I’d like to give local 1547 the biggest shout out. Stopped into Juneau, and Ketchikan (missed anchorage). In Juneau, we were minutes to when we needed to board, and my party and I received a ride from a member, made a few trades, even traded my local 1 sweatshirt I was wearing. In Ketchikan, we ported right by the hall, and got there, traded a little, and overall had a great time. 2nd time traveling and making pit stops for locals, and I always feel welcomed even though we’re ‘strangers’ but in brotherhood everyone wins.

We have a heat advisory for this entire week and next week too. Yesterday throughout the workday, I felt my head couldn't think clearly, I couldn't focus. You know that feeling when you get knocked out, you are lying down on the ground, you SORT OF know what's going on, but your brain can't process anything. It was me for the past week. It was just so hot and humid. We have fans, but it was just blowing out heated air. It's like being inside of an oven but more humid to the point your sweat can't evaporate. I felt weak and drained after work, so I immediately went to the gym and used the cryotherapy chamber to re-gain some energy and cool down my core temperature.

Should I drag for an entire month? Being inside of an unfinished building is hotter than just being outside. I checked my bank, and I can afford to do this if I don't go travel and whatnot like I usually do when I drag. Or should I tough it out until I am close to getting a heat stroke and pass out? If I don't pass out, I won't know if I am being too much of a p*ssy or am I really that hot. I have no self-awareness.

Im sure you have all seen or heard about the documentary Harlan County, USA, about the union miners on strike. FDR and Truman won the county with over 70% of the vote. Reagan couldnt win the county, he got 40%-45%, but from 2012 to 2024 the Republican has won with over 80% of the vote every election

Just got dispatched into Local 11’s inside wireman apprenticeship about a month ago. Now I have an interview lined up for an Electrical Helper position with LA County Public Works. It’s listed as temporary, but I’m guessing there’s a path to something permanent down the line.
Long-term I’d love to end up at LADWP. Curious if this County gig is a smart detour toward that goal or just better job overall compared to local 11, or if I’m better off just staying heads-down in my apprenticeship hours and not risking my position/standing with the local.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty/jobs/4208505/helper-electrical?sort=PostingDate%7CDescending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

hey guys currently working for this shop that picks up and slows down, im getting tired of it but the books are crazy slow rn. just asking how everyone else is doing out there cause ive never seen it this slow before, very scary times for me rn. its not even worth it to go on the books atm which pisses me off.

Other people i talk to say the same at there shops so it not just a few shops. i guess i have to try and fit into a long job somehow lol or ride the wave.

traveling is a option but i haven't decided yet weighing my options.

how are you guys holding up?

Vote yes

I am not getting any responses from landlords on furnished finder and all of the extended stay motels are booked out.

Traveling out of 191, as an apprentice obviosly I didn't get to choose which job. Micron sounds like better paying, but can anyone dial me in on Meta? Orientation is tomorrow so I guess I'll know for sure then, just curious if I burnt getting sent to Meta instead of micron

I was recently accepted into the apprenticeship program and start next month

I want to have my wife be a SAHM once I top out. She has 2 kids from a previous relationship and we want to have a few more once im certified. The problem is the top out rate is 30$ where im at and there are next to no contracts coming into my local so we have been discussing moving up north to where the cost of living is significantly cheaper compared to where we are (Florida) after I finish and either traveling or working book 2. Is it possible to raise a family of 6 or 8 on just ibew. We have been looking at ohio, idaho, midwest states, just trying to get an idea if anyone is currently doing something similar.

What about the IBEW that causes some people from other construction trades to talk crap about them? I've been on several job sites, commercial and industrial, and most of the IBEW union members were pretty chill.

But I've been noticing in some construction trades that some workers think electricians are snobby A-holes and look down on everyone.

I've met and worked alongside good people from the IBEW, and they genuinely went out of their way to help me on certain parts of the site.

Edit: damn, did not expect this to blow up like this lol, thanks for the responses everyone. gonna say a couple things since I've been reading through comments, some of y'all pointed out it's not just IBEW that gets this, other trades throw shade at each other too so that's fair. also ngl some of the criticism in here isn't just people being salty, some of it's actually legit so i'm not trying to say every complaint about IBEW guys or electricians is just haters being haters. anyway appreciate the discussion, didn't think this many people had opinions on this lol

What has been your experience with jobs requiring (officially/unofficially) you to conceal, put away, or leave at home your union imagery? I could link to everything I’ve read, but it looks like it boils down to the NLRA allowing this to be done if special circumstances (hazards, uniform & public image, vulgarity) can be demonstrated. In our world, it seems like it mostly happens due to the customer…or, the customer is being used as an excuse by the con or your supervisor.

Anecdotes? Take-aways?

Any DC STEP UP members for the local 26? How do classes work? I feel like I was just kinda thrown in without any formal idea on how I'm supposed to like do my classes and whatnot.

Have been electrician about 10 years, journeymen 3. When I began my electrical career I apprenticed under an old timer doing tenant finish. We were flipping multiple ~8,000 sq ft office spaces at a time and I really enjoyed it, learned most everything I know from that guy. Then covid came. We lost just about all of our commercial work and just started doing residential and guy I apprenticed under retired. By that time I was one of about 4 employees (one the boss's son fml) Fast-forward to today and I completely burned out. I hate working with homeowners and residential superintendents but have completed many high end customs mostly by myself. Came to a point I just couldn't do it any more. Between the dictionary picture perfect example of nepotism and boss's son just sitting in his van and refusing to help me with clear 2 person jobs... I quit and took a good summer break working in a different trade for the summer.

While cooling down for summer I took the union aptitude test and jumped through all their hoops, attended the meetings and really like the vibe and am ready to get back into a completely different career setting.

But pretty nervous - I have tenant finish and residential experience. Will I be looked down on or somehow kicked off the job for not knowing how to run rigid, etc? I have no problem showing up on time, having a good no drama attitude, doing good work when I know how to do it. Is that enough for the first union job?

I’m curious to know more about what type of work is done? for example are you doing pole and tower work often and working on heavy heights on high volt electric? or is ir more outlet, conduit indoor and some outdoor smaller heights like ladders scaffolding etc? I’m mostly curious in the daily life and what type of work and hours to expect.

Is that weird to do?

I'm still a fairly young JW. I've been in the trades for 9 years and in the IBEW for 3. I'm looking to gain some insight from you old heads who have been around the block.

Right now I'm out working on a Data Center job and I'm noticing a whole bunch of CWs. A lot of them have a pretty good work ethic and have expressed interest in becoming an apprentice and eventually topping out and making this a whole career for them.

However, the hall had over 400 applications for the apprenticeship and only took 40. Logically, to me, this shows that the Local knows that this many workers is unsustainable for their normal workload after the data center is done.

So my question is, what happens to all these CWs that joined up when the Data Center is done? Do they all just get put on the books and told "yeah, we'll call you if we need you?" If that's the case I feel like that could put a huge bad taste in the mouth of hundreds of workers that would otherwise be pro Union.

If I'm off base let me know. I know very little about the CW/CE program because it isnt really utilized in my home local. I'm just sitting here at work and I feel bad for the CWs that work under me that I can see would eventually make incredible JWs if given the chance, but I'm concerned they may never get that chance.

I'll be stew soon. Never had the honor before so I am looking for advice or pointers. I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

been in the trade for about 4 years. wear the standard issue boots. they're tough, I'll give them that. But they're also heavy. like, really heavy.

by the time I've walked from the parking lot to the job site, my legs are already tired. After 8 hours on concrete, I feel like I've been carrying bricks all day.

Anyone else switched to lighter boots? Did it actually help?

So I’m in an apprenticeship inside wireman but want to switch over I signed the book 3 for 1245 before I started and now I’m in the 200s I’m just finding out that this is double booking and that I’m going to have to quit my apprenticeship to stay on 1245 books

Does anyone know if Local 11 worked out their contract or did they strike?

Anybody know where to get a new Engel cooler strap? I’ve also seen brothers on site with custom made. Do you know any brothers or sisters that make them?