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Information for skilled electricians
 

EVERYONE’S WELCOME

The IBEW welcomes everyone who brings to the table a professional attitude, a good work ethic, and a desire to be a professional electrical craftsperson, regardless of race, age, creed, or gender. We believe that everybody,regardless of their differences, has a right to come to a workplace, every day, that is free from harassment and discrimination, to perform their work, and then to go home and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

     What are your dreams and goals for your life?  For your family?

Most middle-class, working families share common goals like financial stability, fairness, respect, and a safe environment in which to live and raise their children. IBEW electricians have banded together to help each other accomplish these goals and more.  When you join the IBEW, you become a part of an organization that exists to help you provide a better life for yourself and those you love.  Life can throw us many curves, but by standing up for the things we believe in and acting together, we all get closer to achieving our dreams.

Listed here are just a few of the benefits unions have fought for and won that set the standard for all working Americans: 

8-hour day

Health Insurance/Disability

Overtime pay

Pensions
 

 WHY UNIONS?

     If you’ve ever had a problem at work, you’ll understand why unions exist.

     If you don’t have problems at work, it’s because unions exist.

Others have fought to ensure that we have many of the things we take for granted in our working life today.  But there’s no guarantee those things will be there forever if we don’t have the strength to keep them.  Nearly every business or person in this country belongs to some type of organization in which they band together for their own good.  Have you ever heard of the Chamber of Commerce?  How about NAM (National Association of Manufacturers), or the State Bar Association for lawyers?  Does AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) ring a bell? Shouldn’t electrical craftspeople have the same opportunity to band together for the improvement of their lives and their trade?

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is made up of working people-- just like you-- who want to improve their working conditions and have a role in maintaining a good standard of living for themselves, their families, and their communities.

If you’re not a member, join.

If you are a member, get involved.

And let’s do it better together.

Job Security

Safer working conditions

Higher Wages

Social Security

Respect and fairness are intangible issues that are not easily obtained, but IBEW workers enjoy these benefits because they are recognized as top trade professionals wherever they go.
 

OUR PHILOSOPHY OF WORK
THE CODE OF EXCELLENCE

     IBEW craftsmen have an unsurpassed commitment to customer satisfaction.

     We believe in doing a job right the first time.

     We hold jobsite safety in the highest regard.

     Our craftsmanship and pride make every job the “most important job”.

     Our attitude, initiative, knowledge and skill allow us to meet and solve a variety of jobsite challenges with confidence.

     Our “Code of Excellence” reinforces our partnership with our union contractors and describes our commitment to work together to provide the best value for our customers.

     IBEW strives to provide a nation wide drug-free workforce to all of our union employers and customers.
 

HIGHER EARNINGS

FACT:  Union electricians make more money.

Over the course of his/her career, a typical union electrician will earn more money than his/her non-union counterpart.  By collectively bargaining wages, we all benefit.  From the first-day, first-year apprentice to the experienced General Foreman, dollar-for-dollar you won’t go wrong. Our wages set the standard for the industry.

LIFE IS MORE THAN JUST WAGES

FAMILY HEALTH CARE

Keep the money you earn!

IBEW workers negotiate employer-paid family healthcare and pension plans with our union contractors.The contractor pays for these benefits in addition to your wages, letting you keep more of your hard-earned income. In a world where employer-paid healthcare and retirement benefits are disappearing for more and more workers, working for an IBEW contractor will give the assurance that these benefits will continue to be there for you and your family.

WE CAN DO BETTER TOGETHER

Before I joined the union, I worked for an electrical contractor that did not provide health insurance.  When my girlfriend told me she was pregnant I had no choice but to work two more jobs. I worked seven days a week to save money for my daughter’s birth.

Shortly after joining the union, my daughter needed a surgery.  I was afraid that I would have to take on more work and find another job to pay for it.  Thanks to the benefits the union provided, my daughter was covered by my health insurance.

It was the first time in my life I felt like a real man and would be able to take care of my family.

Craig

San Antonio, Texas

LIFE IS MORE THAN JUST WAGES

RETIRE WITH DIGNITY    

Most people do not plan to work until they die.  They dream of enjoying a secure retirement.  What have you built toward your future retirement? Anything? Do you care?

Most workers live paycheck to paycheck and don’t have the resources to put extra money to put towards retirement.  Often, retirement seems so far away workers put off making plans that will enable them to retire with dignity.  But what happens when you turn 40, 50, or 60 and start to realize that Social Security is all you will have to live on for the rest of your life?  Has a lifetime of loyalty to your contractor provided you the ability to retire on your terms?  Do you think Social Security will provide enough for you to live?

Union contractors will contribute to your retirement beginning early in your career, allowing you to build a much larger nest egg.  This contribution does not come out of your paycheck, but is in addition to your wage and yourfamily health plan.  That money is carefully invested and monitored, providing you a maximum benefit when you retire.  Many unions have more than one pension plan, meaning all your eggs will never be in just one basket.    In the IBEW, your family health and pension benefits are portable; they move with you if you change employers. You never have to start over and wait for your benefits to kick in.  They just keep building and building…

SAFETY

     Have you ever been forced to do something at work that you knew was unsafe?

The sad reality is, every day 15 workers in America die because of construction-related accidents.  In fact, each year, more than 5000 workers are killed in construction-related accidents.   Many of these accidents occurred because someone was afraid to speak up and stand up to the contractor and tell him the work was unsafe, or they simply didn’t have the knowledge and training to recognize the work was unsafe.

“The Union has done its part to help diversify the construction workforce.  It has opened the door to bring women into the field and left it open.  The union’s stand on its policies to keep women safe in the field has added to the appeal of being a female journeyman wireman.  Being a female member in the union means that a diversified workforce is accepted and appreciated by all members”. 

Roxanne Kauth

In the IBEW, safety is part of our culture.  As IBEW workers, we receive safety training, including OSHA courses, to educate us on jobsite hazards and safety requirements.  IBEW workers have the ability to address jobsite safety hazards through their negotiated contract.  Our goal is for all workers to go home safely to their families every night.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION

Whether you are completely new to the trade or a well-seasoned pro, there are education and training programs available in the IBEW to help advance your career.  Our training programs are time-tested and second-to-none.  Whatever your skill level, you can reach your full potential and achieve a higher standard of living by becoming more knowledgeable in your trade. As the electrical industry changes and grows, courses are added to keep you up-to-date on the latest technologies. Our apprenticeship program is college accredited and nationally certified. After completion of this program, it’s just a short step to receive your Associate’s Degree if you choose. 

Our goal is to provide you with the opportunity to become proficient in all phases of the trade, instead of just showing you how to do the job at hand. On the jobsite, you will find a willingness to share knowledge and experience that helps all of us become better workers.

In our industry, there is a growing demand for well-qualified supervisors.  We offer supervisory training classes to help prepare you for the many challenges that face a leader in today’s ever-changing work environment.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE

On any given job at any time, problems can arise.  The IBEW and our contractors have a mutual agreement, in writing that outlines procedures for dealing with these problems in a positive manner.  This agreement makes “your” problem “our” problem.

Union contracts emphasize equality and fair treatment for everyone on the job.  They provide a written set of rules that apply to everyone-eliminating favoritism and discrimination, and guaranteeing that no one can be unfairly or arbitrarily disciplined or dismissed.

Your union doesn’t just represent you at work.  The IBEW is actively involved in issues that affect your community, your state, and your country.  We are always working for the betterment of the American worker.

A bigger and stronger union can win better contracts and better laws that benefit all of us.  When we unite and our numbers grow, we have the power we need to see to it that the needs of working people are not ignored.

Fact:  We can do better together!