Congress, trade groups mark Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day

A resolution introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives commemorated Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day on Tuesday, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) saluted the nation’s 75,000 lineworkers in observance.

U.S. Reps. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), David McKinley (R-WV), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) cosponsored the resolution with 25 members of Congress. Sánchez, the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a member of IBEW Local 441, said every town across the country benefits from the work of linemen.

“These brave workers put themselves in harm’s way to serve their communities and ensure that everyone has reliable access to electricity,” Sánchez said. “Risking perilous heights and energized electric lines, they represent a crucial and too often forgotten part of our nation’s infrastructure. This resolution honors their work and sacrifice in the development of our country. Every American should recognize the hard labor journeyman linemen do to power our homes, schools, businesses, and keep our economy running.”

July 10 was selected as Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day in observance of the anniversary of lineworker and union organizer Henry Miller’s death in 1891. Miller, who was killed fixing a power outage in Washington, D.C., was a founding member and the first elected president of IBEW.

“America’s linemen put themselves in danger every day to ensure that we have access to reliable electricity for our homes, hospitals, and businesses,” McKay said. “These are often the forgotten men and women who power one of our nation’s most critical infrastructure components.”

Norcross, an IBEW electrician and a member of the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee, said he knows the dangers of being a lineman first-hand after spending years working “on the tops of bridges and refineries.”

“These hard-working men and women keep our country running every day,” Norcross said. “Plus, they are quick to respond when called upon to get the power back on, which is essential after natural disasters, like recent Hurricanes Maria, Irma, Harvey and Sandy Journeyman linemen are the unsung heroes and I’m proud to support this effort in Congress to acknowledge their hard work.”

IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson said Journeyman Lineman Recognition Day serves as a reminder of sacrifices made by the nation’s electrical workers who perform a “difficult and dangerous job to light up this nation.”

“The Utility Workers Union of America is proud to join with Congress, and with all our Union Brothers and Sisters from across the labor movement, in saluting the hard work and dedication of journeymen lineworkers, first of the first responders who are always ready, and who work in conditions that are often dangerous and demanding,” UWUA President Mike Langford said. “Without their skill and determination in keeping the lights on and the power flowing, our country literally could not function. Today we say ‘thank you’ to all the line crews who give their all every day so that the rest of us can enjoy safe, healthy communities.”

EEI President Tom Kuhn acknowledged the role that electrical workers play in responding to storms and large-scale disasters, often performing dangerous work under challenging circumstances. More than 10,000 electrical workers from 21 states responded to help restore power in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and 3,000 electrical workers from 60 investor-owned electric companies responded to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

“Lineworkers are heroes and are among the first responders in the wake of storms and other disasters,” Kuhn said. “The 2017 hurricane season was a massive and unprecedented undertaking, and I am proud of our nation’s lineworkers who pulled together and answered the call for help in Texas, the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. We are grateful to these dedicated men and women, and they truly are deserving of this recognition and our appreciation.”