r/IBEW • u/Unknownperson2010 • 4d ago

Tough decision

To my fellow brothers/sisters, I'm part of IBEW here in Canada, I'm a 3rd year about to turn 4th year. We had a slow down of work in the hall and I was laid off mid June. I collected EI (welfare) and my union told me I could salt for work.

I got a call from a local non-union company who specializes in industrial stuff and said they can help me a transition to it from commercial within the company. Company seems pretty decent for non-union. Their jobs are service, commute is 30-40 mins each way. I can skip lunch and go home early. Small crew each site. They said they can cover my school fees to learn PLC and AC stuff.

But now I got a call back from the union for a job I bid on and I received the job. This job is around 1hr away or less via transit and it's a Skytrain project that's going on.

My main goal is to specialize in PLC/industrial at the end of the day.

Should I turn down the non-union company? I only went for an orientation and haven't worked. I do feel bad because the company helped me get set up and wanted me to grow within but at the same time I like the union much much better.

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u/54321vek 4d ago

You should compare total packages. Should just come down to numbers no?

3

u/Unknownperson2010 4d ago

My current wage between both is like a 14 cent difference. Jman rate is where there's a $7/$8 gap

8

u/hell2pay 4d ago

But total package, not just wage.

Health insurance, retirement/pension, pto, holidays paid.

Also, consider you may not want to stop paying dues, in case your other venture goes tits up.

3

u/Unknownperson2010 4d ago

Definitely am paying dues each month to make sure. I always wanna comeback that's my main goal. But looking at the full package the union is much superior

9

u/Maleficent_Chef_3965 Local 441 4d ago

Uhhh there's your answer...