The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA), and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) will join together this Sunday, July 10, to observe National Lineworker Appreciation Day.
Celebrated annually, National Lineworker Appreciation Day honors the life and work of Henry Miller, the first IBEW president, and the nation’s nearly 75,000 electrical lineworkers, who often work around the clock and in dangerous conditions following hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, winter storms, and other extreme weather events to ensure that the customers and the communities they serve have access to safe and reliable electricity. Lineworkers also maintain and enhance the energy grid and play a critical role in delivering America’s resilient clean energy future.
More than 135 members of Congress also are observing National Lineworker Appreciation Day by co-sponsoring a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to honor America’s lineworkers.
“We depend on lineworkers to power our homes, our schools, our hospitals, and our businesses,” said IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson. “It takes a highly trained and highly skilled professional to perform this type of work, often under difficult and dangerous conditions. Today is a reminder that lineworkers work every day to support our communities, and we are grateful for their hard work and sacrifices.”
“We recognize the many sacrifices that UWUA men and women lineworkers make to get the job done – whether it be time spent away from family, working overtime on a holiday, or venturing out to get the job done in severe weather,” said UWUA President James Slevin. “Today and every day, we are grateful for their efforts to minimize disruptions to our daily lives and keep the power on.”
“Lineworkers work every day under hazardous conditions to build and maintain the electrical infrastructure that is necessary to power our nation’s critical facilities and communities across America,” said NECA CEO David Long. “Today, and every day, we acknowledge and thank our lineworkers for their work and commitment to serving communities and customers near and far.”
“EEI and our member companies salute our industry’s lineworkers,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “No matter the obstacles, these brave men and women always rise to the challenge, and I commend their commitment to restore power safely and as quickly as possible for our customers and our communities. Our nation’s lineworkers are heroes, and we applaud them for their tremendous work.”
