Get The Facts

Learn the truth about IBEW and joining a union.

Our goal is to provide you with the most detailed, accurate information so you can make the best decision for you, your career, your family, and your co-workers.

It’s important to understand that choosing a Union to represent you and your co-workers at your workplace is a legally protected right!

Before you make your choice, get the facts.

Fact #1:

The IBEW offers best-in-class pension plans.

The IBEW’s provincial pension plans are one of the greatest benefits of joining and have allowed our members to retire with dignity for decades. All IBEW members get access to our top-tier pension plans along with a wide variety of health benefits. 

IBEW’s pension agreement has an average contribution rate of $9.00/hour for your retirement, about 2-3x more than other plans. In most cases, the IBEW contribution rate is indexed to your base pay rate, so every raise you get corresponds to an increase in pension contributions. In other words, as your career and salary grows, so does your pension contribution from the IBEW.

Due to the sheer size of our pension plans, the IBEW has access to some of the best financial consultants and investment managers to ensure our members retirement contributions are safe and soundly invested.

If a company joins the IBEW, current employees will not be replaced with existing IBEW members.

Fact #2:

When workers choose to be represented by the IBEW at their workplace, we not only encourage those workers to remain with their company, but the IBEW also works with the company to continue to help employees grow and succeed. You, the worker, are an integral part of your company’s success. If you choose the IBEW as your union, you have our full support.

Fact #3:

You can select an IBEW Local Union of your choosing.

If your company chooses to join the IBEW, you will not be forced into a specific IBEW Local. In fact, you will personally have a choice to join the IBEW Local of your choosing. IBEW representatives will work directly with you, the employee, to help find the Local that best suits the employee.

Fact #4:

IBEW has a high Electrician employment rate with many opportunities for career growth.

While layoffs are an unfortunate reality in many industries, the truth is that IBEW electricians are laid off no more often than any other workers in our industry. Over 80% of our over 18,000 members in Ontario work for the same company day in and day out, just like you. 

If our members do find themselves out of work, we have a fair and transparent referral system to get them back to work in short order. This system has served our membership well and is a key reason why even members working for places not covered by our Principal Agreement (electrical industry) continue to pay their membership dues.

As an IBEW Electrician, you don’t have to rely solely on one contractor; you have the option of working for hundreds of contractors in your area at the same wages and benefits. This breadth of options gives you more job security and career stability than ever before. 

Learn more about our wage packages at our various Locals. 

More questions about the IBEW

  • This process is governed by the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA) in the construction industry. Under this legislation there are two ways to unionize your company under the Act.

    If, over 55% of the employees at your company indicate their wish to be represented by the IBEW through the “card check” process, the IBEW can apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to unionize your workplace. This is done by signing a Union Card. The Union Card is offered to prospective members in paper copy, signed in person, OR, by an electronic card signed through Adobe. After signing the electronic version, offered through our web site, or a hand signed paper copy, an application is then made to the OLRB. If the OLRB agrees that we represent more than 55% of the employees at your company, they will certify your company, typically within a week or two of the application.

    If the IBEW cannot obtain over 55% support, and there is between 40%-55% support on the day of application, we can apply to a have a vote of the workers. Votes are typically conducted within 5 business days of the original application and all employees, at work on the original day of application, are free to vote. The vote is conducted by an OLRB representative, and the Union and employer can appoint scrutineers to validate its fairness. At this point, if over 50% of the employees at your company vote yes, the company will then be unionized.

    It must be stressed that throughout this process your choice remains confidential. At no point can the employer gain access to who signed a card or how you voted. This information is never shared, and your privacy is protected by law.

  • We understand that joining the IBEW is a life changing career decision. Seeking a union for your workplace is a legally protected right in the province of Ontario. This law allows workers to join the union of their choice without discrimination or reprisal. We also realize that not all employers adhere to the law. This is why we never share your information with anyone. Further, if a card signer is discriminated against, not only will that worker have the option of becoming an IBEW member immediately, but we will also consult with our lawyers, and if there is a violation of the OLRA, we will take the appropriate legal action on the employee’s behalf.

  • If you choose to sign a Union Card, you can go to the What’s Next section of the web site and fill out the “SEND US AN E-MAIL” form, providing us with your full name, personal e-mail and personal phone number (optional). This does not automatically mean that you signed a card! Instead, a request for a card will be sent to one of our reps and an Adobe E-Card will be sent to the e-mail address you provided. You will be able to sign the electronic card on your phone, tablet, or computer. Only when you complete and return the signed card to us is it counted as support for the Union.

    Completing the E-card does not automatically make you a member or start union dues payments. This is simply the evidence we use in support of our application to the OLRB. If we get a clear mandate from the employees at your company, supported by an OLRB decision, then you can make the choice for membership.

  • Members that join the IBEW through company organizing campaigns have the option of joining one of the 11 IBEW Local Unions of their choice. This is typically done through geographic preference based on where that new member lives or works.

  • The pension contributions that you have earned are yours whether you remain an IBEW member or not.

    The Health and Welfare contributions that you have earned are in your name and provide benefit to you and your family. Should you leave the IBEW, contributions on your behalf will cease and your health and welfare benefits will eventually run out once the accumulated amount can no longer cover the cost to stay in benefit.

  • This would be another case where the CLAC has not been truthful. The IBEW regularly brings in non-union and CLAC apprentices and they never have to restart their apprenticeship. If you are a registered apprentice that decides to join the IBEW all your accumulated apprenticeship hours are accredited and transferred over, including all the hours that are worked at Sheridan.

Know your worth. Apply today.