IBEW In Electric Motor Repair Shops

[dArsonval]

While the subject of this thread relates to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, it could easily be titled the Teamsters,
or any of the other longstanding labor related unions as well.

Most electric motor repair shops in the United States are not represented by a labor union.
What insight or experience, (if any) can this group share... as it relates to organized labor
in a business such as an Electric Motor Repair facility?

Is there an advantage for Electric Motor Repair workers having a more welcome
access to certain kinds of environments like unionized auto factories, mills, etc. during field service work?
Or is there some other underlying attribute to this type of labor arrangement in a Electric Motor Repair Shop?

I'm pleading ignorant on the subject, hence the question(s) here. Curious to learn more about this topic.

Thanks in advance for any insight you're willing to share.

Always enjoy reading this forum,

John

 

[waross]

A note to those who have had bad experiences with unions. Times have changed. Many of the excesses of bygone years are gone with the years. The IBEW has a program called "Code of Excellence" in some areas. The purpose of the program is to make the members aware that times have changed and that they are expected to start work on time and give a good days work for their pay. I see many job postings which will only accept workers who have completed a Code of Excellence course. The union no longer blindly supports problem workers but will often work with employers to resolve problems.
Advantages: In construction where jobs tend to be short term, there is a portable pension plan, and portable medical and dental plans.
For the contractor: A ready supply of qualified workers is just a phone call away.
When an up-grader has a major fire and lost revenue may be as high as $1000 per hour the owner wants qualified tradesmen working on repairs on-site ASAP. Have you ever tried to vet several hundred job applications and hire hundreds of tradesmen under that kind of pressure? A phone call to each of the trade unions on Monday and Tuesday you will have prequalified tradesmen who hold all the required trade, safety, and special qualification tickets ready to report for pre-access D'nA testing and ready to start work. When you need hundreds of skilled workers yesterday, try that with non-union or even trade association workers.
I went through the bad old years and times have changed much for the better.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Zogzog]

How many skilled motor rewinders are sitting in the job bank at the local hall?

While I agree with your views waross (I used to be IBEW myself) I don;t think the model works well for specialized parts of the trade like motor rewinding, or in my case switchgear testing.

(I hoep this thread stays civil, but I see this going downhill fast)

 

[waross]

How many skilled motor rewinders are sitting in the job bank at the local hall?

Good point. I am more familiar with new construction. But, how often do you need that many winders on an emergency basis? And, if the contractor is willing to pay for the plane ticket, the local Union hall will put the call Nationwide. Pre-access D'nA testing will be done locally, don't pass- don't leave home. A job in the west can be manned from the east coast with only one day extra for travel.

Is there an advantage for Electric Motor Repair workers having a more welcome
access to certain kinds of environments like unionized auto factories, mills, etc. during field service work?

Years ago this was much more of an advantage. I remember meeting with a supplier in a coffee shop across the street from the project. The rep had tried to play games with the union and been less than truthful. The union was willing to accept his company but he wouldn't follow the rules. The owner would not allow him on site for fear of union troubles. He still had equipment to instal. We got the job to do the work for him.
I haven't seen that kind of exclusion for thirty years. Now union and non-union forces may be found working side by side on the same site.
Yes, I know, there are still small areas where some of the old ways persist.
What I see overall is that the construction unions are struggling to hold what jurisdiction they still hold.
They are responding by working with contractors instead of against them. They realize that they are competing in an increasingly open market and to survive they must be the best economic choice. To that end they are self funding training programs so as to be able to supply the best trained workers.


Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter