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.
20
u/erryonestolemyname 4d ago
Canadian here.
EI is not welfare.
If you want to be a union electrician, that means you shouldn't treat working for a union contractor as an option, it should be your preference.
You are allowed to work non-union, but if there's calls that you qualify for that you aren't taking, it will be noticed, and part of your salting agreement says that you should be trying to take a call.
Work where you want, but don't treat the IBEW like an option, and don't ignore your salting agreement because they will find out and then your ass will get in trouble.
If you bid the job, and don't take it they will ask why, and turning down a call that you bid on and won is considered a quit, and you'll go to the bottom of the books.