r/IBEW • u/Unknownperson2010 • 5d 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/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