Francine might blow, but linemen keep the lights aglow!

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Hey there pole dancer, welcome to your 5 minute newsletter about cool shit happening “On the Line.” Made by your bucket buddy, Barnyard, a JL out of Detroit.

Whelp, turns out that a hurricane ended up forming. Flipside of it is that, despite being a Cat 2, only a few hundred thousand customers were out of power. The extra kick in the nuts? Very few union calls were put out.

Personally though, I’m okay with that, I wasn’t looking to tramp this week. They just put us back on 6-10’s to finish up a bunch of reconduct work, and man, I can not wait to get off of this section of Line. Anyway, enough of my bitching:

We’d love to hear how your week went—drop us a line and share your stories! But before we gear up for the weekend, let’s dive into what this issue has in store:

• 💰More work coming?

• 💡 Union Strong!

• 📷 Pic of the week

• ✈️ Storm Newb?

• 🧐 Where’s the work?

🌪️Storm Recap and Watch

Hurricane Francine recently made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm, causing widespread power outages across the state. The storm primarily impacted areas like Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, and St. Mary Parishes. At its peak, over 288,000 utility customers were without electricity.

As of the latest updates, about 81,000 customers remain without power, with some areas expected to be in the dark for up to a week due to the extent of the damage and accessibility issues.

Utility companies, including Entergy, have deployed thousands of workers to restore power, but the process is slowed by the severe flooding and debris. Restoration efforts are focused first on critical infrastructure such as hospitals and emergency services.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is shaping up to be very active, with NOAA predicting above-normal activity through November. The season, which has already seen several significant storms, is expected to continue producing a high number of tropical storms and hurricanes.

The latest forecast anticipates 17-24 named storms, of which 8-13 could become hurricanes, and 4-7 of these could be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).

💡Father’s of the Trade:

Henry Miller played a crucial role in shaping the lineman field through his leadership as the first president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Under his guidance, the IBEW worked to ensure safer working conditions and fair wages for linemen, who often faced dangerous situations on the job. Miller's efforts helped establish the importance of worker rights and safety standards in the electrical industry, creating a more secure and supportive environment for linemen.

Additionally, Miller's vision for the IBEW extended beyond just safety and wages. He aimed to create a strong sense of community and solidarity among electrical workers, which has endured for over a century. His legacy lives on in the continued advocacy and support that the IBEW provides to linemen and other electrical workers today.

Henry Miller's influence extended beyond the immediate improvements in working conditions for linemen. He recognized the importance of education and training for those in the electrical trade, advocating for programs that would ensure linemen were not only skilled but also knowledgeable about safety practices. This focus on education helped professionalize the trade, setting high standards for those entering the field.

Moreover, Miller's work with the IBEW fostered a sense of pride and unity among linemen and electrical workers. By organizing workers and giving them a collective voice, he helped them gain recognition and respect within the broader community. This unity has allowed linemen to continue advocating for their rights and improving their working conditions long after Miller's time, ensuring that his legacy endures in the strength and solidarity of the IBEW today.

JNCTN is a company specializing in digital identity and credential management. Their platform helps organizations transition from paper-based verification processes to a digital system, allowing for secure and efficient management of employee credentials.

JNCTN's solutions are used across various industries to ensure that the right people with the right qualifications are in the right locations, streamlining compliance, onboarding, and credential verification. The platform also offers features like automated notifications, real-time monitoring, and easy integration with existing systems.

The plan is for them to be a partnership with the man power. There’s an app in development, being built with the Lineman in mind. The IBEW isn’t partnered up yet, but hopefully soon.

What’s a Load Chart?

🧳First Time Strom Call? 🧳

• Make sure you have your tools: This may sound dumb, but bring all of your tools. There’s nothing more embarrassing than getting assigned some easement work, and your sorry ass left his belt and hooks at home: Don’t be “That Guy”

• Don’t forget your clothes: I always try to bring a weeks worth of FR, 10 pair underwear, and 10 pair of socks. You never know what the laundry situation is going to be.

• Leave your shitty attitude at home: Yeah, the money is great, but we go to these storms to restore the power; that’s what we’re trained too do. Yes, they can be a lot of fun, yes they can be stressful, and yes, you’ll be tired and irritable, but there isn’t much worse than having an ornery dick head on your crew, bringing down the vibes. I know the situation might suck, but you’ll be making good money, and you’ll be heading back home soon.

• Be prepared for the worst: You’re probably heading to an area that just got decimated by winds/rain/ice…. shit is going to be MESSED UP. There’s a good chance you’ll be in man camps, or be in a hotel without power. I always recommend bringing a hammock, a portable fan, and lots of snacks.

• Things you might not think about: We have become so dependent on electricity. It’s always a good idea to bring stuff down with you, instead of trying to find a way to load up at the disaster area. That means, bring your clothes, a pillow, soap, cash (ATM’s/Credit processor’s will be down). One las thing to be prepared for is a lack of cell service; there’s a good chance the towers will be down.

🎒Looking For Work?🎒

The following Locals are reporting open JL calls. To be eligible to take a call you must be registered on the Books of the appropriate Hall. Make sure to familiarize yourself with their specific procedures for Book signing, re-signing, and obtaining referrals.

Locals: 44, 66, 70, 71, 104, 111, 125, 291, 317, 369, 429, 532, 602, 659, 769, 1245, 1393 and 1547

🫡 Time for “The Business”

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See ya next week,