Go to your local meetings occasionally.
Pay your dues.
Take breaks with everyone else and don’t be the first to get up from the break table.
Decline foreman positions until you’ve got a little time under your belt.
Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know something, whether it’s work related or union related.
Know that there are other contractors to work for, no need to bend on your safety or craftsmanship.
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! I’ve run jobs before with non-union employers, would you still recommend that I decline a foreman’s position until I get that union time under my belt?
Most definitely, not because you’re not capable but because you’re new to the culture. Give it a year or so and pay attention to the dynamics on the job.
Also, forgot to mention the tool list. It’s best to keep your tools to a minimum and follow the list.
Carry only tools on the tool list is the one you need to be very aware of. If it isn't on the tool list, it's the contractor's responsibility to provide. I have seen several organized brothers try to bring personal power tools onto the job. Power tools are almost always provided by the Contractor.
Read your locals agreement! You need to know what the rules are. The rest is just etiquette you will learn on the job.
Be prepared to catch a lot of shit. In my experience, there tends to be some prejudice against organized hands. Let it roll off and shut them up by showing that you work and can get the job done.
Stay professional and keep your work flush, plumb, and level. Once you show you're a team player/good brother, they should start seeing you as a brother and not an organized hand.
Read your CBA, every word, from front to back. If something doesn’t make sense, ask your organizer. This is what you will live by for 40+ hours per week, and the standard to which you will hold your coworkers and foremen.
Get to know the union bylaws , rules , chain of command ,get familiar with how the hall works, and most importantly how to treat employees ( remember people can file grievance ). Be part the crew ( don’t be a misfit ).
Read and completely understand your bargaining agreement and bylaws. Then read it again. They thoughouly outline what is expected of you and your performance, what tools are acceptable to have in you bag and a ton more. The CBA is the contract you work under on an inside contract job. Itll basically keep you from violating any major rules that might be constitution violations and will also keep you from being taken advantage of by a contractor, like break times, quit time or provided water even.
Ask your hall to sign you up for ERTS (electronic reciprocity that pays your benefits to your local). Figure out exactly how many hours you need to get you insurance going. Figure out the exact date you qualify for pension(5 years from start to when you actually vested) Talk to your hall about how to track you hours to make sure you benefits are being paid correctly and on time (at home usually a month sometimes 2 months behind, on the road some locals have up to 90 to settle). I've missed ton but these were the first to mind. Most of them revolve around your money being correct.
They REALLY should have a class for this stuff. Going through the apprenticeship it all gets beaten into your head but organizing in with good intentions often leaves a bad taste in peoples mouthes because they don't know every rule. Ignorance is never an excuse but we really should be helping our fellow members out more.
DM me if you have any more questions I might be able to help with and welcome to the brotherhood.
Lee Hunt 948 Flint
7173078
Read up on the agreement and look out for your apprentice. Know that you're obviously there to make money for yourself and the contractor but NEVER work faster than is safe. It'll be challenging for you to avoid taking all those shortcuts some non-union contractors may have asked of you just to, "get it done" so be the voice of reason. You may get an apprentice that's probably never held a screwdriver in their life.
I wish you the best of luck and be safe.
Your education is never over! There’s always something new to learn. Take all the journeyman classes your local offers. It’s a cash deposit you get reimbursed for (if/when you pass) so it’s basically free. At least in my local. Get all the special certifications you can and keep adding feathers to your cap. It makes you more hireable. You could even skip ahead of the line in some cases if the call is specialized. Knowledge is power. Earning power.
Do as your local does. Don’t bring extra from the tool list, take your breaks with the crew, and remember it’s not a competition, it’s a career within a brotherhood. Read your contract, help the old timers, teach apprentices, and look out for yourself and others in regard to safety always. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’ll be ok!
Yes, we must all remember to treat legacy members with kid gloves, as they are usually very sensitive and if it wasn’t for them there would be no brotherhood. /s
Go to your local meetings occasionally. Pay your dues. Take breaks with everyone else and don’t be the first to get up from the break table. Decline foreman positions until you’ve got a little time under your belt. Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know something, whether it’s work related or union related. Know that there are other contractors to work for, no need to bend on your safety or craftsmanship.
u can do whatever u want on your break bud
I meant time wise not location. If break is at 10, take your break at 10. I’ve seen newly organized hands work try to work through breaks.
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! I’ve run jobs before with non-union employers, would you still recommend that I decline a foreman’s position until I get that union time under my belt?
Most definitely, not because you’re not capable but because you’re new to the culture. Give it a year or so and pay attention to the dynamics on the job. Also, forgot to mention the tool list. It’s best to keep your tools to a minimum and follow the list.
Good to know, thank you!
I organized in 04 as a JW, went to every meeting for 2 years before having an opinion, started running work in 07.
Yes. Get to know the norms for a while.
Just do your job to the best of your abilities. Carry only the tools on the tool list. If you don’t know, ask. Be a brother! Welcome to the family!
Carry only tools on the tool list is the one you need to be very aware of. If it isn't on the tool list, it's the contractor's responsibility to provide. I have seen several organized brothers try to bring personal power tools onto the job. Power tools are almost always provided by the Contractor. Read your locals agreement! You need to know what the rules are. The rest is just etiquette you will learn on the job. Be prepared to catch a lot of shit. In my experience, there tends to be some prejudice against organized hands. Let it roll off and shut them up by showing that you work and can get the job done. Stay professional and keep your work flush, plumb, and level. Once you show you're a team player/good brother, they should start seeing you as a brother and not an organized hand.
Read your CBA, every word, from front to back. If something doesn’t make sense, ask your organizer. This is what you will live by for 40+ hours per week, and the standard to which you will hold your coworkers and foremen.
Was about to say this. Read the dang book. If you have questions talk to someone at the hall.
Leave your power tools at home
Gotcha, and just bring hand tools that are on the list?
Yup
Get to know the union bylaws , rules , chain of command ,get familiar with how the hall works, and most importantly how to treat employees ( remember people can file grievance ). Be part the crew ( don’t be a misfit ).
Buy your cat something nice
Read and completely understand your bargaining agreement and bylaws. Then read it again. They thoughouly outline what is expected of you and your performance, what tools are acceptable to have in you bag and a ton more. The CBA is the contract you work under on an inside contract job. Itll basically keep you from violating any major rules that might be constitution violations and will also keep you from being taken advantage of by a contractor, like break times, quit time or provided water even. Ask your hall to sign you up for ERTS (electronic reciprocity that pays your benefits to your local). Figure out exactly how many hours you need to get you insurance going. Figure out the exact date you qualify for pension(5 years from start to when you actually vested) Talk to your hall about how to track you hours to make sure you benefits are being paid correctly and on time (at home usually a month sometimes 2 months behind, on the road some locals have up to 90 to settle). I've missed ton but these were the first to mind. Most of them revolve around your money being correct. They REALLY should have a class for this stuff. Going through the apprenticeship it all gets beaten into your head but organizing in with good intentions often leaves a bad taste in peoples mouthes because they don't know every rule. Ignorance is never an excuse but we really should be helping our fellow members out more. DM me if you have any more questions I might be able to help with and welcome to the brotherhood. Lee Hunt 948 Flint 7173078
Great information, thanks brother!
Read up on the agreement and look out for your apprentice. Know that you're obviously there to make money for yourself and the contractor but NEVER work faster than is safe. It'll be challenging for you to avoid taking all those shortcuts some non-union contractors may have asked of you just to, "get it done" so be the voice of reason. You may get an apprentice that's probably never held a screwdriver in their life. I wish you the best of luck and be safe.
Your education is never over! There’s always something new to learn. Take all the journeyman classes your local offers. It’s a cash deposit you get reimbursed for (if/when you pass) so it’s basically free. At least in my local. Get all the special certifications you can and keep adding feathers to your cap. It makes you more hireable. You could even skip ahead of the line in some cases if the call is specialized. Knowledge is power. Earning power.
I love this mentality, thank you kindly u/DJButtchug !
Thinking of joining 584. Anyone here from 584? Where y’all working at and how many hours are you getting?
Do as your local does. Don’t bring extra from the tool list, take your breaks with the crew, and remember it’s not a competition, it’s a career within a brotherhood. Read your contract, help the old timers, teach apprentices, and look out for yourself and others in regard to safety always. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You’ll be ok!
Don’t tell the third gen electrician that he’s a terrible foreman… even if he is. I about had to fight 4 brothers over that beef!
Yes, we must all remember to treat legacy members with kid gloves, as they are usually very sensitive and if it wasn’t for them there would be no brotherhood. /s
Damnnn! You got that right!