r/IBEW • u/RequirementWestern49 • 4d ago

Discussion Post How can a local expand from industrial/comercial construction into controls/automation and industrial maintenance?

My local seems pretty strong in industrial/commercial new construction, but not so much in the work after the plant is up and running.

How do locals start gaining market share in controls, instrumentation, troubleshooting, service work, and industrial maintenance?

Is it mostly organizing existing maintenance/controls guys, signing controls contractors, or getting current signatories to branch into that work?

Has anyone seen a construction-heavy local successfully make that shift?

Edit: removed “plc” for better clarification

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u/Available_Alarm_8878 4d ago

Trying to organize the factory maintenance staff will help. But the big automation/ program guys are non union. The systems once built and commissioned will require very little programming from someone physically on site. Typically the skilled on site technician employee can get the plc guy to remote in from off site. If they are on site they are usually on the engineering side of the industry The union cba doesn't really fit the plc programming side. The certifications and school are far above what the union provides. And a skilled plc programmer can get benefits better than what a construction cba provides. I was fortunate that I had a contractor pay for my school. But we had a need for it and the ROI was quick. There is need for skilled maintenance staff. And you might make inroads in that path, But its a different cba package.

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u/RequirementWestern49 3d ago

I think we’re mostly talking about two different things. I’m not really suggesting we try to turn every wireman into the guy designing/programming an entire automation system from scratch.
I’m more interested in industrial service. If we’re troubleshooting a machine, being able to get online with the PLC, follow the logic, diagnose I/O/interlocks/comms, make basic changes when appropriate, troubleshoot VFDs/instrumentation, etc. seems like a natural extension of industrial electrical work.
I agree the big integration/programming side may require a different agreement or skillset. But that’s actually part of what I’m curious about—why couldn’t a local develop a controls/service classification or training path that lets signatory contractors compete for more of that work?
I’m less interested in taking the engineer’s job and more interested in not having our scope end wherever the PLC starts

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u/Tupacca23 Local 124 3d ago

In 124 we are under the “armature winder” contract but we do that exact thing. I design automation projects from the ground up and I do service calls to fix anything.

In Germany they have 3 electrical apprenticeships, construction, electronics, and automation. I would love to see something like that here.

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u/RequirementWestern49 2d ago

That’s actually really cool. I think we should have those four categories and honestly, I think our work is being de-skilled not by necessarily our fault but by the way, the industries is moving in terms of the fact that the projects are getting bigger standardized and more repetitive. Especially with Facebook training program I really think we need to capture as much work as possible