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Thinking about joining the IBEW union.

If you do electrical work, you should already have an idea if unions are a good idea in that field. Some unions are good and necessary, some aren't.
 
It's a good paying, hard working job. Unless you're lazy, then they don't want you.
 
I'm a member of the IBEW Local 141, they've treated me good. Depends on if you like to work or not whether you stay.
 
I was a member of IBEW Local 3 for a few years. At first, they got us mid $2k paychecks a week, to do minimal work, and I slowly saw that dwindle down to $500 or so every two weeks to literally break our backs with no hourly pay, but instead piece work.

IBEW Local 3 is the biggest piece of shit mobster-run union ever.
 
America Works Best When We Vote:Union YES!
Being in a Union is a lot like having a concealed weapon; better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
 
Vote for yes, local 354. Good pay, great apprenticeship, hard workers (mostly) average to above average benefits, great retirement.
 
Just got out of a 2 hr+ meeting at the union hall...I took the company car that has gps. It turns out they're looking for people to spread the word around to all the employees about my company unionizing. They've heard a lot of complaints throughout the country about the company and I think the IBEW already has 2 states out of like 23 where the company has a presence. The union guys said our company has their union busters spread pretty thin, so hopefully all goes well in Iowa and we go union soon. Sounded like a pretty good deal. Now I suppose I'll do my part and call a bunch of guys on the company contact list. Or maybe...send a mass email to everyone using my company email that they monitor.
 
Papa Hogan said:
Just got out of a 2 hr+ meeting at the union hall...I took the company car that has gps. It turns out they're looking for people to spread the word around to all the employees about my company unionizing. They've heard a lot of complaints throughout the country about the company and I think the IBEW already has 2 states out of like 23 where the company has a presence. The union guys said our company has their union busters spread pretty thin, so hopefully all goes well in Iowa and we go union soon. Sounded like a pretty good deal. Now I suppose I'll do my part and call a bunch of guys on the company contact list. Or maybe...send a mass email to everyone using my company email that they monitor.
Click to expand...

What does the company car and GPS have to do with this story?
 
Companies don't generally want their employees to unionize against them because it costs them more money when they have to pay union employee contracts. They want to keep screwing them. My concern is that the management knew about this meeting, so taking the car with gps tracking to the union hall lets them know that I was there, conspiring against them. I asked about this at the meeting and I was told that if mgmt even asks if I went to the meeting, they're breaking the law and I should report it to the union. Seems like a pretty good deal being that I have trouble asking for raises and such, especially when I just got a raise last fall.
 
Being in one definitely helps my wife's income and gives us an excellent affordable healthcare package. As for good raises, that's not a guarantee.
 
amdhunter said:
I was a member of IBEW Local 3 for a few years. At first, they got us mid $2k paychecks a week, to do minimal work, and I slowly saw that dwindle down to $500 or so every two weeks to literally break our backs with no hourly pay, but instead piece work.

IBEW Local 3 is the biggest piece of shit mobster-run union ever.
Click to expand...

wtf? isnt local 3 in nyc? at $50/hr?!

how it go from easy $ to break your backs no $?
 
Papa Hogan said:
Companies don't generally want their employees to unionize against them because it costs them more money when they have to pay union employee contracts. They want to keep screwing them. My concern is that the management knew about this meeting, so taking the car with gps tracking to the union hall lets them know that I was there, conspiring against them. I asked about this at the meeting and I was told that if mgmt even asks if I went to the meeting, they're breaking the law and I should report it to the union. Seems like a pretty good deal being that I have trouble asking for raises and such, especially when I just got a raise last fall.
Click to expand...

So, you have a company car and you're company is screwing you? I wish my company screwed me that much.

If you don't like your company, find another.
 
Jumpem said:
I couln't morally justify joining a union.
Click to expand...
How do you morally justify companies playing 'divide and conquer' to drive down wages and benefits?

I'm not saying you 'should be in a union' or 'all people should be in a union' or anything like that. BUT. If you're going to turn this into an ethical argument, you will lose by any reasonable measuring stick.
 
amdhunter said:
I was a member of IBEW Local 3 for a few years. At first, they got us mid $2k paychecks a week, to do minimal work, and I slowly saw that dwindle down to $500 or so every two weeks to literally break our backs with no hourly pay, but instead piece work.

IBEW Local 3 is the biggest piece of shit mobster-run union ever.
Click to expand...

You needed to be one of those guys under the beach umbrella ala Pauly Walnuts.
 
3chordcharlie said:
How do you morally justify companies playing 'divide and conquer' to drive down wages and benefits?

I'm not saying you 'should be in a union' or 'all people should be in a union' or anything like that. BUT. If you're going to turn this into an ethical argument, you will lose by any reasonable measuring stick.
Click to expand...
Yet unions have no problem with destroying a company that will not bend to it's will,

They are union first, not workers first.
 
In Local 58 here. There are good and bad points. I'm on the construction side so it may not apply to you.

Good: wages, benefits, tool list, everything is spelled out in the contract. Training is the best you can get...not even close otherwise. You should be able to travel the country if you want (and need) to with not many problems.

Bad: they can't conjure work, and in many ways don't "sell" themselves well enough (keeping on local/state governments to enforce code and regulations) thereby opening things up to the competition to undercut with shoddy (and sometimes illegal) labor and shoddy materials.

Worse: the International part of the IBEW is run by a bunch of slimeballs who consort with the contractors they should be working with (or standing up to) and do their best to keep their positions and wages while most of those who do the work struggle. We finally managed to vote out some of the slime in our local, hoping they can start to enforce some of the internal regulations that are designed to help the brotherhood.

I've been laid off for a year and am just now back to being eligible to go back to work...and at this point I won't be until next year (that being my choice though for financial/family reasons at the moment -- and yes, long ago removed myself from unemployment despite still having credits).

As for the concept of unions in general...anyone who says they want to bar workers from joining together and selling what they can offer (labor) better firmly back the abolition of corporations and investors being able to band together and utilize what they can offer (capital) in the same manner.
 
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