What about the IBEW that causes some people from other construction trades to talk crap about them? I've been on several job sites, commercial and industrial, and most of the IBEW union members were pretty chill.

But I've been noticing in some construction trades that some workers think electricians are snobby A-holes and look down on everyone.

I've met and worked alongside good people from the IBEW, and they genuinely went out of their way to help me on certain parts of the site.

Edit: damn, did not expect this to blow up like this lol, thanks for the responses everyone. gonna say a couple things since I've been reading through comments, some of y'all pointed out it's not just IBEW that gets this, other trades throw shade at each other too so that's fair. also ngl some of the criticism in here isn't just people being salty, some of it's actually legit so i'm not trying to say every complaint about IBEW guys or electricians is just haters being haters. anyway appreciate the discussion, didn't think this many people had opinions on this lol

What has been your experience with jobs requiring (officially/unofficially) you to conceal, put away, or leave at home your union imagery? I could link to everything I’ve read, but it looks like it boils down to the NLRA allowing this to be done if special circumstances (hazards, uniform & public image, vulgarity) can be demonstrated. In our world, it seems like it mostly happens due to the customer…or, the customer is being used as an excuse by the con or your supervisor.

Anecdotes? Take-aways?

Have been electrician about 10 years, journeymen 3. When I began my electrical career I apprenticed under an old timer doing tenant finish. We were flipping multiple ~8,000 sq ft office spaces at a time and I really enjoyed it, learned most everything I know from that guy. Then covid came. We lost just about all of our commercial work and just started doing residential and guy I apprenticed under retired. By that time I was one of about 4 employees (one the boss's son fml) Fast-forward to today and I completely burned out. I hate working with homeowners and residential superintendents but have completed many high end customs mostly by myself. Came to a point I just couldn't do it any more. Between the dictionary picture perfect example of nepotism and boss's son just sitting in his van and refusing to help me with clear 2 person jobs... I quit and took a good summer break working in a different trade for the summer.

While cooling down for summer I took the union aptitude test and jumped through all their hoops, attended the meetings and really like the vibe and am ready to get back into a completely different career setting.

But pretty nervous - I have tenant finish and residential experience. Will I be looked down on or somehow kicked off the job for not knowing how to run rigid, etc? I have no problem showing up on time, having a good no drama attitude, doing good work when I know how to do it. Is that enough for the first union job?

I’m curious to know more about what type of work is done? for example are you doing pole and tower work often and working on heavy heights on high volt electric? or is ir more outlet, conduit indoor and some outdoor smaller heights like ladders scaffolding etc? I’m mostly curious in the daily life and what type of work and hours to expect.

So I’m in an apprenticeship inside wireman but want to switch over I signed the book 3 for 1245 before I started and now I’m in the 200s I’m just finding out that this is double booking and that I’m going to have to quit my apprenticeship to stay on 1245 books

Anybody know where to get a new Engel cooler strap? I’ve also seen brothers on site with custom made. Do you know any brothers or sisters that make them?

Any DC STEP UP members for the local 26? How do classes work? I feel like I was just kinda thrown in without any formal idea on how I'm supposed to like do my classes and whatnot.