A JW Is a Journeyman Wireman, someone who has been through the day school program, which is a 10,000 hour training program. The preferred way.

A CW is a Construction Wireman, they have a nearly 16,000 training program consisting of unpaid night classes. They are looked down on and considered not as good as JW electricians because they weren’t selected for the school program. CW’s have lower wages until they finish their 8/9 year training program, where they then receive the same wage as all other electricians.

In my year and a half working in the trade I have yet to meet someone who made it through the entire CW training program, as they quit due to low wages/disrespect/unpaid night classes.