Unofficial IBEW Members Information Page

I would like to express my opinion on the organized members of the IBEW. Some of us have undoubtedly heard and/or seen a lot of opinions express by members who have come up through the apprenticeship. There a lot of negative feelings out there. Some are understandable others are not. I think that it is unfair to group all of the organized members as being untrained and unskilled. I compare this to those who have gone through the apprenticeship. They have all received the same training, but have not all absorbed the information given them at the same rate.

Needless to say, there are organized members that should not be given a JW ticket without further training first. Some should probably be placed into the apprenticeship at some level. Some are qualified to be JW's. Because of the way things are set up, these things do not happen. If you are "book smart" and possess a few minor skills, you will get a JW ticket. The only way to keep this from happening is to change the rules.

Things I do not like to see in a newly organized member:
 1) Going non-union when laid off.
 2) Thinking you know everything and have nothing to learn.
 3) Becoming a shop rocket.
 4) Not attending Union meetings.
 5) Contractor first, Union second thinking.
 6) Calling members brother the first day in the Union.
 7) Thinking you know what brotherhood is.
 8) Thinking you should be foreman right off the bat because that is what you did before.
 9) Doing side work.

I know that I will be adding to this list as time goes by.

I had a real fear of being laid off after joining the Union two and a half years ago. It had not happened to me before. This year alone, I have been laid off or quit seven contractors. The fear is gone now. I know that there will be work somewhere, sometime. I may have to wait a week or so, but it will come. Some times the break is welcome.

Well this is going to be a page that I update a lot, but wanted to give you a taste. I know you have an opinion on this and if you let me know what it is, I will respond to it on this page.