IBEW 278 - RENEW

10/25/2026

10/23/2026

⚡️ BEHIND THE HARDHAT | SPOTLIGHT ⚡️

Carlos Ramirez - 3rd year electrician apprentice and some of his work he did recently 📷

1. What is your favorite part of being an electrician?

My favorite part is being able to troubleshoot a problem, find the issue, and fix it.

2. Coffee or energy drink before work?

My go-to is a C4 Cereal Killer energy drink!

3. What is your favorite tool and why?

My favorite tool is my KNIPEX wire st*****rs because they strip better than any other brand I’ve tried.

4. What’s the best piece of advice a journeyman has given you?

Always be willing to learn something new. Never be content with where you are, and always strive to be better.

⚡ The more we share, the more we grow! By sharing our stories, we can spread awareness of our program, recognize our members, and inspire the next generation of electricians.

10/16/2026

⚡ BEHIND THE HARD HAT | SPOTLIGHT ⚡

Juan Garcia - 3rd year electrician apprentice

1. What advice would you give a first-year apprentice entering the electrical trade with the union?

Be on time, be prepared, and always be willing to learn. Listen and be a sponge, absorb as much knowledge as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s always better to ask than to make a mistake because you were too afraid to speak up. There is no such thing as a stupid question. It’s better to ask a thousand times than to be too scared to ask.

2. How did you hear about the union?

Someone came to my high school and gave a presentation about the union. I liked what I heard, so I thought, “Why not?” The opportunity to earn money while going to school really convinced me. Only having two days of school sounded great, and the work-life-school balance was appealing. The benefits were another big plus, including the 401(k) match and not needing basic college credits to get started.

3. What is a challenge of being an electrician apprentice, and what motivates you to overcome it?

Waking up early every morning for work can be a challenge. What keeps me going is thinking about the bills I have to pay and reminding myself that I have to get up and get it done. Maintaining a good attitude and staying focused on my goals helps me push through. At the end of the day, money is my motivation.

⚡ The more we share, the more we can spread awareness of our program, recognize our members, and inspire the next generation of electricians.

10/11/2026

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Trades Women Build Nations - Houston 2026
Largest Union Conference in the World 👏

09/25/2026

4th year apprentice working on a troubleshooting lab: converting T8 ballast to LED conversion, photocell and 3-way switch installation. Also, she was working on troubleshooting breakers in a panel. ***Apprentice: Bridget Reyes ***

09/24/2026

09/13/2026

Volunteers - Shaun Woolf & Joseph Perez

Here’s the rack we built for craft certification. Still need two more and to add wood boards.
JATC training director will be looking for more of us to help out again, all help and hard work is greatly appreciated.