The apprenticeship program is the fastest and most effective route to Journeyman Wireman for those with little to no experience in the trade. It is a five-year course, consisting of classroom hours and on-the-job training that will provide you with the opportunity to "earn while you learn." Apprentices will typically work five 8-hour shifts a week and attend class two nights per week from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Throughout the program, each apprentice will be evaluated both on the job and in classroom studies to ensure they are adapting, progressing, and advancing in the trade. Apprentices will earn 45 college credits upon completion of this program.
To qualify for the apprenticeship program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
must be at least 18 years of age.
must be a high school graduate/GED with one full credit in Algebra.
must obtain a minimum score on an aptitude test measuring basic reading and math skills.
must be able to lift, carry and manipulate tools and materials common to the trade.
must be able to read, hear, understand and follow written and verbal instructions.
must be willing to follow instructions and to work cooperatively with others.
must be able and willing to follow safety procedures.
must be able to get to and from sites anywhere in the jurisdiction.
*The ETA will accept a college or post-high school credit to meet Algebra requirements. Applicants may also complete the NJATC online math course to meet Algebra requirements.
*While most work is in, around, or near the Asheville City area, apprentices are subject to assignments in the counties of Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Yancey
*We do NOT discriminate against anyone (applicant or apprentice) for any reason with regards to race, color, religion, national origin, or sex for those 18 years of age or older.
*Veterans must provide DD214
Apprentices will earn a percentage of the Journeyman Wireman rate ($28.59/hr) according to the number of hours of On-the-Job (OTJ) training they have accumulated, and school years they have completed.
School Year
OTJ Hours
% of JW
Total Package
Wage
Healthcare
Pension 9%
NEBF 3%
JATC
LMCC
RTrust
NLMCC
NECA
Dues
Vacation
1st Period, (1st Semester)
0-1000
55%
$21.90
$15.72
$4.98
N/A
$0.47
$0.35
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.16
$0.79
N/A
2nd Period, (1st School Year)
1001-2000
60%
$23.42
$17.15
$4.98
N/A
$0.51
$0.39
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.17
$0.86
N/A
3rd Period, (2nd School Year)
2001-3499
65%
$26.70
$18.58
$4.98
$1.77
$0.56
$0.42
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.19
$0.93
N/A
3rd Period, (2nd School Year)
3500+
65%
$30.25
$18.58
$8.53
$1.77
$0.56
$0.42
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.19
$0.93
N/A
4th Period, (3rd School Year)
3501-5000
70%
$31.91
$20.01
$8.53
$1.90
$0.60
$0.45
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.20
$1.00
$0.45
5th Period, (4th School Year)
5001-6500
75%
$33.56
$21.44
$8.53
$2.04
$0.64
$0.48
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.21
$1.07
$0.45
6th Period, (5th School Year)
6501-8000
85%
$36.87
$24.30
$8.53
$2.31
$0.73
$0.55
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.24
$1.22
$0.45
Journeyman Wireman
8000+
100%
$41.83
$28.59
$8.53
$2.56
$0.85
$0.64
$0.10
$0.10
$0.01
$0.29
$1.43
$0.45
Deductibles
• Single Coverage $350.00/deductible per year
• Family Coverage $350.00/deductible per individual/year
• Must have at least 3 contributors obtain full deductible to cover family maximum of $1050.00
• After Deductible of $350.00 Insurance covers 85%
Disability Insurance
• $250 per week for non-occupational injury
• $125 per week for occupational injury
• Up to 26 weeks
• As an apprentice, you will be eligible for coverage on the first day after the SECOND FULL MONTH of employment. (Work hours in January provide coverage for March, etc.) You must accumulate at least 140 hours of worked and reported time in your first calendar month of employment or at least 200 hours of worked and reported time in 2 consecutive months to meet the initial eligibility requirement. *Ask an office staff member to explain.
• Our insurance program helps to maintain your insurance through unemployment periods in the construction industry.
• Any hours worked OVER 140 go directly into an Hour-Bank. The max amount of banked hours will cover your insurance costs for 6 months of unemployment.
• $0.23 out of the $8.48 goes to the Benny Card. The Benny Card works like an HSA and can help pay other health care costs.
In the event that a member in good standing should die, Local 238 will send the family $1000 upon receipt of the death certificate. Each member must submit an additional $7 with next months dues. The enrollment cost is $14 which is paid with your initial dues.
The IBEW Local 238 provides two separate retirement funds, Carolinas Electrical Workers Retirement Fund (CEWRF) and the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF)
The Carolina Electrical Workers Retirement Fund is an hourly rate (9%) that will begin to accrue after the first year of your apprenticeship.
• JW 40 hours/week = $102.40
• 50 weeks/year = $5,120
• 30 years of Service = $153,600 plus compound interest
National Electrical Benefit Fund
• 3% of gross wage paid into NEBF by your Employer
• Currently $32.00 a month times years of service
• Must have no breaks in service* to retain top benefit
$32.00 a month x 20 years of service = $640 per month $7,680.00 a year
$32.00 a month x 30 years of service = $960 per month $11,520.00 a year
$32.00 a month x 40 years of service = $1280 per month $15,360.00 a year
First, Second, and Third Year Apprentice Dues: $45/month
Fourth and Fifth Year Apprentice Dues: $50/month
Monthly Dues are a necessary part of maintaining a healthy International Office (IO) and Local Union. Dues are paid monthly or quarterly in advance by the member. A portion of the member’s monthly dues goes to the International Office to fund the Pension Benefit Fund (PBF) and I/O expenses. The remaining amount goes to fund Local Union expenses. PBF currently pays $4.50/month per year of service to vested members at retirement or time of disability and no less than $3000 in a Death Benefit payment. Working Assessments are paid to the local directly from member’s paychecks. Everyone who earns wages by working for a signatory contractor on a project in our jurisdiction, pays working assessments of 5% to Local 238, regardless of what local they are a member of. Without these funds, our Local Unions would fail to operate, and the negotiated benefits that we all enjoy would quickly disappear. Assessments help pay for the cost of owning our Union Hall, running a business office, salaries of those who staff the office, refer us to work and maintain relationships with the contractors that provide us with employment.
WHAT ARE LOCAL 238'S DUES?
• Journeyman scale $28.41/hr.
• Basic monthly dues $55.00 $0.32/hr.
• Working assessments 5% $1.42/hr.
• Total hourly wage rate minus dues $26.67/hr.
What do you get for it?
• Total dues per hour = $1.74/hr. = $2.56/hr. Local Pension
$8.48/hr. Health Insurance
$0.85/hr. NEBF (Pension) $0.64/hr. JATC (Training)
Total benefits $12.53/hr.
Return on Investment = 720%
Apprentices must provide themselves with the following tools:
Pencil
Pocketknife
Flat head screwdriver
Phillips head screwdriver
Needle nose pliers
Wire strippers
Two pairs of channel lock pliers
Six-foot rule
Level
Side cutter pliers
6” adjustable wrench
Hacksaw frame
Hammer
Tap handle
Lockable toolbox and lock.
- The Employer shall furnish safe storage for tools on the job. The Employer will replace stolen tools listed above with American made tools when evidence of entry to the storage area is established.
- The Employer shall furnish all the necessary tools or equipment. Workmen shall be held responsible for tools or equipment issued to them providing the Employer furnished the necessary lockers, toolboxes, or other safe place for storage.
- The employee shall not bring tools that are not on the tool list, as the employer is not responsible for tools not on the tool list.
Step 1: Print and fill out the application or come into the office at 46 New Leicester Hwy to pick up an application in person. Step 2: Gather all the required documents. Drivers' License, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, and High School or GED Transcripts. If you have College Transcripts you may turn them in also, but High School or GED Transcripts are still required. You may have your school mail the Transcripts to you or our office. You may also have your school email them to the Apprenticeship at local238jatc@gmail.com or fax them at (828)505-2326. Step 3: Turn in Application and all required documents listed above at the Apprenticeship office to the Training Director. Step 4: After your Application and ALL required documents are turned in, the Training Director will schedule a date and time for the Aptitude Test. You can go to www.electricprep.com for help preparing for the Aptitude Test. Step 5: The Interview. The Training Director will notify the Applicant via email of the date and time of their interview once the Committee has set the dates.
Page Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024 (13:41:52)
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IBEW Local 238
46 New Leicester Hwy
Asheville, NC 28806 828-505-0216
