Buying tools and boots to work upfront can be costly
Lots of mistreatment and inept leadership, particularly from JATC portion of union
Pay goes up miserably slow by $1/year until top out as Journeyman Wireman after 5 years currently and get treated subpar from others as an apprentice
0 PTO
They pay to train you but you must pay some $800/year upfront per books
Very few benefits besides pension and college credit