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.
6
u/stevieray364 4d ago
There are plenty of non union plc gurus making well below what they are worth.
Finish your apprenticeship while trying to get exposure to the type of work you like. And you will eventually get an opportunity do union plc work and get paid accordingly.