r/IBEW

I work 2 days on (48 straight hours) and 4 days off. Retire at 20 years with 55% pension and 2.75% more for every year after. I’m 8 years in, 36 years old, and really interested in electrical work. I was in the Army for 8 years and have a military pension as well so the pay cut at first wouldn’t be too bad. I was actually accepted into Local 716 in Houston before turning it down when I got into the fire academy. Always wondered where I’d be today had I gone into the union as a wireman.
What are y’all honest opinions?

Current salary is around $105k
I pay around $600 a month for medical insurance
12% of paycheck towards pension
I’m open to moving as well. Am I crazy to consider it?
Knowing what yall know, would you do it?
I have 3 children from age 4 to 11 and I’m not a huge fan of being gone for 2 straight days at a time. I get 20 paid days off a year between vacation and holiday.
Let’s hear some opinions

I’m soon going to be a Inside Wireman Apprentice and I currently drive a 2 door sports car (dumb ik) and realistically I know driving it in the unfinished parking lots isn’t smart. Also not to mention it’s cheaper gas wise to switch.

I see post on here saying not to get a truck and etc to keep driving the beater, but I don’t want to damage my current car I would rather trade it in for a Tacoma. I have a good support system with my family and would only need to take care of the car payment with no other responsibilities.

Is it still okay for me to go ahead and get a Used 2025 TRD Off Road Tacoma?

Hey brothers. I’ve got an interesting one for you guys.

Currently on a job building a water treatment facility and we’re on the last stretch before it’s finished. Just down to me another journeyman and 2 apprentices. We’re currently trying to pull out the old wire. Which is three 1awg wires and a ground for well pumps. Well pump 1 is about 700 feet from the first pull station and well pump 2 is about 1000 feet. We cannot get this to budge, and we’re at the point where we’ve got an operator with an excavation helping out.

This wire is so stuck that copper is breaking. Currently using a shackle and strap and braiding all 3 wires together to pull and it’s just snapping. What the hell do I do?

I know this isn’t the typical question in this forum but I’ve never came across a situation where I can’t find an answer to. I’d also really like to get the copper for my apprentices before layoffs come. Any suggestions would be appreciated and if it has to be abandoned then it is what it is

I have a question for anyone in local 100. I'm on the POE list of applicants but I want to start working as a solar installer to gain electrical experience in case I don't get in this year. How long does it take to get in as an installer, what do I need to apply, and what is the compensation? Does the position include healthcare? I understand that there are no wage increases like an apprenticeship but I'm mostly interested in healthcare benefits if they have that.

Does anyone use a pencil when bending stainless conduit ? I was told nobody uses a pencil, I’ve never worked with it personally but now I’m curious.

Yesterday Isreal bought a congressional seat in Kentucky for 15 million. Abigail Spanberger vetoed collective bargaining for public sector workers. It leaves me wondering, who is fighting for us? Here's a clue, it isn't corporate democrats! In the primary we have a chance to put forth a fighter for working people in VA's first congressional district so let's elect Salaam Bhatti for Congress to be our champion! Let's talk politics!

What’s up brothers n sisters,
Looking for info on what the work picture is like as I’ve got family nearby and want to travel and work out of 697. Any shutdowns or high OT jobs worth bidding for as a traveler?

This’ll be my second time traveling, but I’m bringing my family to stay with me. I’ll have someone staying at our house while we’re gone.

Hey all I just want to say how excited I am and looking forward to seeing you all out on the job. I go into the hall tomorrow to sign paperwork and get my card. This has been a long time coming and I’m excited to make more money, be a bigger part of something, and to continue my craft. See yall out there!

I am curious about what locals get sponsored by what and why?

Can we, as the local, get sponsored by monster energy drinks, for example?

Good morning everyone. Soon as I got my J-card I left the construction field and rolled over to the controls industry. I mainly did work for non-union contractors since that’s where most of the work was available and still is to my knowledge. I joined the 716 a while back in hopes to get a position as an I-Tech but no luck. Plenty of construction work was available and still is but for 5-6 years of consecutive construction it’s something that no longer catches my attention. I called halls nearby to see if they could put me in their books for work opportunities but no luck. I am beginning to understand most of the non-union contractors got the market for these positions. So I did what I had to do to stay busy and make that money. I kept hitting those comissioning/start up jobs at local power plants and etc. Am I still eligible for a membership even after I took some work from non-union contractors as a I-Tech?

I have an offer to join the IBEW as a Journeyman, but I’m worried I won’t like it. What are people’s honest opinions on things they like and dislike. My biggest worries is that I have a young family, so traveling a lot or being laid off scare me. I’m a hard worker and have never had any issues with any company I’ve been with, but I want to make sure I’m home more than traveling as well as not getting laid off and falling behind in bills payments. This is in central Ontario, thanks

My local has elections coming up and we are having a town hall style debate/candidates night. What are some good questions that could be asked at a debate for BM?

Hey, I'm considering joining my local IBEW, but I also teach at my local chapter of ABC. Is there a way for me to keep doing that without facing disciplinary action?

This was not on my 2026 bingo card.

So I recently started as a helper about 2 months ago, my goal is to get into the inside wireman apprenticeship and continue my career from there. I recently got put out onto a jobsite today and for some reason my entire crew and foremen are all telecom guys? Is that normal or should I say something to one of my bosses. I haven’t done any hands on work but from my understanding telecom and inside electrical work is pretty different or atleast I thought. I just want to build reputable learning that I can use in my apprenticeship interview and not knowledge for a different type of electrican.