For New IBEW 613 Journeymen Wiremen

Congratulations!
By virtue of you watching this video, you’ve either recently turned out as a journeyman wireman or you are about to. You’ve put in the hard work, study, training, and work-hours it takes to become the best-of-the-best in the electrical industry.
If you are preparing to be a Journeyman Wireman, before you turn out, you’ll want to be member in good standing with IBEW Local Union 613.
Make sure your dues and death benefits are current.
And make sure any school book debt is cleared up, too.
Secondly, Document your 8000 Hours. Remember, we cannot turn you out as an accredited journeyman wireman without you completing and documenting your 8000 hours of on-the-job training.
Part of why our union apprenticeship program is the gold standard in the industry is because we are accredited by the Department of labor.
Turning out anyone as a journeyman without the required 8000 hours puts our registered apprenticeship status in jeopardy with the Department of Labor, and can subject us to losing our accreditation.
After turning out as a journeyman wireman, and before you ever hit the road, Sign up for ERTS.
ERTS stands for Electronic Reciprocal Transfer System, and it allows us to keep up with your hours worked and your benefits earned in any other jurisdiction so that you are properly credited with the pay and benefits you are rightfully owed in your IBEW 613 account, such as your pension, your health and welfare fund, supplemental unemployment, etcetera.
You’ll need to give that to your employer with your new rate on it.
Make sure all your personal information is correct and up-to-date, such as your phone number, email address, your correct beneficiary, and your emergency contact information.
Here are Six “Rules of the Road” that will help you have a smooth transition no matter what jurisdiction you work in:
1) Call the local you plan to visit before you leave, to verify the opportunities and make sure that they are welcoming travelers
2) Always know your Ticket Number, and carry your current dues receipt at all times.
3) Once you take a call in another jurisdiction, proactively remove your name from the book of any other local, anywhere you have signed a book, except for your home local.
4) Always sign Book 2. Never ask to sign Book 1
5) Never accept a job transfer. You work the terms of your job referral and then report back to the local to re-sign Book 2
6) And most importantly, respect and willfully work under the terms of that Local Union’s Agreement.
And Finally, a word about SHORT CALLS
Here in IBEW Local Union 613, a short call is defined as any job referral that will be 20 days or less. This includes weekend, if weekends are offered. It is your responsibility to get a termination slip when those 20 days are up.
When traveling, keep in mind that short calls can vary depending on the local union jurisdiction you are working in, so be sure to get accurate information from that local union on what constitutes a short call.
You cannot under any circumstances, turn that short call in to a long call, no matter what the contractor says. If you drag up or get fired you will lose your spot on the book.
If you have any questions, please contact us here at the hall and we will be happy to help you!
Congratulations on becoming a journeymen wiremen. By turning out, you rank among the finest electricians in the world.
Here’s to a long and successful career, and thank you for being a member of IBEW Local Union 613.