I joined the IBEW union for electrical workers. Best thing I ever did. I make six figures, and my insurance is better than 99% of people, and it's paid for. I have 3 pensions and a retirement account. It's insane how well we are taken care of.
The only downside is that you would have to join as an apprentice in a 4 year program. You go to school a few nights a week, but they usually put you right to work as well, so you get on the job experience. I only wish I had joined out of high school instead of racking up 40k in student loans first.
Local 58 here: this is all true, but at a cost. Unless you make an effort you'll have no work/life balance, the job I'm on is running 10 hours a day, seven days a week. Sure I can make about $4500 a week before taxes, but at the cost of any semblance of a life outside of work.
I have been in the operators union for 15 years. Spent a decade of that doing oil and gas work 24 days on 4 days off 12~ hour shifts. If you turned down the work they would starve you to prove a point.
Covid was a blessing in disguise for me. Learned there’s lots more to life then working 24/7
Was in bricklayers and cement finishers unions from age 17-28. Fair pay, yearly raises. Operating heavy now, non-union. $30/hr, guys in THE SAME COMPANY make union wage in other states, $50/hr. Unions guys. Unions.
The apprenticeship isn't really even a down side since you would have to do it even if you weren't in the union. The union probably even guarantees yearly raises for apprentices unlike us non-union guys who get told we're not worth a raise because we aren't licensed yet lol.
8 years strong for me. Best decision I ever made. And once you turn out, you CAN do whatever you want. But keep your dues current, and your license active, and you will never be out of a job.
Might have to travel a bit, but at least it's something.
Our apprenticeship did a week of class every 2-3 months, and in Washington you get to collect a week of unemployment and we have worker retraining grants that will help recoup the cost of "tuition" since we're partnered with a local community college for accreditation.
Union has tons of benefits that you touched on. You can still go on craigslist or word or mouth and find a company that's electrical, plumbing, HVAC, whatever...and not be in a union. Just Incase barrier of entry is a concern. Union or not, they need apprentices or mid levels. You'd still have to do your required hours to be certified journey or appropriate certs, but it could be quicker than hopefully getting into a union. From them on, move companies and join a union.
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u/Coachcrog Jun 04 '23
I joined the IBEW union for electrical workers. Best thing I ever did. I make six figures, and my insurance is better than 99% of people, and it's paid for. I have 3 pensions and a retirement account. It's insane how well we are taken care of.
The only downside is that you would have to join as an apprentice in a 4 year program. You go to school a few nights a week, but they usually put you right to work as well, so you get on the job experience. I only wish I had joined out of high school instead of racking up 40k in student loans first.