WHEREAS, Those who serve power lines throughout the City of Philadelphia are highly skilled and trained lineworkers who install, repair, and maintain electrical power lines and related infrastructure. Their tireless work ensures that homes and businesses throughout the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding region have consistent access to power; and
WHEREAS, Lineworkers often act as first responders during storms, heatwaves, and other natural disasters, servicing power lines and the electricity grid amid unsafe conditions; and
WHEREAS, Given the importance of electricity to all our lives, these lineworkers are nothing less than essential workers, handling thousands of volts of electricity high atop powerlines, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; and
WHEREAS, The work of lineworkers is extremely dangerous, as they often must be lifted high into the air in bucket trucks or on utility poles and must descend deep into underground manholes and confined spaces, exposing them to significant hazards including the risk of falls and electrocution. Linework is consistently ranked among the most dangerous jobs in America, as the fatality rate for lineworkers is nearly 400 percent higher than the national average; and
WHEREAS, Without the sacrifices that these lineworkers make day in and day out, electricity would simply not flow in the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, PECO’s lineworkers, who are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 614, showcase an extraordinary commitment to upkeeping the City of Philadelphia’s electrical infrastructure. As these approximately 500 lineworkers and over 1,000 other PECO employees are currently working without a contract, they deserve a fair and equitable deal that guarantees them wages and benefits that reflect their contributions to ensuring that all Philadelphia residents have consistent access to life-sustaining electricity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby designates April 18, 2026 as Lineworker Appreciation Day in the City of Philadelphia, and recognizes and honors the dedication and resilient of lineworkers who build, maintain, and repair the infrastructure that powers our City.
FUTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to IBEW Local 614 in sincere appreciation of their member’s dedication to powering the City of Philadelphia.
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