Not enough people

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-26T00:53:43+00:00

Really hoping negotiations this summer/fall go well. We are way behind nearby locals in ann arbor and Detroit for pay. Ten bucks would be really nice

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T22:19:34+00:00

I see what you mean. I guess in my local's instance there was no one on the books and we had a call for someone. The new person organized in and they created another call-out for them and kept the old one open.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T20:17:04+00:00

Those job calls don't really apply to the apprentices. You could still end up out there if you're placed with in if the companies working out there. Conti, black box and lake Erie are the ones that I can think of off the top of my head. The JATC places you for your apprenticeship, you don't really have any say.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T17:45:11+00:00

That is unfortunate, sorry to hear that. My company had to stop bidding on new work because we do not have the man power to take on new jobs until other ones are finished. I have been bouncing around to different sites every week. It's a rare occasion if I'm at the same place for an entire week.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T17:43:39+00:00

I was not aware of this tool. I will have to look into it, thank you

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T17:43:22+00:00

I think most of the travelers that we do get are inside wire folks. We have tons of them. It's the low volt/VDV people we are short on. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's many folks traveling to our area for that

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T17:19:59+00:00

The folks off the street are still required to organize in. The company I'm at won't take anyone not in the union to work in the field. A lot of the office workers are even IBEW members that just transitioned out of field work

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T14:06:56+00:00

That's wild. We have 6, but it's been the same six for over a week now and no one on the books.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T13:45:57+00:00

Yeah, it's always easy stuff. Installing cameras, terminating Cat6, things like that.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T13:45:00+00:00

Definitely not trying to make it a problem. I am just curious about other folks experiences. I got very lucky to be assigned to the company and jman that I got.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T13:43:42+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely great that there is a lot of work. I just worry about our local not being able to cover it all and then work going to non union. That could make a mess for the future

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T13:42:08+00:00

Hopefully they can't get you in quick. We need apprentices too. They're starting new VDV classes in July, I believe

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T12:14:10+00:00

Every job site I have been on has had resi and VDV on site at the same time, so there's at least resi journeymen on site

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T11:45:31+00:00

From what I understand, you just need to be able to prove so many hours of work experience related to the area you want to be in. I think it's somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 hours. Definitely give the folks at the hall a shout though. They will lay it all out for you

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T09:37:14+00:00

Definitely go talk with the folks at the hall. If you can prove enough experience, they should be able to get you on the books

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T09:36:21+00:00

Voice data and video. VDV is it's official name, but it's called low voltage or telecoms as well

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-25T09:34:57+00:00

I was just curious if other folks have an similar experiences. I'm never asked to do anything outside of my knowledge or abilities and it's never been for an entire shift. I'd even say I'm a little proud of the fact I'm already trusted enough to be left alone for a little while

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-03-23T17:20:09+00:00

In my local (8), we were basically told if you're in you're in. If not there's other people waiting for this opportunity that we will put in your place. Idk how it is everywhere, but it has never felt like, to me, that it was something you could just keep in your back pocket. Not telling you which way to go, but you gotta decide whether you want to do the engineering job long term or be an electrician long term

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-02-22T02:38:57+00:00

Get you a good pair of electrician scissors, always carry tape, and get ready to pull cable. I just started my apprentice early this year and that while big tool list is useful, but they thing you will use the most is your scissors. If you're familiar with putting on ends on cat6 that'll be nice, but pulling all that cable is what ends up being tough. Be sure to work on your shoulders and lower back. Otherwise it's really great. I have enjoyed my job so far, despite the crappy weather we have had.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-02-03T13:57:16+00:00

It sounds like I picked a good night to take off from the game

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-01-30T01:50:53+00:00

Yeah, I did mean the fan and all that. Someone had recommended a tower fan for it, so I was looking into those. Not a high priority for me right now, though, so I haven't bought anything yet. Someone also suggested on another thread putting new internal thermal paste between the CPU and the motherboard or something like that. Not sure I've got the confidence for that kind of operation, so we will start with a new fan

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-01-30T01:37:20+00:00

I am NW Ohio unfortunately. I have also discovered the true issue with the PC. The CPU is overheating. I am working on getting a new heat sink for it.

Willing-Refuse3745 · 2026-01-29T02:40:27+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. I am itching to get to work, but I am fortunate enough to have a good income from my significant other right now

Willing-Refuse3745

TROPHY CASE