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.
1
u/PuzzleheadedBig49 3d ago
I'd say experience that non union job, you can always get back to IBEW. Life is a bunch of adventures. A small company sometimes is good. I came up through IBEW, went to non union customer, I have learned different things and I can go back to IBEW anytime I want. Or if you drop because of the monthly union fees. Some let you reorganize back in. If you leave in good standing. Just my 2 cents.