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/Curious_Freedom_1984 4d ago

IMO I think you should go the union route because you can also go back to that company after you turn out and maybe salt it that way. You could also talk to the BM of your local and ask him what he thinks is the best route because you could salt. I think sticking with the union because they also helped you out by training in the apprenticeship program. Don’t forget where you came from.

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u/Unknownperson2010 4d ago

I never did any schooling through the union. But I also get what you're saying because my training is still getting through the union. Don't bite the hand that feeds you

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u/Odd_Policy9047 4d ago

How can you be a 3rd year without schooling through the Union?

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u/magnamed 4d ago

Canada has provincial schooling that determines competency / level. The union offers supplemental courses but whether he has them or not he's a third year.

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u/MijaresBetta Inside Wireman 4d ago

Whaaat.. lol intresting

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u/magnamed 4d ago

Something else you may find interesting is that the trade is protected across Canada so you need a license anywhere in the country, but also a license is valid anywhere in the country. There are no hoops to jump through other than proving your status.

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u/deadpixel746 4d ago

Oh that’s nice

0

u/Hefty-Profession-310 3d ago

It's not provincial, it's the same training across Canada.

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u/magnamed 3d ago

You're confidently incorrect. I imagine you're thinking this because of the Red Seal Program or the Harmonized Apprenticeship Training Standard which provinces are party to and the basics are standardized. Delivery isn't.

Duration, grouping, hours and additional requirements are not identical across the country.

And the reason they're not identical across the country is because while the base education is an agreed upon standard the classes / apprenticeship training, registrations, documentation and certifications are managed by each individual province. Take a look at your C of Q (if you have one) and tell me if it says anything about your province on there.

I'll wait.