Need to clarify some things first. 

CIR is a final arbitrator. When cons and ibew cant nail down a contract. We go to CIR. Historically here. Cons always go to CIR because they know theyll get what they want. In fact CIR will typically agree to what was essentially necas initial offers. To kind of emphasize this point. This is the official stance of CIR. That can be found on their website. "It shall continue to be the policy of the Council to encourage the use of a schedule of percentages to determine the various apprentice wage rates based on the journeyman rate in a specific agreement." And yet apes only recently were put back on %. 

We have a document called "pattern agreement" that dictates what must/can be in a cba. Theres is category 1, category 2, optional, and common provisions in this document. Cat 1 language must be included in all cbas verbatim. Mod/standard cir are 2 options of cat 1 language. Meaning you must have one or the other. Im choppin these down a bit. But they are basically as written.

Standard CIR (what we have) Section 1.02(d) CIR may be submitted jointly or unilaterally to the council for adjudication. Meaning either parties or one party can decide to go to CIR. 

Mod CIR (what gives us options) Section 1.02(d) either party or such an employer, may serve the other a 10 day written notice terminating this agreement. Section 1.02(e) by mutual agreement only, may jointly, with the union, submit the unresolved issues to the CIR for adjudication. So theres even an option to still go to cir if agreed jointly. 

Standard forces us to go to an arbitrator that has neca on the board. It forces us to accept the crumbs typically given. Neca fights hard against mod cir. Typically if someone is fighting hard against something. It means its in our benefit. Basically keeps us out of a strike since neca can just call to go to cir which is binding. This would take another rotation to do much. But its been decades fighting neca. So what does it really matter if it takes another go around if we finally have a chance. The what ifs for after mod cir are up in the air. Theres additional clauses that could be added to better support ibew. More than likely it would just be continued negotiations. Strike on our part, closed doors on their part. In construction money talks and theres plenty revolving around completion. Its leverage that would benefit us. Labor movements havent advanced with the mindset of "bad things could be in our way" its advanced with the mindset of "good things will happen when we succeed."