"I started my career fresh out of high school in 1983 working as a mechanic at an automotive dealership. It was a good job at the time because cars weren't very dependable and you could earn a lot of money if you were willing to work hard. But cars became more dependable as time moved on, and it seemed that mechanics were becoming salesmen to sell customers work that they didn't need.

Additionally, it felt like none of the mechanics in the shop meant anything to the company or its management. There was no one to complain to because their answer to any problem was, "If you don't like it, there's the door." California is an at-will employment state, which means an employer can terminate an employee at any time without reason. Each day I came to work, I knew it could be my last. Not to mention that after working there for more than 20 years, I had no retirement benefits.

My father was a member of the United Mine Workers of America. We lived a comfortable life, and I remember how well the union took care of our family. I learned about the IBEW when I was hiring on with Southern California Edison and saw how similar it was to the UMWA in protecting and taking care of its members. When I hired on, the IBEW local rep came to the shop, introduced himself and called as soon as I made it through my probationary period.

Since becoming an IBEW member, I know that someone has my back. I can't be abused by management or shown the door if there is something I don't like, and I can speak up when something isn't right or safe. I've also been able to build up a nice little retirement to look forward to one day. Now that my kids are grown, my wife and I are able to go out and enjoy my vacation time and visit places we've always wanted to see. And I've met a lot of fantastic people in the IBEW who have shared their experiences and opportunities with me.

I know there are lots of members who have grown up with the IBEW, people with great experiences to share who are certainly worth listening to. However, I think there is much to be learned from people like me, who spent years getting abused outside of the IBEW and became members later in life. We know how bad it is not to be a member of the IBEW or any union and can fully appreciate the difference.

Before I went to work at SCE and became a member of the IBEW, I felt like my life story only had one chapter to it. I figured that I'd spend my entire life working at the dealership until I was too old to work and then have to live on Social Security. Since becoming a member of the IBEW, I have been able to add several chapters as a technician, lead technician, foreman and as a member of different teams. There are so many opportunities as a member. The only limit is what a person is willing to haul away."