I'm thinking of starting an apprenticeship with the IBEW and I'm curious if anyone in here has experience with the trades and trade union.
Apply now. The wait lists are real.
Also, don’t let them see the fake piss bottle at the physical.
Damn, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg probably won't be any better then. Plantworkers get fuck-all for union representation so it'd be nice to have a primary income stream that includes that protection.
My local isn't open for applications for another month or two.
I recently applied to the ibew and didn’t get in this go around. but here is a link to the questions I was asked in the interview. And iprep has a really good and accurate aptitude practice test. it costs $40 but I’d say it’s worth it.
Np. I didn’t find those interview questions until after I had taken it. I felt like I did bad, got a good interview score but still didn’t get in. And the algebra portion of the aptitude test is pretty intensive. iprep had good and accurate testing material, but if you need to relearn algebra like I did… I suggest YouTubing how to do some of the stuff. Ipreps teaching material was difficult for me to follow.
I currently teach math so I'm not worried about that. I'll probably go through and write out all my answers in advance to help me formulate my thoughts.
Oh yeah well then you’ll do fine on the aptitude test. It’s just algebra and reading comp. I passed the test, have experience in the field, scored a 93/100 on the interview, and still didn’t get in. So I wish you luck!
Similar, how do union workers deal with drug testing? Would I need to go clean for good or just till I get my job?
I failed my first, and my employer paid for me to retest. I went back to work for him 6 years later and didn't have to pee again since I was already on their books.
My friends who are electricians used fake piss and never quit, however my friend who drives ready mix abstains totally. DOT licensing is needed to drive a truck though, so it's given they test more.
How do you piss, do they tell yoy ahead of time so you can strap the bottle to your leg, or do they surprise you
Usually you get about an hour or two notice. A lot of people who go the fake pee leave a bottle in their car with heat pads so they are ready to go.
For trades jobs, how much you get tested is a bit of a crapshoot. The big construction unions usually require random testing (IBEW definitely). Beyond that, the place you work for a project might require pre-site tests and randoms. Anything in chemical industry, utilities, or oil and gas definitely will, and it's hair testing so you have to abstain completely. Other stuff, less likely.
I'm pretty sure in MN employers are required to give 24 hr notice. We have tons of these doctor offices called occupational health clinics, and it's literally just medical staff that preforms drug screening, physicals, and job related injuries. Very easy to smuggle in urine. Show up for your appointment, and viola.
Now large federal or state jobs can have on site random screenings. My uncle was a union sparky in Alaska, he said he would just abstain while on those big jobs but the pay was worth it.
I have a few friends that are completing their IBEW apprenticeships, I was in the OPCMIA till I landed an estimating job.
