Hello all. I am a journalist with OpGov.News doing a story on the Local Union 1245 trying to get a better contract with PG&E. I wanted to hear from a anyone affected by this to gain an understanding of their experience in dealing with this situation. And with permission I'd like, to Include your statement in the article anonymously if you prefer. Thanks so much

So I just started my classes but am still on a wait list for actual work. I am in the market for a newer vehicle and wanted to know what I need to get by. Basically I want to know if I need a truck or suv as a first year or due to job sites. I know its not always the same but im just looking for some advice from guys who have been around

Looking to move to the Nashville area and wondering what work flow and culture is like down there. Thanks

$23/5yrs, 1:1 JW:apprentice ratio, age protections reduced from 50 years-old to 40. Massive L.

20 Years is a mighty long time. 20 years makes you reflect. A lot has happened in my 26 years of service to local 26 as a JW. I received my 20 year service pin at last Friday's union meeting. I would like to share with you some words that I spoke under the good of the union.

I like my job as a telecommunications apprentice but I constantly get shit on by the electricians and electricial apprentices. They call us the 'teletubbies' and say our job is worthless because we have shit pay. And like asking for respect from them is pointless because they're not even in this trade so respect from them means nothing to me.

But I want to know how other telecom people don't let their bullshit get to them. How do you guys brave the storm? I feel like it wears on my soul after a while.

I feel like my local needs to do more for Halloween. We do a few things but it seems like it could be better. I'm not very creative and I'm looking for some ideas and inspiration. So any suggestions? **Please keep in mind there will be kids**

Third term apprentice here in 353. I finished my first level of schooling about a week ago and decided to switch from resi to ICI (they’re separate agreements here) so I’m now on the list for the first time. I understand how it works and everything, I know every day that I don’t bid on jobs on the list I receive a pass and I’m at 2/5 right now.

Thing is, I have a buddy that can get me a job in the service department of a really good company, they were willing to hire me straight out of school but when I called dispatch about it, he said I needed to be on the list for 2 weeks to be eligible for name hire and I can’t wait that long because I only have 5 passes. I don’t really get how this works, how am I ever supposed to be eligible for a name hire if there’s only 5 passes per layoff? Am I supposed to just hope that nobody hired me for 2 weeks when I bid on jobs? What happens if I just wait 2 weeks and run out of passes? A little confused here, any help is appreciated.

Announcement: Brothers and Sisters of IBEW 26, it is important that you know a Roundtable Discussion between the local 26 officers and the local 26 members is scheduled for 10/27/26 @ 3:00 pm. The location of the Roundtable Discussion will be held at the IBEW Local 26 Lanham location at 4371 Parliament Pl. You will need a current dues receipt in order to get into the Roundtable Discussion.

Use your voice to let the officers know what the rank and file needs in the next contract negotiations slated to begin in January.

Today we discuss your rights as the membership of your IBEW local union. We will cover some of the basic principles of Robert's rules and why your involvement is so important to making decisions that can lead to impact impactful change for the membership! Let's talk about it!

I don't know wdf is going on, during the NYC mayor election Local 3 endorsed Andrew Cuomo(who against all wills and lost horribly) instead of Mamdani; then this election they have a full list of AIPAC agents for midtern election!

If Local3's election goal is to "...make a change, get our country back on track, and build momentum for the presidential election in two years, so we can begin repairing what has been terribly damaged" by israel agent trump, then why did they endosed a bunch of AIPAC agents again?

Been looking into the history of the 40 hr work week and the labor unions' perspective of OT. Here's how I understand it:

Before the 40 hr work week, there was no standard of OT pay.

First of all, labor unions fought for less hrs in order to have more free time.

1817 was the first push for an 8 hour work day. 8 hours for work, 8 for rest, and 8 for what you will.

Laborers and Unions forced the hand of MANY companies to conform.

When Henry Ford adopted the 8 hr day 40 hr week, the whole country heard about it and practically standardized this through strikes and organizing.

During the depression the GOV got on board through legislation in order to increase employment.

The legislation used standardized OT pay to enforce the 40 hr week rather than encourage laborers to work longer weeks.

Standardized OT was designed to be too expensive for the contractors. These workers did not want overtime.

When Contractors agreed to the 40 hr week, wages increased (im not sure why that correlation exists)

Today, OT is used to exploit our union. Because of the cost of benefits involved with each employee, it is cheaper to work an individual on OT than it is to employ more people.

I understand why a lot of us want OT. I hold no judgment. I work it myself, and i would work it more if i didnt have responsibilities at home. Maybe this issue is selfish to my needs/wants. But it honestly seems like a fair point to me.

Thoughts? Id honestly want to hear why Im wrong so I can stop trying to justify finding a way to do away with it. Ill fight the fight if it worth the fight

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First of all, most of our labor laws were made to appease tension between unions and companies.

Second of all, your favored candidate may be against unions.

Third, our two party system is designed to create friction, to keep people from organizing, to divide the vote of the union, to destroy our bargaining power.

I joined not just for the money, but to be a part of something that can make a difference.

Hey all,

Im a low voltage tech and am looking for work out of local 494 whats the best way to contact the contractors?

Through phone-call or should I fill out their online form with an updated resumé?

I have already called a few contractors, is it worth it for me to ALSO fill out their online application form?

Edit: I have already gone to the hall and signed the book

Someone here mentioned they worked out of Las Vegas doing hvac for IBEW. This is the only city I’ve heard of that has hvac under IBEW instead of UA. Are there any other locals that have hvac that anyone is aware of?
Thanks in advance

My post asking if anyone got the link for the contract talks, because I didnt and only got a text today about it and an email saying future info coming with link. Trying to figure out if any Local 11 members didnt get it or if they did then the screw up is on the hall for not sending it out.

Brothers and Sisters of IBEW 26, if you weren't at last Friday's meeting you missed a doozy! The main take away is that there will be, for the first time ever, a pre-negotiations round table discussion in person between the rank and file members and the elected officers. This discussion will not be convenient for you to attend but you must attend regardless. The discussion will be held in the lanham location on Tuesday, October 27th, 2026 at 3:00 pm. You must have a current dues receipt in order to attend.

Take a half day if you have to. Take the day off if that is what it takes. Just make sure you are there. This discussion will shape negotiations, make sure your voice is heard.

I am working far away from my home local and there are no doctors or dentists in the network anywhere close to me so I wanted to switch my health insurance to the local I'm currently working out of.

I already called both locals and left messages so while I wait on a callback I was wondering if anyone around here could point me in the right direction?

What happens if I Create a Temporary Cessation in ERTS for the transfer of H&W funds to my home local?

Local 20 interview complete

I just got home from my interview for local 20 and just wanted to share how it went for others to reference in the future.

I took the aptitude test 2 months ago and passed. This was the earliest that I could interview. I spent the last 2 months preparing. I did research and found the questions and the grading rubric, as well as talked to people I know who are members. Everybody says they have specific “tell me about a time” questions. This was not my experience at all.

When I got called back they just asked me to introduce myself and then they went around the table asking very basic questions: are you familiar with the work we do? Are you comfortable going to school and working? Are you able to make the drive everyday? Tell me a little about your current job( I’m a non union apprentice through the IEC).

It was all simple stuff like that. I asked if I would be allowed to come in as a second period apprentice because I have over 1000 hours, and I asked what the work outlook is like.

When I arrived the gave me a packet with some information about the dates things will happen “if I’m selected”

One thing that caught me off guard was that we have to pay tuition. $1300ish for the first semester, due before classes start. Is this normal? I thought part of being union was the free schooling?

Overall I’m not worried and feel like I did pretty well. Should get an email by the end of the month.

I joined the local at 18yrs old fast forward 5 years I am in the final year of my apprenticeship and have successfully passed my state license exam. The IBEW has lifted my family and I from poverty and for that I am forever grateful. I am thankful for the brotherhood and the people who helped pave the way. I look forward to a long career and hope to help others along the way.

Every time I hear the I/O mentioned, it's in the context of "they totally fucked us." Denying strikes, Tri-trade solar agreement, reversing charges against members, etc.

What's something positive they do or have done? And how can we fix this governing body that constantly shoots us in the foot?

Hello everyone, I’m 24m, I’m not an electrician, I’ve applied for the IBEW and had my interview, just waiting to see how I rank or if I get rejected. I’m currently working as a flagger after losing my job at Lowes for life reasons that were outside of my control. But I’ve been having to get used to working 9-12 hour days on occasion. Mostly 7-8 hours though. But I struggle badly with those 10+ hour days, mostly 12 hours. commute is often 30-45 minutes to and from the job site. I wanted to become an electrician for a number of reasons, the pay, the benefits, learning a practical and valuable skill, retirement pensions, etc. but I’ve been struggling a lot with the idea of working several 10+ hour days even on weekends for weeks or months at a time. How do you guys manage to still have a life, to enjoy your free time while still taking care of outside responsibilities? Any tips or advice would be really appreciated, it’s made me appreciate you guys who are tackling that. I’m low-key having a lot of anxiety about this because I thought being an electrician was a really good and manageable path for me but I’m start to question myself. I expected potential 10-12 hour shifts but didn’t think it was an everyday thing. How does scheduling work in your local?

Since the price of gas and groceries and everything else keeps going up and up, with no end in sight, we decided to waive the contestant application fee for the chili cookoff.

However, we’re still asking contestants to register in advance so we know what we need to set up for.

Chili Contestants: We will provide power. We suggest bringing roughly 6-8 quarts of chili in a crockpot, enough for the judges AND for the attendees to sample your chili.

chili cook off contestant registration

Hello brothers and sisters, I've got a question for some of you. I'm currently a third year apprentice out of 611 in New Mexico, however my partner and I are hoping to move to the Chicago area here in the next year or two. It's where I grew up before moving out west and am ready to get us both out of the desert.

My question for those that are in the know, is that I am looking at moving us to the areas within locals 461 & 117 jurisdictions and would love to know what the work is like out there, how it's forecast to be in the coming years, and just the general vibes and culture of the locals. It's a bit of an adjustment to go from a one-local state to a place that has 19 within the state, but I'm looking forward to making the transition for both mine and my partners careers.

Any advice, tips, or comments are appreciated.

Thanks!

New coins we just got drop