1. Carry a current dues receipt with you at all times.
2. Be willing to present your dues receipt to any other IBEW member when asked.
3. When seeking work in other Locals:
• Be prepared to present a paid up dues receipt, driver's license, State license if required and a travel letter from your Local Union.
• Make sure you understand the hiring Hall dispatch procedures, (show up or phone dispatch, resign dates, drug tests, etc.) before you walk out the door....every Local Union's procedures are different.
• Be ready to start work immediately.
• Be courteous to office personnel...it can't hurt and their assistance to you may be invaluable.
4. Never accept a foreman's job in another Local without the approval of the Job Steward and/or the Local Business Manager.
5. Never get involved in the politics of another Local.
6. Always work under the terms of the Agreement of the Local where you are employed.
7. Fulfill your commitment to the Local that provided you employment....complete the project or stay as long as you are asked to remain,
8. When your employment is terminated in another Local, Prior to leaving, pay all dues owed.
9. Verbally or in writing, thank the Business Manager for providing you the opportunity to work in his Local.
10. Always remember you are an ambassador of your Home Local. You are expected to conduct yourself as such.
11. When you have accepted a call, remove your name from ALL the Out-Of-Work Books that you are on regardless of where you have signed them, not only because it's the 'Right Thing to Do' but it simplifies the paperwork for the LU's whose books you are on.
12. Keep in mind that your reputation preceeds you to any job and/or LU jurisdiction. Don't make things hard for those of your local union that might follow in your footsteps. They might desperately need a job and they sure don't need a foul-up poisoning the well for them in another LU's jurisdiction.
Why would you want to travel? Pros- A lot of money out there if you know what you are doing. Great way to see the country and how other Local operate. Good way to improve your skills with the diversity of work offered. Keeps up your Insurance and Benefits. You don't want a "break in service". The "Brotherhood" is fantastic and you make friends for life. Treated better than you are at home.
Cons- A good way to go broke if you don't know what you are doing. A good way to get divorced. You could wind up Book 2 in your Home Local. The "Brotherhood" sucks and it is very lonely.
You have decided to "Hit the Road". Now what? -Call your Hall and let them know what you want to do. They can get your paperwork in order andfill you in on the latest job info. -Get a plan. If you know where you are going, find out these important facts by calling the respective Local and getting the latest information: (1) Times and procedures for sign-in, resign and dispatch. (2) What type of travel letter (BA to BA, General, plain dues receipt) is required. (3) Wage and Benefit package. (4) Work situation, do they need welders, servicemen, residential, salts, etc. (5) How to get to the Hall. Don't rely on an address, sometimes Halls can be hard to find. (6) License Requirements, Drug Testing, etc. -Make sure you have enough money. Figure around $500 a week to wait in the Hall for a job. -Figure out where you are going to stay. Hotels are the most expensive. Other options include: travel trailer, rentals to share, apartments (only if the job is long enough to warrent the first,last and security deposit). If you have a travel trailer or motorhome, you should belong to the Good Sam Club, KOA, etc. -Join the Auto Club. The free maps and route info will more than pay for itself.
How to find out where to go. Internet sites such as "The OnLine Tramp-Guide, "IBEW MinuteMan", and the "IBEW Jobs Board", word- of-mouth 'networking' and Local Union Newsletters are all important tools that you need to employ in your search. Never limit yourself to any one source of information and in EVERY case, ALWAYS call ahead to the Local Union first before even thinking about hitting the road. The more you restrict yourself, the harder it is and the less money you will make. As alluring as 'Overtime Jobs' and the 'Big Jobs' are, you can nearly always make more money on a steady 40 hour long-term job almost anywhere than chasing short-term OT jobs all over the country. Chasing OT is a risky proposition at best and unless you're young and free of family and financial obligations, you shouldn't give it a whole lot of serious consideration.
Overtime, 40 hours, man-camps, supporting two households What jobs to chase is a question of personal taste. You can make just as much money working a steady 40 hour job week in a Local that has a high wage and benefit package rather than to chase time jobs all over the country. If you decide to chase overtime jobs, you better be in the "loop", able to jump and run at a moment's notice, have a special skill (welder), tax write-offs and a "home base". A man-camp job is easily the best way to save money.They take a portion of your money for subsistance but furnish your food and lodging. You can easily support two households working 40 hours. These jobs can be found in the Rocky Mountain States and Alaska when building large projects. Working 40 hours and supporting two households is difficult but can be done. You must manage your expenses and work in a Local that has a high enough scale to support this. If the work situation is bad enough in your Home Local and steady enough where you are working, it might be wise to sell out and move your family.
Sitting in the Hall, waiting on a call One of the most nerve-wracking things is waiting for a call. After dispatch, there is nothing to do except spend precious money. Ask the Business Agent if there is anything you can do for the Hall as for Organizing, Picketing, Handbilling, etc. They will appreciate the offer and return the favor if possible. The worst possible thing you can do is sit in a bar or tavern. This costs money that you're going to need to survive on before that first paycheck. Always keep in mind that there's a 'hold-back of up to two weeks in most cases before you get your first payday after going to work. Instead, you could do free things like going to the library and studying up on the Code, get on the Internet to find work, things that don't cost a lot. Get to know the brothers and sisters in the Hall. The more people you know, the better your networking for future jobs will be in the future. If you're new to traveling, don't be afraid to ask questions. You will find 90% of the brothers and sisters helpful.
On the job Get an agreement if possible or a sheet that specifies your wage, insurance, pension, vacation, etc. Know what monies you are earning and more importantly how to reciprocate them back home or get them out when you leave. Know the trust fund policies and conditions. When on the job, you take orders from only the steward or your foreman. If someone doesn't like the way you work, wants to walk or wobble the job, slow the job down, start trouble,etc. go to the steward and let him know what is going on. When in another jurisdiction you take orders from the political force that is in power. If it starts getting ugly on the job, and sometimes does during elections, keep your mouth shut and do your job. Always give 8 for 8 and stay out of the in-fighting. You can get run out of Locals for being stupid and getting involved with political rival's of the Business Manager. Don't listen to the "Carhartt Attorneys" in the lunch shack. The Local members elected the officer's in control in accordance to the by-laws, the way it should be. If some members don't like it, they can run for office. Stay out of it! When working, call your Home Local and let them know where you are working and what the situation is. Maybe you can help someone who needs a job also.
Overtime How the steward runs the overtime is his business. If you don't like it, ask him about it. If you don't like his answer, live with it or leave. Overtime and how it is distributed is always a "hot" topic. Most savvy stewards have an "overtime" list. The worker with the least overtime hours gets the overtime, but not always.
When you leave Shake the hand of the Business Manager or Representative. Let them know you appreciate the work and maybe your Home Local can help them out someday. Check with the secretaries to make sure you are paid up on dues. Also check on any vacation or other funds that are held so you know how to get them out. Your Home Local will be known on how you worked and how you left. If you don't like the BA or the Local, just leave. By starting trouble, you just make it harder for the next traveler. Let the Local members clean up the Local or job, not you.
Taxes and the IRS Document all expenses with receipts and keep them in order. "Dome" publications have some very good travel diaries and recordkeeping books at most office supply stores. This is a must to please the IRS. There are many good brother who don't pay taxes and never have. The only trouble is that some day you may want to settle down and then the IRS will catch up. My advise is to do everything legal.
Skill upgrade classes Every Local should welcome travelers to attend their skills upgrade and journeyman classes. Don't feel that since you are a traveler that they don't want you to participate. Most Locals feel that we need the best-trained workforce to compete in today's marketplace. Please take advantage of these fine programs.
Attend Union meetings as a guest It is a member's responsibility to know when the Union meetings are. As a member you have the right to attend meetings and most Locals welcome you if you behave yourself. Some Locals will close off part of the meeting due to finances being discussed, respect their rules. DO NOT GO WITH AN ATTITUDE! If you have a problem, take it up with the steward or Business Agent. If you start trouble in a meeting, you probably will be on the first layoff where you are working. Remember that you have no vote or voice in another Local's meeting. The best thing is to thank the Union under "Good of the Order(Union) for the work.
Double Booking Even though there is no language in the Constitution about it, the worst thing you can do as a traveler is "Double Book". What this means is working while you are on the out-of-work list in other Locals except your own. Most Locals will allow you to keep your name on your home list and no other, but some do not like that either. Remember to take your name off any books you may have signed when you start to work. By double-booking, you can take a job away from a brother or sister who is out of work and in need.
