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Why Be A union?

Our members see better wages, pension, insurance, and training, along with a staff that represents your rights pertaining to safety, licensing laws and negotiates your wages and benefits.

Health & Welfare Benefit Plans:

We have three health plans available to choose from that are 100 percent paid by the contractor for you AND your immediate family. These plans have benefits for family medical, prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing, employee assistance, accidental death and dismemberment, life insurance, and time loss.

Retired Trust Plan:

This is a health insurance plan for retired members, age 60 - 65, and their spouses. This will cover the gap from when you retire until you are eligible for Medicare.

Retirement Benefits:

Cascade Pension:
Your employer contributes to this on a per-hour basis ($5.00 Inside JWs; $2.70 Sound & Com JWs; $3.92 Residential JWs).

NEBF Pension:
‍This is a defined benefit plan in which contributions are made by employers at 3% of our member's gross payroll each month. The plan provides three types of benefits: retirement benefits, disability benefits, and pre-retirement spouse benefits.

District 9 Pension:
Your employer contributes to this on a per-hour basis ($4.00 for Inside JWs; $2.75 Sound & Com JW; $3.92 for Residential JWs). This defined contribution plan is totally self-directed by the participant with 16 options available ranging from conservative to aggressive.

‍IBEW Pension:
This pension is sponsored by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Contributions are made by active members at $22 (which is covered by your monthly dues) per month into the pension benefit fund. The plan provides three types of benefits: retirement benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits. The plan has options for normal retirement at age 65 and optional early retirement at age 62.

Training:

Local 280 has a state-of-the-art 30,000-square-foot facility in Tangent, Oregon, and an 11,000-square-foot training facility in Prineville, Oregon. Continuing education classes are free for our members.

Wages:

Our members have established and maintained wages for their labor. Strength in numbers equates to bargaining power to improve wages. These excellent working wages help to achieve a higher standard of living for all in the electrical construction industry. Currently, our Inside Journeymen earn $55.27/hr, Residential Journeymen $39.93/hr, and our Sound and Communication Journeymen earn $41.04/hr.

Hours:

Working hours for all members are determined by a contract at 8-hour days, 40-hour weeks. Work outside of these hours are always paid at regular wages times, one and one-half or double time for Sundays and holidays.

Representation:

Representation brings with it clearly defined contract rights including wages and benefits which allow our members to have a rewarding career and the ability to look forward to a prosperous retirement. We believe in cultivating feelings of friendship among those in our industry. Our members have representation through a grievance process if problems arise at work.

Flexible Spending Account:

Inside Classification only

For Inside JWs, you will receive $1 per hour worked. It varies for apprentices depending on the period of apprenticeship. To receive the election form and new participant packet, you need to have $400 in your account.

Join ibew 280 Today

For more information, you can contact our Membership Development Representatives:
Valley- Steve Denton at 541-233-3197 or Central Oregon- Robbie Smith at 541-971-3149.