shop as a Estimator/Project Manager. Some thoughts on Unions are, it is really tough getting jobs in a job circuit with non union shops... and lots of people don't see that. The material would be all the same from the project estimated, but the only big difference would be labor.. right?? Union shop wage was, lets say $65 an hour, Non Union Shops shop rate would be (lets say) $59 an hour. Now these are for big projects.. if you call in and have an electrician come out THAT shop rate will be higher... I am only talking project pricing... which a lot of people do not understand or even know about.... Non Union Shops pay less for their employees.. they do not have to cover alot of the Union costs.. another thing that some people do not know about. So back to the wage; lets say a job is bid at 2500 hours, small commercial job... Union labor will be $162,500.00.. Non Union will be $147,500.00. $15,000.00 difference (10% difference). Guess who gets the job.... Non Union. Not a big project you would say, no it is not BIG, but decent size for the shop I worked for.. I have had a couple jobs around the 25,000 hour mark, one as big as 45,000. On that jobs Union wage= $2,925,000, Non Union wage = $2,655,000.00... all these wages are around 10% difference. Union HAD what was called FMR, this was a fund for Union shops to go against Non Union shops to equal out the wage difference. It worked, till the Union stopped using FMR... they told me to just cut the profit from the shop and make up the difference. Seem simple... till you realize that we only had 4-5% mark up on projects like this (remember the wage difference was 10%)... so they told me to cut the mark up... well thats my wage from the company, estimators are not in the hours for the job... we are Overhead, and in lots of the time, my wage came from the Companies "profit"..... lots of times they told us to cut things out from the Company, the Company that is putting the Union workers to work... you now, the "company" where he said "they just call up and ask for a Journeyman, Apprentice, what ever..." yeah... that Company.... Its not cut and dry like the "workers" think. most have no idea....
Also, this video is 22:42 long....my guess is he spent at least 1-1/2 hour making this video during the day.... guess who paid him to make this video.... yep, the company he works for.... My guess is the Estimator did not put any extra hours in the estimate for him to make a video for his youtube channel... also my guess would be that he did not make this on his lunch break or mandatory two 15 min breaks.
I know non union Electricians that make 28 an hour, have a company truck that they take home, and have Matched 401K and PTO....ohh and Medical, fully paid by company and partial family. And yes, even the Non Union workers are trained in 3Ph Delta and Wye..
and yes, I typed this on my break... took me 9 min to type this (and it probably shows... haha)... I listen to youtube while I am working. and also Yes... I am still Pro Union... I just wanted to show the "Company side of Unions, not just workers"
and no, you do not get "scrap wire" that is for the shop..... and yes, it adds up.. to compensate for union wage. Taking wire is theft.....
7 hour work day??? and anything is over time??? bull... anything over 8 is OT.. unless 4-10s, than anything over 10 hours is OT.....and he does Electric on the side?? and hes an Apprentice??? holy shit..
John K best comment on the whole thread my guy
Hey John do you know if the local 112 is accepting applications?
I have an interview with Orange County really excited ; your'e videos are very helpful thank you.
Good luck with your hiring buddy! I've worked with a few local 11 men/women. They're hard workers.
Aarong520 you are totally right. I just uploaded a video talking about your point in working non union based on where you live. I am aware that i live in a bubble. In those cases, some companies actually keep their guys working, pay for benefits and it might not be as much as union but youre working. The problem with that is that you wont have the representation, you could get fired without any prior knowledge. I would do what it best for me and my family based on where i live and how the market is.
The LMT Channel yup totally agree you gota do whats best for you. In my case where i live man unless u live in LA the union as of now is having a tough time out here but i heard itll pick up soon we'll see. Like I said i respect the whole union thing and yea i could get fired whenever for whatever but so many non union companies got work out here I'd have a job within the week whereas if i were union id be sitting on a book longer than that most likely. It's less pay yes but it's more consistent where i live.
i got offered the job today
@@joestorres3854 Hows the job outlook now? Gonna apply soon to 441
Good info bro. I just found out I scored a 98.8 with Local 617 in San Mateo so I'm keeping my fingers crossed i get the call this year because im sick or workin security haha. Again good stuff and keep the vids comin
*of workin security.
GregJ 0331 did you get in?
you can go to Fl. ......all you need is a pulse..........
Very helpful. Thank you for these videos.
Just got on the list today. Dream come true.
rhaegarbaguhin updates??
At 5:15, you were talking about the possibility of getting laid off, then you mentioned "your name will be burnt." What do you mean by that?
J Sou Lay offs are part of the trade. It WILL happen. About burning your name, goes with the attitude of they cant fire me or the sense of entitlement that millenials have now a days. That goes with the idea of building your resume at every shop you work for. In the end you only have your reputation. A reputation you create or destroy.
So the union lays you off? I live in a small town - does that mean I'd be more at risk for lay offs?
J Sou No the union does not lay you off. We dont work for the union. We work through the Union. My check says Joe Blow Electric pays The LMT Channel. It doesnt say Union local # pays The LMT Channel. Company lay offs are something of the trades. With the union i sign book 1 and probably with a day or two im back to work at any of the many signatory contractors. Thats the beauty of the Union.
proud to be a teamster!! union got to grow for hard American workers for pension plans and health benefits and great pay right to work is a couplet opposite it is like cancer it kills the American dream of the middle class work it has to stop our unions will die
IBEW Local 5 Pittsburgh here. Some Republican Senator out west trying to put a bill that was going to charge us an extra 10% tax on top of what we would draw on retirement under the impression that it will help other unions. It it’s just to break our pension. We don’t pay out of pocket for a premium for healthcare. We work and money goes towards healthcare then after so much the money gets banked up so 6 months work of premium. If we’re off it draws from the bank to pay for our premium
All I can really say is
that opinions are like assholes everyone has one. The union is not for
everybody there's benefits to being in the union and there's benefits to
not being in a union. I'm a highly-skilled professional non union
electrician. And I can't really identify with some of the issues you
pointed out about skilled non-union electricians. Financially
particularly. Somehow financially I have landed on the top of a lot of
union electricians. I understand that my situation might have been very
unique some years ago when the union had all of its power. but times
have changed. Now today it's much different in this economically driven
society. For me and my colleagues the picture that you painted is
nowhere like how we live our lives and how we engage in our careers as
electricians.
I could hit on many different topics that you mention but I'm only going to hit on one for now:
1. The Rat Race
The
fact is when a person join a IBEW union and they first sign the forms
to be a indentured Apprentice. They are in fact signing up to be
indentured servant for life. Trapping them self in what is called the Rat
Race. Meaning you will have to work in order to retire. In many cases
for 20 to 30 years. Just to retire. For most people that's most of
their life depending on when you start working and when you die. Thus
when you become part of a union you have to play by their rules and
follow the ordained routes by the union. It is like when a rat is inside
the test lab inside of a rat Maze and they're on like this fairest
wheel thing where it spins around round and round and rat is running as
fast as can is trying to get to no where. The rat really going nowhere
and they're spinning the wheel round and round and round as fast as they
can really going nowhere. At the end when you retire and get your
pension you're just going to be really back where you started after
working 20-30 years.
For me and my colleagues we don't have that problem. All we work on is
Public Works projects. As non-union electricians we were able to take a
different route that is not set by the union and retire a lot earlier.
No hate here just love. Because our unionist brothers will never be
consider a threat to our professional careers. This society is a
capitalist society based on merit principles. That is what makes this
country so great that even a non union electrician could thrive.
Thanks man good video - appreciate all your feedback.
Do you get paid time off to go to the doctor? Like can you leave the site at 3 to go to an appointment?
Just curious if a union electrician wired that lighting controller at 17:19. That’s not something I would brag about. Someone needs to brush up on how to train wires in a panel.
lol
What is the equation for the energy stored in an inductor?
Explain each term to me.
You gonna get owned, boy.
Sounds a lot like my local (LU 20 Dallas/Fort Worth) except for the school and vacation pay and 401k. Apprentices pay for school every semester and it count as college credit.
We have pension, NEBF, and annuity. Some contractors have 401k. Vacation is a percentage of our choice or we can opt out and we can choose to have dues paid out of that.
How do you not see how your money affects the economy? What do you think the economy is?
In regards to my pension. It is self funded. I meant to say it's not a burden to the economy beiser it doesnt need tax money or government help. It's a separate entity.
Got a question for you ab something you said..if you get laid off at your local, can you travel and get on the books at another local? How does that work
Daniel Bigelow our union you can. But our dues go back to the home union. As an apprentice we can’t but we go back to work quicker because we’re cheaper
Do you get laid off often in IBEW? Im currently considering applying to IBEW Local 302 In Martinez, I recently got my E.T card but hard to get hired for not having electrician experience, thats why I wanna apply to IBEW
+DanielC510 i don't get laid off much but work is BOOMING and there is no shortage of work. Here is a video I made about your question. ua-cam.com/video/iiGGQgBAa60/v-deo.html
Current 302 apprentice been laid off for 1 week out of my 2 1/2 years so far. And when I applied for the union I had no electrical experience, they look for high test scores and personality traits such as motivation, attitude they can mold into a journeyman
ua-cam.com/video/ON-uBHTJw84/v-deo.html
Budget your $$$ as if there won't be work for a yr.
Working for your family and friends is not working non union . Union Proud !!
Drewski 😂. Yea that’s “side work”
Hey man I have no expirence at all, I really want to be an electrician. Should I get some expirence first and then apply for the union, or just go ahead and apply ?
+Oscar Avila just apply. Don't waste your time. The apprenticeship shows you what you need to know. You just need the drive to get in and learn.
Apply soon too, even if you are not sure. There is most likely a waiting list. My friend here just inquired about my apprenticeship. He missed the application date by a week now must wait about 8 months for the time my Local will accept app.
No future in non union
No pensions
No annuity
Low wages
Union is the way to go if you want to retire and have good wages .
Ibew ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼 Let’s go
Non union race to the bottom
Let’s continue to rasie the bar
That’s not all the way true yeah some companies don’t have all that but there are companies that do cuz I work non union and I have all that 👌🏼
I guarantee I am 💯 percent on this that if you are non union you do not make even close to the ibew wage I’m your are takehome amd including benefits that’s a fact .
In nj ibew jw wage is 52 ph , pension, annuity , healthcare , bacationcheck , total package 80 ph
No. Union is not even close to that on nj I mean not even close you can’t compare ibew to non union.
If you work mom union you get a pension , annuity , free healthcare , vacationchecks , and 52 ph
I find that hard to believe I worked non union and it’s a joke the only one that benefits is the contractor .
Ibew is the way to go
Mike Capone maybe in nj but over here in Los Angeles California I take home more than some of my buddy’s that are in the ibew and all my benefits for free no dues paid
Local 11 Los Angeles total package is around 80 ph
And our dues are paid from vacation checks that the contractor pays for anyways . Plus we get 5 years of schooling for free so the union electrician is still better off .
Plus if you get payed of or fired you have to read negotiate your wage all over again so you make $80 per hour just like the local 11 Ibew in Los Angeles I find that very hard to believe no matter what you say you just cannot compare Ibew wages pensions annuity and benefits to the nonunion sector it has been proven fact that your life and family’s life is better off when you work through the IBEW the proof is in the pudding just do the numbers are pay our wages our benefits are higher than the nonunion sector all across-the-board
Unions wouldn’t exist if there wasn’t a need. Management created that need with subpar wages and working conditions. A need existed in the past and a need will exist in the future. Go union.
San Diego. I applied to IBEW, scored high on the test but failed the interview because of my Criminal record. ABC picked me up and now im 2+ years in. I would rather be union but i gotta play my hand. Im considered a good apprentice. school comes easy to me. i did carpentry before this so my mechanics are dead on. that said i think my exposure has been good. from single line to trim, motor controls to mc TI work. But it is rough non union. i freaking gotta carry all my tools. deal with alot of bs employers.
Hilario Hernandez its the same here. i dont have to carry my tools but there ia also bad employers. we have a say with the union and put them on check. otherwise theyre alright. the beauty is that i can go to some other shop if i chose with the same pay.
salvatore DeAngelo ABC is the best school, better than weca and other non union indentured apprenticeships.
I went to la/Ventura and encourage you to finish before going union.
I know guys that went union after abc and ibew made them start at 4th
Hopefully you can in at ajk their legit, don't even try to pay their journeymen like union but very professional, some of the best electricians in so cal work there
Hilario Hernandez whats up bro i have a grand theft auto felony, im currently 21 and this happened a week after i turned 18, will this affect me in any way getting into a union? Sorry if its a stupid question, i have one more year of probation and i want to start to do something for my future, im in LA County , any info will be appreciated
@The LMT Channel
@Hilario
Non union 10 years. 3 weeks off in total due to being slow, Union 7 years, 2 years off in total for slow times, but I still worked and hustled and moonlighted the fuck outta work.
+sub
About how much PERCENTAGE of the money you take home is for living in your case?
The same or more as yours. The pay is reflective to standard of living.
Question - I just moved to a union state, and I just completed a non union apprenticeship and got my journeymans license right before I moved, 8 years non union experience. Will the union take me, and what will I need to do? Thank you.
Contact your local Union. They might just allow you to "upgrade" into their apprenticeship program starting as a 2nd, or 3rd year apprentice. If not, SO WHAT, Your Good Non-Union work experience might enable you to out qualify some other high-school kid who has NO experience in construction, and Viola! ... You might be ON YOUR WAY!!! Good Luck!!!
There are so many non union jobs in my state why bother besides, all those union brothers all become a little less civil with each other as soon as layoffs are in the air. They make more per hour but (without ot) I'll compare w2's from the last 15 years with any of them.
@@tinybubbles3724 I guarentee your pay and benefits don't compare to our union pay and benefits. You need to really understand what the union does for you.
I want to become an electrician for the union, and my local community college offers electrical technology classes including some that you stated(fire alarms, lighting controls, motor controls). I looked at the degrees that the college offers when completing those classes, and you can earn either a certificate in electrical technology, or an associates in science (A.A. degree) in electrical tech. If I wanted to join the union with my certificate or degree in electrical tech, would I start at a higher level/wage than beginning apprentices, or would I be at a beginning level just like them and have to go through the courses again? The reason being is I just turned 19, and I personally don't think I'm mature enough to work with journeymen and be an apprentice just yet. I would really like to go to to school for those classes, while also working my retail job(Home Depot), but if getting that degree won't benefit me in the union, then I won't waste my time going to school.
Vicdog408 dont waste your time. The union is in conjunction with an accredited college. In the end i get an assiociate in electrical engineering and a state license. the union teaches you the skills. I recomend to join and forget the college. youre not required to know anything. i was an ironworker and accounting major when i joined.
The LMT Channel thanks for the fast responses! One of my main reasons for wanting to go the college route was because I don't know too much about an electrician's work, and if there's a chance that I don't like it, then it would be way less of a hassle to drop those classes rather than quit the union. But I looked more into it and I'm going to try applying for my local IBEW, which is the San Joaquin one.
Vicdog408 Thats a good reason to try it out by going to college. Just my 2 cents. Here is SF it doesnt get better than my IBEW electrician job. The next step is to work for google, facebook but you need a degree and fight with millions of other candidates with the same or better experience. I wont be rich but it fits what i want. Things are paid and still have time and money to spend with family and take vacations, etc...
The LMT Channel also would you happen to know which specific training IBEW focuses on between residential work, industrial work, or commercial work? Or do they focus on a little of everything? Would it be a good trade for someone who enjoys math and attention to detail such as myself?
Vicdog408 the IBEW specifies in every aspect of electrical work. You must look it up on your own what classification you want. My classification is Inside wireman. Comcast type of work is Data Com. PGand E high voltage work is Lineman. It depends on your area. For me, Insidewireman has the highest pay rate and the largest scope of work. That means i will have alot more opportunities for work. That scope of work changes from region to region. Now with low voltage switching, data com guys say its their work. yes its low votage control switching but for high voltage things. Those are some grey areas. Look it up with your local union apprenticeship. They can help you with that.
Bro I just got into the union today I really don't want to take a pay cut but I know long-term it's going to be worth it
Whats the pay cut for?
great info. I just got a letter to come to orientation for ibew. I heard that u have to work, or go to class rathet, two weeks without pay.. is that true?
Ashlie Loper its one week of school every 4-6 weeks. As a tradesperson, we dont get paid when we dont work. The week of school, you get your check from the previous week of work. During school, you claim unemployment. Youre in a state approved aprenticeship and the state gives you the max amount. As far as the state goes, the first week you claim goes as a deposit for some reason? Any week after that you get the full amount. It is possible that the first week of school will be hard. If you plan accordingly, everything should be smooth. They tell you when you have class, when your going to get a raise, when to turn things in for the raise. Just plan accordingly.
Money will start to flow very fast. The first year, youll see a raise from the contract. Every year after that, you will get 3 raises of about ~$3/hr. 2 of those are raises based on hours and your apprenticeship and the 3rd is from the contract negotiation.
Welcome to the trade. Ive been in many and this by far is the best for the employee.
Yes at 332 you get a stipend to go to school
Good input, thanks.
Hey scabos I made 54 bucks an hour as a high voltage splicer 164 Jersey City. Tell your boss you need a raise. I moved as fast as I could to do terminations and splices . Every day the contractor got his monies worth.
I make $27 now and about to go to $32 as an apprentice and non union is getting $18-23
I’ve also been on both sides. Yes there are big differences. I’ve heard and seen it all. We maybe a number on the books, but we aren’t a piece of paper having to interviews and practically beg for a fucking 20 an hr wage and on top of that bringing all my tools breaking my back and working for a contractor who doesn’t want to give me what I’m worth and not supply tools for making THEM $. One comment mentioned here was salting. I’ve salted a few companies and found out that a lot of those workers wanted to go union but were just scared. Go to a hall and check it out. I’m from Las Vegas 357 and I make 45$...on the check. Free healthcare. If I get laid off, I still get 6 mths of insurance. If I don’t wanna “wait” for a call, hit the road. Easy work. Not stuck to one contractor being a wormy bastard trying to keep a job. I can work 6 mths, take mths off at my scale, at a non union scale, you HAVE to work all yr WITH ot and I still come out on top. Do the knowledge to that shit
so being a union guy you can find non union jobs during the lay off?
so you havent worked non-union
Shannon Smith lets say i havent worked for less money. i still wear a tool belt. i still dp the same stuff. i just chose not to work for less pay. union is better for the employee. non union only helps the contractor and lead man. idk what youre into but im into making more money.
Lol right, doing work for friends and family is not really working non union jobs lol that just residential work
Can non-union ever beat that when it's rich boss man vs. you?
I'm done with trade school, just waiting on the certificate, but I have all my other certifications. Anyways, sorry for getting back to this video late, but was in trade school since May 2017, now I graduate the program next Friday! So excited.
Another reason why i love my private company. My journeyman isnt afraid of getting dirty. My journeyman gets in the trench with me and kicks ass. I get taken care of so well. I get scrap wire, I get paid vacation, if we get the job done ahead of schedule and get off work a bit earlier my and my boss likes the profit he made he gives me my full 8( he doesnt have to do that, thats just who he is). Ive been in the union and I didnt appreciate my experience. Everyone around me at the time were getting promoted on no other merit except for the fact that they had a friend higher up in the chain of command. Favouritism, politics, and games. Wasnt interested.
Can I kiss you?
I'm with IBEW in a bottling plant. Well paid, awesome benefits (through the union, not the company). The unions at the plant all work hard for the company to succeed, cause then we all win. Good life doing a great job (automation controls).
Couldn't have said it better.👍
I've been on both sides and the difference is like night and day. I wish I had gotten into the union a lot sooner.
francis w --- I've also been non-union and union and there is good and bad in both. The union good outweighs the bad but, there are things that aren't good for some people.
I happen to not be a Democrat, and the IBEW is one of the biggest contributors of large amounts of money to the Democratic party and in the past, that was a good thing because Democrats were pro union now, these days some say they are pro union but they aren't. They don't care about the unions and that is proven by the amount of contractors leaving the union and the large jobs that were always union are now being bid by large non union shops and the union shops are being under bid and not getting jobs.
I got my journeyman card in San Jose (Silicon Valley) and I worked there and in San Francisco , where this guy is that made this video. Working in The City, like he said, you only work 7 hour days. He made it sound like it was a good thing. The reason they work 7 hour days was to keep from laying off a shit load of men. There wasn't enough work to keep all the active members working 40 hour weeks and the apprentices were going to class at night like normal but they weren't working like they are supposed to. For every, 3 journeyman on a job there has to be an apprentice and every fifth person on the crew (3 journeyman and one apprentice is 4) the fifth has to be a journeyman over age 50. That isn't every local but most. They do that to make sure that foreman and contractors don't hire only younger wireman because they will do that.
But back to the 7 hour work week. He mentioned overtime. If I remember Local 6 bilaws were after 8 hours of overtime at time and a half rate, or maybe 10 hours, then every hour after that. Also he mentioned vacation pay.
It used to be we got actual 2 weeks off work paid per year. Then the bargaining agreement with the contractors which gets renegotiated every 4 or 5 years, the union reps, gave away our vacations and some of our national holidays. We no longer got 2 weeks off work paid because the contractors thought it was too much trouble and they were laying guys off when they took vacations so they agreed with the union arbitrators that they would deduct what ever, a dime for every hour you worked and put it in their own bank account and earn interest off it and when you've worked a year they gave you your 2 week pay check but no time off.
Those are just a few of the little things that I will talk about. There are more but union is still better than non union in most ways.
Kenneth Kaiser Wow that's an essay about that. Maybe for some people they are happy where they are at and don't want to be in the union but as far as my personal experience I have been killing it. Yes there isn't vacation pay but the retirement is insane. I just went through the apprenticeship and already have 40k in 1 of my funds. As of last year I worked 2600 hours and made 190k last year. I don't know anyone that is non union that could even come close.
Dems vs Republican come on man you are gonna tell me that Republicans are so much better and more virtuous. Political stuff will happen and as a small minnow I have to provide for my family the union has been so much better.
francis w ---- I never said that Republicans are more virtuous than Democrats. You said that. I said I didn't agree with the union taking money from our paychecks and giving it to the Democratic party without an option to give to another party. I'm not even political. Hell, I lost my right to vote completely for 10 or 12 years. I will never be able to own a firearm, ever, not legally anyway.
As far as the money you are making congratulations, you almost make as much as me.
When I put my journeyman card on hold as a member in good standing back in 2012 the hourly rate we got on our checks, after retirement and benefits, etc... was $55.00 .
That's not bad, but it's nothing compared to what I'm making working for myself. I put in a lot of hours because it's only me. I hire another journeyman or a Helper sometimes for some jobs but I everything else, estimates, purchasing, sales, invoicing, customer service, accounting, etc... but I love it and the money
Kenneth Kaiser glad you are doing well running your own business it's a lot of work but in your case has paid off. I hope to do that one day but I'll remain signatory and keep my pension moving forward.
francis w --- that's good to hear. I do regret, to a limited extent that my 16 years as a IBEW journeyman falls four years short of me collecting on my full retirement pension. I will get some of it but what is a drag is the investments that were made with that portion of my pension plan has taken so many hits from the economy taking big hits back a few years ago and I lost almost half of what was being invested. It has managed to gain again but not get me back to where it would have been had it not been impacted the way it was.
I'm not relying on that though. I'm single, no kids, no alimony being paid to some ex bitch, and I just recently became the bearer of credit cards to build credit for myself and the business. I've never built any credit, always paid cash because I made such good money while in the IBEW (and being single) that if I wanted something I just saved for a couple weeks or a couple months and bought it.
I'm the same way still. Even with credit cards, which I've had for about 2 months, I buy using the cards and I immediately pay off the whole amount as if i paid cash for it.
But, as long as my work stays steady, I'll have a nice retirement built up from my own different types of investments and savings.
Good luck to you, Brother.
Do you need any experience to become a apprentice for IBEW?
Hank Wilson No experience needed. Appremticeship is "training". its actually better if you dont know anything because its easier to break bad habits. the idea is that there isnt any bad habits. what you DO need it drive and willing to work/learn. THAT cannot be taught. it comes from within.
I just had my union interview. Passed everything and got my letter the other day saying that I didnt get in. Pretty sure they only take a small group of people who has recommendation letters from union members
They take the top of the top. Our union allows a few thousand to sign up and go through everything and yes only the top of the top get in. It can be very competitive.
LMT I agree it’s competitive. Is there anything else I can do to get a leg up?
@@Gordonlanguam in my case my group had 190 people applied and 190 people going to class. it varies but drop out rate here is 50% and if you drop out you gotta pay whatever they "invested" into you. in my case 2,500. knowing someone in 98% of cases is the only way you'll get in unless you're in the top 20 on the alptitude
@@Mikechill5 I got in bro. Got the acceptance letter 4 months ago. Just finished my first month in the union
@@Gordonlanguam good shit man. congratulations. I start beginning of the year.
Are people who start the electric trade at 33 looked down upon? Looking for a career change
I'm 35 and I joined about 7 months ago. I've honestly felt like I have a better mindset than a lot of the younger guys, and I get more exposure as a result. My advice would be to go for it. I honestly feel it's the best decision I've ever made.
Who cares what others think bro do you your probably better than the people who cast judgement on you maybe not as skilled cause of the trade switch but fuck em one day you’ll be a boss and those guys might end up asking you what too do
Some locals are good, some never have work and bad benefits. Work non union first is my advice, that way you have some perspective.
You can always drop out of the apprenticeship. Why leave money on the table. Do it right, all the way or dont do it at all. Scared money never made money. Nothing to it but to do it.
@@lmt9856 if you drop out you gotta pay what they "invested" in you
Unions are the backbone of our country
Without them corporations can do whatever they want and pay litterally nothing to workers which is what they do today
And unions are a brotherhood , they watch out for eachother no matter what, and believe me thats a good thing
Im all for them after working my whole life in non union jobs and never getting anywhere our making anything
I was a non union electrician trained on the site by union workers
Im hoping i can be accepted soon
I want to join the IBEW right now I'm on the wait list to get in the CW program but I'm scared I'll get laid off a lot and not Have a steady income. Probably sounds stupid but I'm just worried and being cautious, any info?
It is called the best part time job you will ever have !
I've been working with a non union company for 6 months almost 7 and still not signed on as a apprenticeship.. is that normal?
Yeah. You're cheap labor. Why make you an apprentice if your okay where your at? No one is going to hand you more money.
Can you get Into the apprenticeship with a criminal record? Misdemeanors, not felonies.
Yes and make sure you say it or will be in trouble. Some contractors run background checks.
I'm elecrican not Union. And the people that hire union said to me if i get 4-6 hours of work out them in a day I'm having a good day.
I disagree. This aspect is subjective. There is good and bad electricians everywhere. Just like there is good and bad drivers. Good and bad doctors. It's part of this world.
Btw, the person who said that is a very bad boss. Everyone has a place. Everyone is good at "something". The problem is finding out what they is and placing them accordingly in the chain of events of a job.
It was owner of Reebok was one of those person that told me
If you don't work hard you will be back at the hall so fast your head will spin !
Hey I would like to redo this video with you I am a non union apprentice I live in San Francisco may be we can compare and contrast
Luis Ruiz if we compare and contrast we will see that most things are the same. only thing is that SF union electrician make about $1/min. no one else gets paid this much. yes, the contractors MAY make more but the electrician doesnt. You and I dont make that non union.
I agree there were some things I felt could of bin touched on a little more but your video is mostly accurate.
Luis Ruiz what do you want me to touch on?
@Tony G yes your right where non union takes all thatoeny home but will you make more than you make now upon retirement? How are the benefits package? Is prevailing wage ALL the time on ALL the jobs? I make prevailing wage ALL the time. I dont have to negotiate my wages anymore. It's the same all the time where ever I go within the jurisdiction.
The stress is alot less too because I'm not job scared. For better or worst i can go back to the hall and pick up another call to another company or job site. For better or worst it's a possibility. Both sides have their ups and downs but union is for me.
@Tony G I am in maryland and a non union company has offered me a apprenticeship. What is this your writing about 80+ dollars an hour ? I would love to get that ! 😂
Awsome videos brother 👍
Do you wanna power up that smoke detector?
How did u go about joining the union where did u start?
Derek sfelecetricaltraining.org
Look up your local Union office, which should be in a town, nearby. Then call them and inquire about applying to get into their apprenticeship program. Make sure you have good grades in school, have a good job history, and no criminal records, and are not a drunk, or drug addict, and being ex-military is a BIG Plus! Go take some technical classes thru your local/community college, and be prepared to work hard, and learn a lot about basic electrical theory, and physics. It's WELL WORTH IT!!! You'll have knowledge and Skills that you can profit from for your entire life!
guloguloguy
So if you have a criminal history it’s a no go?
you start in the dirt & go up from there......I'm now up @ 90'.....162 steps up lol
guloguloguy I have a shity work history I don’t know if I should even apply
For the record. I pay my dues. We all put Work boots on the same way every morning. If you want a career with good benefits, Union.
Just save your money cause you will be layed off at some point. If the economy shits, good luck. If you can kiss ass and “network”, well you can play the game and get by. Eventually buildings are done being built. Not very many maintenance opportunities for residential electricians out here. Just saying. You how many out of work Ibew guys I’ve seen crawling to Non union outfits when it’s slow. Haha.
If i cant get an apprenticeship position in ibew can i join later even if i did a non union apprenticeship program?
As far as I know yes. Regardless of what you do in the meantime keep checking for availabilities.
@@lmt9856 i think my plans are to get a technical degree first then persue apprenticeship that way my bases are already covered IBEW is certainly my first choice and would be a great way to expand my knowledge beyond the techical degree but i wouldnt want to put all of my eggs in one basket either but boy oh boy that benefit package is the cats meow!
do you need high school diploma or g.e.d to join the union?
+Linky Ortiz yes.
As an apprentice, I have to do "bitch" work for 4 or 5 years?
J Sou Not for 4 to 5 years. If youre good and can do more, you wont do the bitch work. Its simple math, if you cant do the dumb work, dont expect to do the smart work.
Is age a factor? Im 29 and worried I maybe too old
can you dig a ditch????
Joshua hey josh you’re too old you should be consider retirement soon
No
I love your videos man but whatever the camera is doing in this one makes me feel dizzy. Idk if its a special effect or just lagg xD Thank You for the info in this one :)
Im trying to get into an apprenticeship out here in northern California, but do they provide housing for you guys or no?
no but the wages are a reflection of the cost of living for the area your local represents. I live in the bay area and I'm working with 617. I don't live in the San Mateo county but I do get paid the wage for there. My commute is an hour right now which isn't bad compared to other co-workers commuting almost 2 hours. a lot of work in northern California is centered around the bay area but housing there is expensive. I'm thinking of moving to the valley myself. At least with union you can make a good living elsewhere. Non-union varies. Some of them will give you a hotel if you live outside the bay, but they'll pay you less. I've worked non union construction and it is pretty brutal when it comes to wages and benefits.
Thanks bud
Isn't it true union members vote Democrat?
Not all of em lol Trump 2020
Shouldn't you be working instead of on your phone. I'd write you up cause I'm a hard ass type of foreman!
I have 0 bills im turning 20 next month im in san fernando valley it seems ibew isnt far. This sounds like a good trade i can get into. To find everything out should i just call the union and ask them what i need to get into the apprentic program? Or should i just find a electrician and help him or do i go to a trade school for the basic 12 month training? I want to be trained the right way and be as safe as i can while working as hard as i can.
Damn im from the sf valley to bro. What part u from?
my goal is to be a electrician in the union. hopefully next year. good video bro
abrizuela2691 good luck buddy. union and non union, both turn on the lights but in the end who made more money? who had the potential to make more money? The union way is easier to surpass on average, non union wages. There are a select non union guys who have that opportunity but not all. trust me, youll love it.
i love it already and im only a light tech lol i learn new things everyday.
im trying to rack up my hours and apply for my local in orange county. i see what you mean about surpassing non union wages.
abrizuela2691 yeah. the customer only sees the lights and switches work. they see the almighty dollar. why undersell our work for cheaper when we can all agree to charge a similar amount. Thats the beauty if the union. we all agree not to undersell our work for less.
i see what you mean now. but hey how often is the average union electrician laid off, and for how long ?
just curious
abrizuela2691 ive said it many times. there isnt any definative time. you will get laid of if you suck. like any job. after a few layoffs you will be known for that. some layoffs are because of the com0any ability to keep bidding jobs. sometimes it gets slow. its normal. if you plan it right, you make soooo much money that you shoukdnt sweat it. dont go thinking about layoffs. they happen. go into it thinking you want to get picked for the next draft. your currently working to make the cut list for the next job. thats it. lay offs dont hurt or feel anything after your first one. ive got them befofe. went to work the next day or the next 2 days. it depends.
You now how many receptacles and switches could've been installed in the time wasted making this video!!!! Keep it up though Cuz it keeps my cash flowing picking up the slack! Lol!
cp050119861 haters always gonna hate. receptacles isnt everything.
cp050119861 you do know about lunch time right? if you notice im wearing different things and in different places. it wasnt taken in one sitting.
Like I said keep it up and im nothing but smiles!😁!
Rookie hard hat
Nice camera
dam i wanna 5 check or just paid holidays fl unions suck
colby webber all the perks of the union come from politics. vote, be present, dont cross pickets, be active in your society. thats how things are voted in and made into a norm.
IBEW local 20.....NO RATS!!!!!!
ÈWord\ Up Brother; Basically We Love & Have This Traight \Up PPE+ The Man.When Push Comes To Knott; 424 RULES Ya Man All Men+ Women; The Ultimate we stand by is PPE & ToolBox+ Security; WORKS With Our 5Lès Which Is WTF We Are Made Of ; We Fu__èen\A RULE, Think How We Think.......Etc.... .!È That Is Awesummer Bro ; We Have Your Back; We Have Bean There Done Datt....... Etc.... .!È
hey this guy needs to get to work hahaha
Pp
More work less talk
Joel Redman haters be haters.
The LMT Channel lol