Unofficial IBEW Members Information Page

Non-Union Page

      I would like to extend a personal thank you for visiting and welcome you to my site.

      If you read my home page before coming here, you know that I started out as a non-union electrician. I have spent more time non-union than union. I can honestly say that I know both sides. I can also honestly tell you that I find that the union side is the better of the two. My wages (Click here to compare yours )are better and I have benefits that are paid for by the contractor not by me. I have the best retirement plan that I have ever had and I do not pay a dime into it. In fact I know retired IBEW members that are making more per month with retirement income than what they did while working. (I will add more of the calculators for different areas of the country as time permits.)

      When I was non-union, I heard nothing but bad things about the Union. I am here to tell you that the people that gave me the information were wrong. I only wish I knew years ago what I know now. 99.9% of Union electricians are just like you and I. They are not a bunch of radical as I was informed. They believe deeply in their Union and in the Brotherhood it has formed. They are a close knit group that watch out for each other, even when they do not know each other . They act "special" because they are part of something very special. I have met a lot of guys that travel for a living and these guys will treat you like they have known you all their lives. I never found this to be the case when I worked non-union.

      If   I go Union, I will not be working all the time, right? This is what I thought. I was right to an extent. Since I was organized 2 1/2 years ago, I have been "unemployed" a number of times. Four times this year (1999) alone I have been laid off. This resulted in being off work for a total of   20 days. I have also quit 2 jobs and that cost me another 2 days off. To me that is no big deal. I also know guys that have never been laid off and have been with the same contractor for over 10 years. One of the benefits to working for different contractors is that you get to do a variety of work. Not all contractors do work that covers every aspect of the electrical field.

      I would like to invite you to read the information on my site. I may give you an idea of what to expect if you go Union. I would then like to invite you to join the IBEW. There are three ways to join: (1) Through the apprenticeship, (2) individually and (3) by the shop.

      To join through the apprenticeship, you will have to check with the Local Hall in your area to see what their procedures and sign-up times are and what they require in the way of education. Also visit this site: National Joint Apprenticeship & Training. It will give you more info on the apprenticeship.

      To join individually, go to the Local Hall in your area and request to take the JW test and get information on joining. See the section I have on this.

      The third way is also the hardest way, but if you can make it happen you can make your co-workers very happy in the long run. This way involves getting your entire shop to go Union. You end up organizing the shop and then stay working for the same contractor. This does not   mean that you have to convince the owner to go Union. All you have to do is talk to your co-workers (away from the work place) and tell them the advantages of going Union. Your Local Union organizer can   and will help you in this area. If a majority of you want to be Union then you can call for a vote to decide whether or not the shop should be represented by the IBEW. If the vote is for the Union, the organizer and BA will approach the owner with the results and take things from there. If the vote goes the other way you will have to join it using one of the other methods.

      Whatever you decide, I would like to have you at least give the IBEW a look. Talk to the Organizer or BA , in your area, to see what they have to say. Remember that the Union workers have fought hard to get what they have. It is an organization that is over 100 years old and is one of the strongest trade Unions around. They are even responsible, in part, for the wages you receive today.

      Good luck to you and work safe. If you have questions contact me or your Local Hall.

Mike Ryan