I Want to become an Electrician. Is it worth to wait to get into the Union?

I heard that in most non-union shops your not even really an apprentice as much as you are cheap labor and that apprentice's in the Union get way better training. Is it worth it to just wait until the apprenticeship council has an intake and then get into the union or should I just begin working Non-Union? I know the logical answer would be to start working non-union until I get in - but I just hear that it sucks so bad that there's no point unless I'm desperate.