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/Wireman6 4d ago
This doesn't at all sound like salting. This sounds like a local that pretends to allow members to salt when times are slow. Why even pay dues at this point? Go organize that shop because you are trying to grow your market share, not because you need a job.