How Do I Become a Union Electrician?
Union membership affords electrical workers representation and a collective voice during negotiations with employers concerning workers’ wages, benefits and working conditions. As is true with most unions and trade associations, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), there are certain rules and procedures an applicant must follow to be recognized as a full-fledged union member. Apprenticeship Apprenticeship status is the “entry-level” for union electrical workers. According to an article in the September 2001 “IBEW Journal,” the union sometimes recruits high school and vocational school graduates into its apprenticeship programs. Ideal recruits will have completed two years of algebra and one or two years of technical electives. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship programs combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. The IBEW and NECA often partner with private
