r/IBEW

I haven’t worked a lot outside of my home local until recently when I permanently relocated to a new state. I have heard one of the big rules on the road is no double booking. And to keep out of local politics.

With that in mind I’m not currently working in my local so I’m not sure if this falls under the mind my own business umbrella or what I should do in this situation.

A newly organized member is working on the same site as me but is looking to travel so I gave him the tips that I know and picked up over the last few years.

Even after educating him he still signed the day book in another local. And I told him you’re not supposed to do that. That’s double booking. You’re working and taking a spot on the books for someone else.

He said well what I’m supposed to be not working and hoping to catch a call. I said yeah pretty much that’s exactly it. I told him you can always call the hall for the local you’re looking to travel too and see what work is like and the potential of you getting a call but if you’re signing an out of work book then you are not supposed be working.

He is telling me I’m wrong but i know for a fact what he’s doing is wrong it’s wormy asf but he’s still doing it.

Do I just let him be. Should I contact this local union hall or the one he’s signing?

He’s newly organized and ignorant to the rules of the road but doesn’t listen when someone tries to educate.

What's up brothers and sisters! Title says it all, our local doesn't sell things at our hall (no coins, shirts or anything like that) and I'm trying to help change that so that whenever people are traveling through the area they can swing by and grab some swag and what not. I know the general fund isn't allowed to profit, but is there anyway that our local could make a separate fund just for merchandise and activities (we only host 1 event every year and it's for the retirees). Any advice would be appreciated!

So I've been weighing my options, the pros and cons, what will be best for my future. I've boiled it down to three options:

> A. 2027 GMC Sierra HD Denali Ultimate

This will be important as I need suitable space to put my tools and to tow my 45 foot fifth wheel from camping world.

> B. Booze, drugs, strip clubs

Listen if I can't snort a line out of a hooker's asscrack I may as well give up.

> C. Gambling

Listen fuckers, Friday only comes around ONCE a week and I'm not gonna waste it by missing out on my chance to MaKe It bIG. I'm one lottery ticket away from Jeff Bezos and then I'll wave you suckers goodbye.

Just overheard a JW from out of state say that he never works jobs at his home local. He mentioned something about letting new guys have a spot but I didn't catch the rest of his explanation. Are there other reasons someone might choose never to work jobs from their home local? Aside from there not being jobs available?

Long story short I'm an apprentice and stick up for myself if it's apparent disrespect. I joke back if it's just shit talking. I swallow my pride if it's just micromanaging/short fuse that I can guess stems from a shitty marriage/life (lol).

My question is more so for the coworkers that don't have the same backbone. I hear about the same leads/foreman being bullies to my brothers/sisters and it feels like there should be a way to handle this.

My family says I shouldn't get involved and risk being made an example but I'm always the type of person to call out bad folk mistreating innocent people. What should I do?

I recently arrived to DFW-11 in Red Oak TX with the contractor Alman Construction. So far there has not been a week without plenty of people getting written up. From what I’ve heard, theres about 80 of us. Don’t get me wrong I am not against corrective action whatsoever but the stuff people are getting written up for is crazy. There’s basically no warnings here, get caught without a glove on, write up! Get caught with a phone out, write up! The list goes on and examples being made from people daily! I understand that we are expected to have all PPE, stay off of phones, be on time, etc. but I completely disagree with making the first disciplinary action a write up instead of a quick talk. The way we sign in/out is a sheet with everyone’s names all you do is put your time in/out and signature. There has been 2 people (that I know of) that have gotten written up for accidentally signing their name in the row above or below theres. In my opinion thats bound to happen with so many vertical and horizontal rows but I guess not to the contractor. Also, the Alman Construction is very shady with its practices. They are very non-union like with things they do such as time off requests require 3 work days before said date/s and this strict write up giving behavior. Anyways all sorts of stuff like that is happening and what worries me is that they are putting apprentices’ jobs at risk over minor things that could simply be corrected with verbal warnings at first. From what I’ve heard, both general foremen along with majority of foreman on site are new union members and this is their first union job site which might explain a lot but that does not make this correct AT ALL! The hall has heard of it already and unfortunately it feels like if they just side with contractors so just hoping to get this out there and hopefully something happens, I’ve tried and seen no effects but I will continue trying to fight for fellow brothers and sisters!

To those who have thought about picking up this call. Think twice before you waste your time, majority of workers here are CE/CW and apprentices stuck here. It says a lot about the jobsite!

My local doesn’t pay much at all. I can’t afford to live and I’m stacking up more and more debt. I can’t even pay for my books this year so I think it’s time to move on. Everyone I speak to says they have never heard of the union going after anyone who went non union. In fact one person told me they can’t even legally do anything.

Does anyone have any insight on if work is slow over at the refineries (not company specific just in general).

I hear they offer OT when the work picks up and I’m desperate for OT.

All my life I’ve been a shorts guy, obviously now I need to get some pants. What are some good pants that are actually decent to work in?

I just joined local 353 in Toronto. I am curious as to what the employers see when I apply for a call?

Reposted to remove local details, per advice of the mods.

Our local is trying to organize the field staff of my employer. We have a good number of cards signed, and a petition has already gone before the NLRB.

We’re shy of a majority though….

Send me your best pro-union, rabble rousing, shit stirring memes if you’ve got them. We’re trying to fight back against the campaign the employer started.(they hired Litler, the same union busting lawyer/lobbying group Starbucks hired.)