Top 5 Reasons to Join a Union Shop
A career at PCD offers you the opportunity to join the IBEW and reap its many benefits year after year. In addition to earning a living wage and a great benefits package, here are the top five reasons why joining the team will mean a better future for you and your family:
1. Paid Training and Apprenticeships
If you are considering joining a Union shop - Congratulations! You are making an excellent decision to support your future and your career. Joining the Union is a solid opportunity for workers at any age and stage of their careers. The IBEW union offers outstanding on-the-job training and paid apprenticeships that will give you an edge in the fast-paced AV industry. Instead of accumulating student loans, you will be paid as you go through the Apprenticeship and will earn while you learn!
The IBEW and NECA offer national training programs through local Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee (JATC) offices, including the local REJATC in northern California. A Non-Union shop may require or expect you to have formal training before joining their shop. This may include out-of-pocket education expenses to earn an electrical certificate or degree through a trade school, community college or vocational school on your own before being hired.
2. Safety
When you enter a construction site represented by Union labor, you know you are working with like-minded individuals who have had on the job training required through the Union. Knowing you can rely on your coworkers to have the same training as you creates a stable and efficient work environment.
PCD takes pride in training its workforce in various ways, including weekly tailgate safety meetings, specific training relevant to your assigned jobsite, online training courses, all staff meetings, and even annual CPR training.
3. Experience, Reliability, and Credibility
Take a look at the AV industry from the perspective of a client. Just like any other industry, a person who is well-trained in their craft is the “Most Valuable Player” to any company needing your services. Be the MVP! Becoming a member of the IBEW Electrical Union reassures clients that you take your work seriously and desire to remain relevant among your peers through continual training as AV technologies rapidly evolve.
PCD’s reputation in northern California is unparalleled and we frequently hear from clients that they have referred us to others. We have repeat clients year after year in addition to a solid base of new clients who say “we were told to call PCD!”
4. Livable Wages
The most obvious difference between a Union and Non-Union shop is the wages you can expect to earn during your career. The IBEW has approximately 750,000 active members and retirees. The union negotiates wages on behalf of all these members in order to protect the workers. Wages vary city to city, but wages are statistically higher for Union employees than those in non-union shops, particularly for Apprentices and Journeymen. Your Union contract gives you an annual cost of living raise each year while a non-union shop assigns its own wages and may not offer raises consistent with the cost of living in your area.
5. Medical and Retirement Benefits
Becoming an IBEW Union member comes with impressive benefits and guaranteed pensions, something that non-union shops may not offer. Joining PCD’s team as a low voltage worker guarantees that you’ll receive not only the fair compensation you deserve but also adequate Union medical and retirement benefits for you and your family. You accrue benefits based on hours worked, including overtime and travel pay.
Choose Your Future
On-the-job training and Apprenticeships give you an edge and make you attractive to any employer and any client. Ultimately, joining PCD’s Union shop means staying ahead of the curve and thriving in our ever-changing AV industry. Interested in learning more about Union careers? Contact us today to discuss your future Audio Visual career path.
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