IBEW Local 230

What IBEW Local 230 does

IBEW Local 230 is a chartered nonprofit local union of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, founded on February 13, 1902, in Victoria, British Columbia. It represents over 1,600 electrical workers across Vancouver Island, spanning industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential construction and maintenance, marine shipyards, railway, motor winding, electrical wholesale, and municipal, provincial, and federal government sectors. The local operates from a headquarters in Victoria, a regional office in Nanaimo, and a dedicated IBEW 230 Training Centre, and is governed by an elected Executive Board led by Business Manager Phil Venoit (in office since 2002).

The union's core offerings revolve around collective bargaining, member services, and apprenticeship-to-journeyworker training. The IBEW 230 Training Centre and the Western Joint Electrical Training Society (WJETS, formed in 1969 with IBEW Locals 993, 1003, and CLR Electrical Division) deliver technical, safety, and specialized courses. Member benefits include medical and dental coverage through the Joint Electrical Industry's Welfare Plan, retirement programs (RRSP, RPP, TFSA) administered by Manulife Financial, mental health and addiction support through Green Health, The FORGE, and BuildStrong/CIRP, and a job dispatch system. Member engagement is structured through four regional unit meetings (Victoria, Nanaimo, Campbell River/Courtenay, Marine) and three demographic committees (NextGen, Women's, Veterans').

Revenue is generated through recurring member dues (subscription model), with apprentice members also paying non-working dues during technical training. Pricing is not publicly disclosed as it depends on collective agreements and employment status. The union grows primarily through community-led and event-driven member recruitment, including the WATT pre-apprenticeship program, journeyworker applications, career fairs, and direct outreach by dedicated South Island and North Island organizers. As a chartered nonprofit under IBEW International, the organization is member-owned and member-governed, with no equity, venture capital, or public ownership structure.

Name

IBEW Local 230

Legal name

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230

Website

https://ibew230.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBEW Local 230 is a chartered nonprofit labor union representing over 1,600 electrical workers across Vancouver Island, providing collective bargaining, apprenticeship training, health benefits, and retirement programs through member dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Power Systems & Utility Linework (Transmission/Distribution) (EDAOABAC)

Keywords

• Electrical workers union
• Apprenticeship training
• Collective bargaining services
• Skilled trades training
• Labor union representation

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues: IBEW Local 230 generates revenue through membership dues paid by its over 1600 electrical workers. Members pay dues which fund union operations, training programs, member services, and advocacy efforts. Apprentice members must pay non-working dues while attending technical training.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IBEW Local 230 is a chartered local union of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that represents over 1,600 electrical workers on Vancouver Island. The union provides collective bargaining and labor representation, apprenticeship and continuing education through its Training Centre and Western JETS partnership, member benefits including health/dental coverage and retirement planning, and job dispatch services through signatory contractors.

Product overview

IBEW Local 230 is a labor union representing over 1600 electrical workers on Vancouver Island. The organization operates as a single unified union offering member services rather than a technology platform. Its core offerings include apprenticeship and training programs through the IBEW 230 Training Centre and Western JETS, health and welfare benefits via the Joint Electrical Industry's Welfare Plan, retirement planning through Manulife, and substance use/mental health support through programs like Green Health, The FORGE, and BuildStrong. The union also provides merchandise and various training certifications for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IBEW 230 Training Centre The main training facility located at 859 Viewfield Road, Victoria, BC, offering technical training, safety training, and union training programs for IBEW Local 230 members on Vancouver Island.
• WATT (Workplace Alternative Trades Training)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1600 members represented across Vancouver Island
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Western Joint Electrical Training Society (WJETS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1969Partnership formed in 1969 between IBEW Locals 230, 993, 1003, and CLR Electrical Division to assist, develop and foster Apprenticeship and further training of Red Seal Electricians. WJETS provides technical training for electrical specialists employed by all signatory contractors across Vancouver Island, Northern BC and Yukon, and the Kootenay region.
• Signatory ContractorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIBEW Local 230 works with signatory contractors who employ union members. These contractors include companies such as Houle Electric, Canem Systems, Ainsworth Inc., Aurora Electric, and others working on projects across Vancouver Island.
• Manulife FinancialcoreOthersManulife Financial administers the IBEW Local 230 Group Retirement Plan including RRSP (Policy #20005188), RPP (Policy #10005188), and TFSA (Policy #41005188). Manulife provides investment management, 1-on-1 financial advice, and retirement planning services for over 1600 members.
• Green HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Health offers mental health and substance use support services free of charge to apprentices and Red Seal certified workers in BC Building Trades Unions. Located at 825 Viewfield Road in Esquimalt, providing in-person and virtual counselling, peer support, and training courses.
• Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CIRP) / BuildStrongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRP provides specialized addiction treatment and mental health support for members of the unionized construction industry and their families. BuildStrong offers evidence-based treatment programs designed specifically for construction workers.
• The FORGE - Peer to Peer NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Forge provides peer-to-peer support network for skilled tradespeople dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. Offers peer support, recovery coaching, clinical counselling, treatment navigation, and mental health education.
• Skilled Trades BCmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Manager Phil Venoit serves as Chair of the Skilled Trades BC Maritime Sector, collaborating on apprenticeship standards and training initiatives.
• Joint Electrical Industry's Welfare PlancoreOthersJoint Electrical Industry's Welfare Plan provides comprehensive health insurance benefits for members including medical, dental, and emergency medical coverage through Manulife Group Travel Insurance.
• IBEW InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBEW Local 230 is part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a global union organization. The local participates in IBEW conventions, law committees, and international initiatives such as Electrical Workers Without Borders North America.
• BC Federation of LabourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBEW Local 230 has served as Executive Board Member and Officer of the BC Federation of Labour for over 21 years. BM Venoit elected as President of BC Building Trades Council from 2018 to 2020.
• Camosun CollegemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBM Phil Venoit served on the Board of Governors of Camosun College from 2018-2021, supporting electrical training programs and apprenticeship education.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Service Techs (UA): An international union representing skilled construction trades (plumbing, pipefitting, welding) under a comparable local-chapter, apprenticeship-sponsorship, and collective bargaining model. Local UA chapters in BC compete for and complement IBEW Local 230's jurisdiction on Vancouver Island projects.
• IBEW Local 213: A chartered IBEW local covering the Vancouver area, providing the same electrical worker representation, apprenticeship training, and signatory contractor relationships in an overlapping BC market.
• Canadian Union of Skilled Workers (CUSW): A Canadian national union representing workers across multiple skilled trades including electrical, with collective bargaining and training delivery models that directly parallel IBEW Local 230's functions in BC.
• IBEW Local 1003: A chartered IBEW local representing electrical workers in the BC Lower Mainland and a co-founding partner of WJETS. Directly comparable in structure, training delivery, and collective bargaining function.
• IBEW Local 993: A chartered IBEW local union also representing electrical workers in British Columbia and a co-founding partner (with Local 230) of the Western Joint Electrical Training Society (WJETS). Operates the same trade-representation and apprenticeship-sponsorship model in adjacent BC geography.

Regional players

• BC Building Trades Council: The umbrella provincial body for BC's construction trade unions; IBEW Local 230's Business Manager has served as its President. Operates as a broader labor-market advocacy and policy organization covering all construction trades rather than electrical specifically.
• BC Federation of Labour: The provincial labor federation of which IBEW Local 230 has been an Executive Board member for over 21 years. Operates as an advocacy and policy umbrella for BC unions broadly rather than a trade-specific peer.

Broad incumbents

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW): The international parent union of IBEW Local 230 and approximately 700 other IBEW locals across the U.S. and Canada. Provides national branding, conventions, law committees, and cross-local initiatives such as Electrical Workers Without Borders.
• International Brotherhood of Boilermakers: An international skilled-trades union with a similar apprenticeship and collective bargaining structure. The Boilermakers' marine and industrial membership overlaps with IBEW Local 230's marine shipyard jurisdiction on Vancouver Island.

Others

• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA): The employer-side counterpart to IBEW locals, representing signatory electrical contractors. NECA and IBEW jointly sponsor apprenticeship and training programs (including JATC models), making it the most directly interacting peer on the labor-management side.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IBEW230
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBEWLocal230
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibew-local-230

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IBEW Local 230