When the Call Comes: How the National Sisterhood Supports Injured & Fallen Linemen
What happens when a lineworker is seriously injured or doesn't make it home? In this powerful episode of PowerGridTalks, host Thomas Williamson sits down with Tammy Duncan of the National Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen (NSUJL) to discuss the organization that stands beside lineworkers and their families during the most difficult moments of their lives.
Tammy shares the mission behind the National Sisterhood, how the organization supports injured linemen, families of fallen lineworkers, and communities affected by tragedy, and why building a stronger culture of safety and brotherhood is essential for the future of the electric utility industry. The conversation explores the emotional realities behind storm restoration, linework, and the sacrifices made by the men and women who keep America's power grid operating.
Whether you're a journeyman lineman, apprentice lineman, groundman, utility employee, contractor, utility executive, or someone with family in the electrical line trade, this episode offers an important perspective on leadership, service, safety, and the people who support the industry when it matters most.
In this episode:-
The mission of the National Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen
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Supporting injured and fallen linemen's families
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Building a stronger culture of safety in the utility industry
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The importance of brotherhood and community in linework
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Mental resilience and life after tragedy
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Why every utility professional should know about NSUJL
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Lessons for apprentices, journeymen, and utility leaders
(1:25) - Sisterhood Origins (8:24) - Brotherhood in Action (11:13) - Fundraising and Rodeo (13:18) - Lineman Plate Program (16:28) - Tammy's Lineman Story (19:50) - Realities of the Trade (21:37) - Home Front Priorities (23:14) - NSUJL Family Impact Story (25:31) - Behind the Scenes Support (29:34) - Scholarships and Success Stories (31:33) - Christmas Giving Tree (34:18) - Safety and Community Awareness (37:07) - How to Get Involved (40:52) - Episode Wrap Up
If you're passionate about electric utilities, power restoration, transmission, distribution, storm response, linework, utility leadership, electrical safety, or the future of the power grid, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
👍 Subscribe to PowerGridTalks for more conversations with the people building, maintaining, and protecting the electric grid.
🌐 Learn more and listen to every episode at https://powergridtalks.com
#PowerGridTalks #Lineman #Linework #ElectricUtility #PowerGrid #UtilityLife #JourneymanLineman #ApprenticeLineman #StormRestoration #ElectricalSafety #Transmission #Distribution #PowerOutage #UtilityLeadership #Brotherhood
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On this episode of PowerGridTalks, I sit down with Tammy Duncan of the National
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Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen.
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We talk about the Climbing for Lost Lineman event they host, which
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is an event that honors the lives of linemen lost in the past year.
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One by one, a lantern is placed for each name, serving as a powerful
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reminder of the people lost but never forgotten in this trade.
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It's a moment that's hard to put into words.
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This isn't just about remembering those we've lost.
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It's about why safety matters, why we look out for each other,
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and why getting home matters.
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We also go into all the things Tammy does behind the scenes to
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make it possible to help these families when they need it the most.
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Take a few minutes to watch, remember, and never forget the
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names behind these lanterns.
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Let's talk about it.
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You're listening to Power Grid Talks: From the Bucket Trucks to the Boardrooms.
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I'm your host, Tom Williamson, a journeyman lineman with
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over 15 years in the trade.
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Here we bring you real stories and real conversations from the
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field to the executive suites of the electric utility world.
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It's about the people who keep the power flowing and the grid strong.
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Let's get to work Okay, so for today on PowerGridTalks, we're
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sitting here with Tammy Duncan.
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How we doing today, Tammy?
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Doing good.
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How are you?
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I'm doing great.
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I appreciate you making time for us.
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Hey, thanks for taking the drive.
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I can only imagine how busy your schedule is.
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It's pretty busy.
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It's pretty busy.
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So, so let's tell people what we're here for, right?
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So you're involved with the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen.
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Yeah.
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And let's talk about kind of how that, how that got started and your role there.
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So the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen is a nonprofit,
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been around 14 years this year.
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There was a journeyman lineman named John Plant that lost his life 14 years
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ago, and a bunch of the wives and we call them sisters, a sisterhood, all banded
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together, collected some things for the family, some money, gift baskets, and then
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they were trying to find a way to be able to pass that on to the family, and they
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realized that there was no organization out there that had been put together yet
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that was a nonprofit to be able to help families in the particular classification
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when there was accidents or fatalities.
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So- Okay … that's how she was born.
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Nice.
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Nice.
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So then, then it was a matter of, "Oh my gosh, nobody's helping here. Somebody
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needs to help." Yeah, so, um, there was, uh, a board of women put together.
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Okay.
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Um, and ironically, the founding board members are not all on the board at
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this time, but you're gonna find us.
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We're all spread out, still inside of the industry, doing things in one way
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or another, through either running companies, um, you know, putting out
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the word of not one more- Yep … or and running the other organizations, so.
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It, it is wild.
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A lot of people don't realize.
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They, they hear about the line work in the industry, and they
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think it's this big huge thing.
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And don't get me wrong, it is big, but the network behind it is a very small network,
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and a lot of people are intermingled and intertwined in some of that, aren't they?
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Oh, it is.
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Yeah.
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It is.
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It's pretty wild.
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Take, it takes a village.
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When something like this happens, it really takes a village, and, you
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know, everybody banding together can get stuff done quicker, faster, more
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efficient, let the family be supported, feel the love, feel the brotherhood.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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So talk about your role involved in that today.
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Um, so I'm currently the president.
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Okay.
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Um, so I travel, work on fundraising.
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I take in all of the accident calls, process those, try to make sure we
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stay in touch with families, just keep the ball rolling in a circle.
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And unfortunately, the trend that we're seeing in the industry, that circle keeps
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going faster and faster for you, right?
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Yeah.
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It, yeah.
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I mean, last year was bad.
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Yeah, yeah.
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We, we took a hit last year.
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The industry overall took a really bad hit last year.
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Um, we took in 50 reports, and those are only the union side.
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Yep.
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Okay?
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Um, anybody who has dealt with us knows that, um- Right now we're the only
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union affiliated, so- Yep … those are the families that we help.
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We took in 50 reports last year, sent out just over $144
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in support to those families.
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Now, if you take into account the non-union And, and the numbers that
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they've brought in, and then the numbers that neither side even heard about, that's
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under the corner of the rug somewhere- Mm-hmm … i- it's been multiplying.
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I mean, it- for us alone, that was twice as many as the year before.
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Yeah.
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And then this year is already starting off just as bad.
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Yeah.
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So there's a lot that needs to happen, I think, in the industry
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to- Yeah … slow it down a bit.
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Yeah, yeah.
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We're, we're hopefully gonna see some changes, and hopefully the numbers
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don't keep climbing like they have been, um, 'cause nobody wants to see that.
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And you get a first-hand experience of that as much as anybody.
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So- Yeah … um, my hat goes off to you for, for stepping up and finding that role
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'cause it's a lot of hard conversations.
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It's hard conversations, it's emotion.
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Yeah.
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Um, you know, if, if you're traveling and you're meeting people, and you're
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meeting families, and you're talking, I mean, there's a few of us that go out and
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talk, like Kevin and whatnot, and then you hold your fundraisers and your benefits.
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You meet the people, and it's just not, "Hey, how you doing?"
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It's, "Hey, how are you doing?
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How are the kids doing?
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You know, you still got the dog you've had for 10 years.
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How, how's life treating you?" So when something happens in those
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families, it's, it's like family.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And, and that's kind of the, the difference.
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For sure.
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Yeah.
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And for, for the mainstream part of that, everyone hears about an accident,
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and you talk about it for a little bit.
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But by the time that that person's out of the hospital, everybody's
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done talking about it, it seems like.
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But you guys are still right there involved.
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Like you said, you know the families, you know what age the kids are,
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you know how busy everybody is, and you're, you're kind of that, that
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shoulder to lean on for a lot of them.
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It, it is.
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It is.
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So I do have… So I have some widows that have been gracious enough to step up, and,
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you know, I can give out their number.
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They're there 24/7.
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Um, anybody who calls me, I mean, you now have the 907 number,
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that's my, that's my cell number.
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So that gets me 24 hours a day.
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So when we hear about an accident or an injury, um, and anybody can report
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that, just so that everybody knows.
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Anybody can make a report.
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I don't care where it comes from.
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The sooner we get it, the faster we can help and the more efficient we can be,
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and we strive at doing it respectfully.
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Yep.
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Okay?
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So, um, they can go online, and they can fill out our accident report.
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Union halls will call us, companies will call.
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We'll send out a text message that says, "Hey, you know, this is who we
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are. We heard about what's happening. We want to send you emergency funds."
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That's $1 right out of the chute.
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"I just need to know how to get it to you." I send that text message,
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and then we leave them alone.
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Um, you know, there was a day and a time when people, you
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know, showed up at the hospitals.
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We did things like that.
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But at the end of the day, when you think about how you would want to be treated,
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you have to have that safe space, too.
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Yeah.
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And that's the best way to build a relationship.
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Yeah.
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So, so we'll send that out and we'll wait, and then within a couple
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days, you know, we hear about it.
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So then we can send them that money, get it there as quickly
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as possible, um, and start that relationship for what's gonna happen.
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Yeah.
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'Cause, you know, like you said The ink dries.
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It's, it's becomes old news.
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Yeah.
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Okay?
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Not a lot of people can stick around.
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People that do what we do and in the other organizations, we make friends that way.
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I made a little brother that way.
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I have somebody I helped who, he's now, he's my little brother.
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Um, and then we can be there through the long haul.
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Yeah.
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You know?
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I- For us, it's up to 12 months.
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We can hang out, and then we'll be there after that- Yeah … if we need to.
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Yeah.
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So.
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Mmm.
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The, the human compassion that goes in behind these injuries and these
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fatalities is what a lot of people miss.
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It's, it's not just a check you're handing them.
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It's that human compassion.
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It's a, a lineman gets hurt in January or, or gets killed fatally in
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January and in June that, that widow is figuring out how to mow the grass
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and change the light bulbs and all that stuff without their husband now.
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Mm-hmm.
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And it's just a s- a cycle that isn't easy to deal with, and being
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able to talk to people who have been through it helps a lot, too.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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That's a pretty- Yeah … pretty awesome thing.
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It's a heartbreaking cycle to watch.
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It, it is.
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You know?
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And companies handle it different.
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Um, crews handle it different.
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This last year we had, uh, an accident happen in the fall, and
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I've never seen, I've never seen the rally happen so good in so long.
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I, I mean there's not a better way to put it.
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Yeah.
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Um, shortly after the accident happened, I mean, the crew had taken
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up like $25 in a couple of weeks themselves, and, and that helps us.
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That's amazing.
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Yeah.
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You know?
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'Cause then that's money going to the families to help.
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Um, our Help a Hero, you know, brought in another five digits for her.
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The company itself stepped up.
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They, they sent a check to help, and then here we are five, six months later
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and she still has that family there.
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They're still there.
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They're still checking on her.
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They're still making sure her holidays are filled.
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You know, we, we didn't have to do Christmas.
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They called us and they, all the ladies wanted to do Christmas.
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Awesome.
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You know?
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Yeah.
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So to, to have that, and it's important that the industry knows that.
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Yeah.
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It's important that the crews know that they're still gonna need you.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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And it's reassuring to see that when something does happen, there
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are still people that will rally together, 'cause that's what the
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brotherhood's supposed to be.
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Right?
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We're supposed to be supporting each other, good times, hard
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times, all of that stuff, and be there to help whoever it needs to.
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I would like to think that people would help my wife if something happened to me.
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Absolutely.
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Right?
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Yeah.
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So it's good to know that there are still people out there that do that and
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think that way and do come together in these times of need because, I mean,
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we never wanna see this stuff happen, but when it does, it takes a ton of
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bandwidth to help with this stuff.
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It does.
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It takes a village.
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Yeah.
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It takes a village, and the organizations are good at working together.
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We give y- out each other's names.
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You know- Um, we get reports that come in that are non-union.
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We send them to the other three organizations.
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Yep.
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Um, there's another organization that I'll share with you later, too.
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Okay.
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Um, would be really good to help get out there.
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It's, it's one that helps any construction- Yep … fatality.
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Like, any across the board.
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There you go.
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So that encompasses- Yeah … you know, not only the line workers, but everybody
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else, and that's, that's another one that we share now- Yeah … because they help.
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So everybody banding together, whether it's union or non-union, and then the
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crews and the families just being there, it makes a huge, huge difference, and
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I don't think people realize that.
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If there's a Help a Hero, and if you give five bucks, right, somebody else
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gives five bucks, that's still 10 bucks.
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Yep, yep.
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Give… I- if that's all you've got to give, give, give five bucks.
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Exactly.
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If you can't do that, pray, because there, there's power in prayer
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and care where people think.
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Things happen, and it, it just helps bring all the people together.
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Yep, 100%.
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So, so you talk about all the, all the giving you guys
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do and, and all that stuff.
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How, how do you get the funds?
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What do you do to raise funds?
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What's some events you have?
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So, um, I travel all year.
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I go to all of the IBEW progress meetings that we're invited to go to.
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Um, I speak.
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That helps us reach all of the different union halls.
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Um, we bring in funds from signatory contractors, you know, whether it's
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word of mouth, other people talking about us, us sending out goodie packs.
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If any contractor, you know, says, "Hey, send me some stuff," when they
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have safety meetings, we'll send them stickers and flyers and stuff
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to throw out there for their people.
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Um- donations that come in in memory of Okay Um, we do once a year our biggest
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fundraiser, which is coming up, um, June 26th, 27th, in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
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It's the Climbing for Lost Limen ceremony on Friday night, where we will
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hang lanterns for all of the brothers that we lost this last calendar year.
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Oh, wow.
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And then, and their widows come into town.
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Oh, man.
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Um, so we get to, you know, be there for them, strengthen some
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relationships, help them make new relationships with, with other, other
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people- Yeah … that are there.
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And then the next day we roll that into a bunch of fun.
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Wow.
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And it's another good old-fashioned Limen rodeo.
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Yeah.
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Um, little bit more laid back than what everybody is used to.
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There's barbecue grills going on.
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Jambalaya is gonna be cooked- Yeah … this year.
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Um, and the guys just come in and compete and go home- Yeah … happy and- So it's
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having fun, but it's also helping- Yeah … more than most people can ever realize.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And this year we've doubled our sponsorships coming in- Great … from
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last year, which is really good- Yeah … because we're almost… My
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goal for rodeo was to try to bring in enough sponsorships to fill that money
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that we- Yeah … sent out last year.
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Yep.
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And then bring in, you know, a little bit more if we can.
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If not, I am so happy to just fill that spot.
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Yeah.
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And we're within 20- That's awesome … of recouping that, which is great.
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So close.
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Yeah.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I'll, I'll tell you the one that caught my attention, and that's actually,
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um, what drove me to start this conversation, is I, I live in Indiana.
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Yeah.
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So I have the option on my license plate- To get- Everything
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the specialized plate, right?
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Yes, yes.
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So touch on that.
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So, um, IBW 1393 has what is called the lineman specialty plate.
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Um, anybody in the state could actually get it.
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So anybody can go in and get- do the registration on their vehicle,
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ask for the lineman plate, and that gets us a certain amount of money.
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So last year, um, and when…
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And I always thank all of the members from 1393 because they were behind this
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baby and- Mm-hmm … they got it going and they nurture it for us really well.
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Last year, we brought in $18, and that is just doing something
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that you have to do every day.
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Yeah.
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I mean, you know- That's the- Every year.
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That's the awesome part
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you can register your license plate.
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You're doing it anyhow.
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Help us.
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Right?
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Right.
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Um- Yeah … and that's one that I thought was a really cool- Yeah … really cool
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aspect is you're, you're doing it anyhow.
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Now you get to actually help while you're doing it.
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Yeah.
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And it… You also get a, a cool license plate that, that has a
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lineman climbing on it- Right
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and stuff, and people like it, right?
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So it's kinda- it kinda does multiple things at the same time.
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Um, are there any other places that, that do that same setup?
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Um- Is that the only one?
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That is the only state- Okay … who is 100% set up for ASU down.
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Okay.
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That's cool.
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I am working on Pennsylvania, um, because that's another state where ha- we have,
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you know, a l- a lot, a lot of support and a lot of people that we know right out
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the chute would help us get the petition.
00:14:50
Yep.
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Um, some states require you to have so many signatures to
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get that specialty plate in.
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Um, I am going to try to get it set up for every state that we are a
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nonprofit in right now- Okay … which is probably six other states.
00:15:03
Okay.
00:15:04
Um, and then another big thing that helps bring in funds for
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us is, you know, union halls do events, companies do events, right?
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Um- 1393 also does a, a hooligan golf outing that- That's awesome … is
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gonna happen here in July.
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876, um, up there in Michigan, Sam.
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Mm-hmm.
00:15:24
He's wonderful.
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He's some new blood.
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I love it.
00:15:26
He's shaking it up, bringing in great things for that union hall.
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He's actually doing, um, a golf tournament this year too.
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Awesome.
00:15:32
In July.
00:15:33
Yeah.
00:15:33
Um, and so I'll, I'll be going up to both of those- Okay … and running around.
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I don't play golf.
00:15:39
But if there's marshmallows on the field, that might be me.
00:15:42
There you go.
00:15:43
Um, if anybody goes to those and you take off your cap for your club and you come
00:15:48
back and, you know, your eagle head or your beaver head or whatever's gone- Yep
00:15:52
that'll be us.
00:15:53
Okay.
00:15:53
'Cause we just ride around in the golf cart- Having fun … we steal it.
00:15:56
Yep.
00:15:57
Hold it ransom.
00:15:58
There you go.
00:15:58
Get it after.
00:16:00
Uh, s- but then- Okay … you know, when they do those, people buy
00:16:02
in and, or they donate to sponsor those, and then that gives them a
00:16:05
chance to be able to donate money.
00:16:07
That's great.
00:16:07
So, um, 876 i- told us that they're giving us all their kitty this year.
00:16:11
That's cool.
00:16:11
And I think they're doing a ri- uh, a rifle or- That's awesome … an
00:16:15
auction the same time too.
00:16:15
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:15
Yeah.
00:16:16
I love to see people get behind and, and drive, drives things that are
00:16:20
fun, that people are having fun doing and enjoying it, but also bringing a
00:16:23
light to what you do at the same time.
00:16:24
Oh, yeah.
00:16:25
So we can't get enough of that kind of stuff.
00:16:26
Well- Especially the rate we're going- Yeah, that's good … in the industry.
00:16:28
So, um, now I know that you're very passionate about the industry,
00:16:33
not only from the injury, from the injury side point and all of that,
00:16:36
but your husband's a lineman, right?
00:16:39
He is.
00:16:39
Okay.
00:16:40
Yeah.
00:16:40
So, um, kind of talk about that.
00:16:42
How, how long have you been married?
00:16:44
How long has he been in the trade?
00:16:45
That kind of stuff, because I think that helps shape a little bit of how
00:16:48
passionate you are about this thing.
00:16:50
Um, it, it definitely does.
00:16:52
Um, so I come from, um, a 911 background.
00:16:56
Okay.
00:16:56
And being a 911 operator, so that's me.
00:16:58
I, I think I'm service driven anyway.
00:17:00
I like to help people when, you know, they're in that state.
00:17:03
Um, I had moved to Alaska.
00:17:06
I always wanted to live there, I- Yeah … I'm from Maine, like
00:17:08
spit Canada, Northern Maine.
00:17:10
So I moved to Alaska.
00:17:11
Um, I met my husband up there about 20 years ago.
00:17:15
So, so you say that like it's just something people do all the time, right?
00:17:18
Moved to Alaska.
00:17:18
Yeah.
00:17:18
Was that like a childhood dream for you or?
00:17:21
It was my dad's.
00:17:22
Okay.
00:17:22
But, um- Okay … he loved snow I love to fish Yeah Um, I love to hunt.
00:17:28
I love to shoot.
00:17:29
Uh, great fundraising ideas there.
00:17:32
That's- Fishing That's awesome.
00:17:33
Yeah … hunting team, he'll be there.
00:17:35
I go to the golf outings too, okay?
00:17:36
I do.
00:17:37
But, um, yeah, fishing, hunting, I'm, I'm in.
00:17:39
Okay.
00:17:40
Um, and then I, I met him.
00:17:43
We were kinda set up.
00:17:44
We were single.
00:17:46
Some friends sat us beside each other at a Christmas bazaar.
00:17:49
Um, he's 30 years IBEW.
00:17:52
Okay.
00:17:52
He just reached his 30-year mark- That's awesome … in October.
00:17:55
Um, as an apprentice, he r- rode the pole to the ground, busted up his
00:18:00
ankle really bad, busted up his knee, spent some time in a wheelchair.
00:18:04
Um- Yeah, lived some of it firsthand … h- yeah.
00:18:07
Yeah.
00:18:07
Yeah.
00:18:07
He's like every other dreamin' lineman out there, almost, 80%, divorced.
00:18:13
Um, so, you know, we, uh… I watched his kids for him in the beginning, and
00:18:18
then moved in so he could go to the village, and, oh, wow, we never left.
00:18:22
So- Okay … here we are 20 years later.
00:18:24
That's awesome.
00:18:25
Mm-hmm.
00:18:25
That's awesome.
00:18:26
Yeah.
00:18:27
A- and to be a lineman for 30 years, there's something to be
00:18:30
said it, by itself for that, right?
00:18:33
Because you don't do that if you're not doing things the right way.
00:18:36
Right.
00:18:37
You gotta be safe.
00:18:38
You gotta pay attention.
00:18:38
You gotta watch your crew.
00:18:39
You gotta do all that stuff to make it 30 years.
00:18:41
Oh, yeah.
00:18:42
Yeah.
00:18:42
Yeah.
00:18:43
Yeah.
00:18:43
Yeah.
00:18:43
You can't be, I don't know.
00:18:45
You know, they call 'em those old D cards, and they, you know, they say some of 'em
00:18:50
are kinda- Rough around the edges Rough around the edges Yeah, yeah I was trying
00:18:53
to find another word I bet you were.
00:18:55
Yeah.
00:18:56
And, and that's true.
00:18:57
I mean, there's something to be said, I think, in, um, the people
00:19:03
that were joining the industry then.
00:19:05
Yep.
00:19:05
Um, you know, they wanted adventure.
00:19:08
They wanted challenge.
00:19:10
Y- you know, the money was good.
00:19:12
Retirement was a big thing.
00:19:14
That's it.
00:19:15
Um, now there's so many other reasons people are coming in.
00:19:19
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:19
You know, one of the biggest advertising now is you're gonna make great money.
00:19:24
Yeah.
00:19:24
It's good money.
00:19:25
You can travel.
00:19:26
Mm-hmm.
00:19:26
You can get a retirement.
00:19:27
And, you know, that attracts a little bit of a different- Yep … mindset sometime.
00:19:32
Um, but it's definitely changed a lot.
00:19:36
Yeah.
00:19:36
I mean, I see it from the sidelines.
00:19:38
I hear it firsthand.
00:19:40
Yep.
00:19:41
There's a lot, a lot of change that's coming.
00:19:44
I think it's… but it's good and bad.
00:19:47
Yeah, yeah.
00:19:48
Just like any change, right?
00:19:49
You kind of pick it all.
00:19:49
Yeah.
00:19:50
Yeah.
00:19:50
And I have a lot of people reach out to me, "Oh, I think I want to be a lineman.
00:19:53
Oh, you know, what's, what's it really like?" And I'll have the hard conversation
00:19:57
with them because it's, it's not the big jacked-up trucks and the huge paychecks.
00:20:01
No.
00:20:01
It is holidays away from your family.
00:20:04
It's getting called in in the middle of the night.
00:20:05
It's working in all kinds of weather conditions.
00:20:08
It might be going on storm for two weeks straight or having to work out
00:20:11
of town for a year straight because there's not work close to your house.
00:20:15
Mm-hmm.
00:20:15
All that kind of stuff is part of the industry.
00:20:17
Mm-hmm.
00:20:17
And if you're not ready for that, you don't even need to start.
00:20:20
Yeah, yeah.
00:20:21
As a, you know, male or female, anybody going into it, if you don't like
00:20:25
to work outside- Yeah … if you're afraid of some rain- Yeah … if
00:20:28
you don't like to be cold, and if you can't get up in the morning.
00:20:33
Yep.
00:20:33
I'm a night owl.
00:20:35
I sleep really good between 4:00 and 10:00.
00:20:37
Anybody who knows me knows that.
00:20:39
Um, I think my husband's been getting up at 4:00 AM his whole life.
00:20:42
He still does it on Saturday and Sunday.
00:20:44
We kind of joked about this before.
00:20:46
Yep.
00:20:46
Um, there's that mindset, right?
00:20:50
If they can't do that, then they should just find something that fits.
00:20:54
That's it.
00:20:55
On the flip side of that, they also have to be very careful about
00:21:00
the partner that they choose.
00:21:01
Yep.
00:21:02
Independence is great.
00:21:05
Codependency is not.
00:21:06
Mm-hmm.
00:21:10
I, I don't care what people say, you gotta kinda take it back a little bit.
00:21:13
Our grandmas did a really good job raising up big families
00:21:17
with lots of kids back then.
00:21:19
I have my role.
00:21:20
You have your role.
00:21:22
You know, it's okay if we don't mow the lawn when you're gone.
00:21:25
You're not gonna really care, 'cause you probably wanna come
00:21:27
back and mow it yourself anyway.
00:21:28
Yeah.
00:21:28
You know my husband, he, he wro- he does this, like, diagram thing.
00:21:31
Oh, yeah.
00:21:31
Don't mess it up.
00:21:32
I think he's out there trying to make little diamonds or something.
00:21:34
Wasting time.
00:21:35
He's obsessed with his golf butts.
00:21:37
Um, you know, if the dishwasher breaks, just suck it up as the
00:21:42
woman at home for a little bit.
00:21:44
Yep.
00:21:44
And let them, let them focus.
00:21:46
If they're on storm, let them focus on storm.
00:21:48
Yep.
00:21:49
Okay?
00:21:49
100%. Because you can call somebody to come fix it, you
00:21:52
can YouTube it these days.
00:21:54
Yeah.
00:21:54
There's just so much that, uh, as a woman, we've got to pick our time.
00:22:00
Yeah.
00:22:00
Yeah.
00:22:01
You know?
00:22:01
And there's enough driving factors- Yeah
00:22:03
behind these industries and fatalities.
00:22:05
There's enough going on pushing those already.
00:22:07
You don't need that mental focus from all the phone calls every five
00:22:10
minutes and all that other stuff- Yeah … to be another factor that's,
00:22:13
that's affecting you, you know?
00:22:14
Mm-hmm.
00:22:15
Yeah.
00:22:15
No.
00:22:15
Yeah.
00:22:15
Absolutely.
00:22:16
Absolutely.
00:22:17
I know that when my husband goes to work, when he gets out of that truck to climb
00:22:21
that pole, his phone is in his lunchbox.
00:22:23
Yep.
00:22:24
Yep.
00:22:24
You know?
00:22:25
If, if there's an emergency, I don't know when anybody would call.
00:22:32
Well, I got hit head-on one time and somebody called him, right?
00:22:36
I probably would've just waited until the end of whatever.
00:22:38
'Cause he's not gonna do anything.
00:22:39
He's, he can't go to the hospital and fix anything.
00:22:41
Um, but I wait until after work if, if he's gone- Yeah
00:22:45
for any of that, and then I pick and choose it, because really, I
00:22:48
just wanna know, how are you doing?
00:22:50
How was your day?
00:22:51
Is all the equipment running okay?
00:22:53
Everybody getting along?
00:22:55
'Cause you guys, you guys are like kindergarten kids.
00:22:56
Yep.
00:22:57
Like, you get along really good for a week, and then somebody
00:22:59
doesn't like Johnny 'cause he bit his sandwich or something stupid.
00:23:03
You know?
00:23:03
Yep.
00:23:04
And then, you know, just kind of pick and choose it, like- Yeah … there's
00:23:08
a lot of stuff that can just wait.
00:23:09
Yeah.
00:23:10
Time and a place.
00:23:10
Yeah.
00:23:11
There's a lot to be learned for time and a place, that's for sure.
00:23:12
Wait.
00:23:13
Yep.
00:23:14
So do you have any stories that stick out in mind that, that
00:23:18
really, the, the impact of the, of the NSUJL really had for a family?
00:23:22
Is there, is there any… I know there's a ton of them, and you
00:23:24
probably could s- stand here for three weeks talking straight about it,
00:23:27
but is there any that's kinda like, "Hey, I'll never forget this one"?
00:23:30
Um, we did.
00:23:32
We had, um, last year we had a lineman that an incident happened while he was
00:23:37
on storm that left him in a wheelchair.
00:23:39
Mm. And, um, sadly, he's gonna be in that wheelchair for the rest of his life.
00:23:45
So that was a huge, huge change.
00:23:49
You know, middle-aged family, you know.
00:23:51
Yep.
00:23:52
Um, kinda when you're in your empty nest and you've got the grandkids,
00:23:55
or at the beginning of that.
00:23:57
But- You know, she's stay-at-home 'cause, I mean, we're lucky.
00:24:03
When w- you've, if you've got the right thing happening and your good teammates,
00:24:08
you got a really good life that way.
00:24:09
You can be at home just holding down the front.
00:24:12
Um, so that was their situation.
00:24:13
So they had to go from running storms and having regular work to now we
00:24:20
gotta figure out what we're gonna do.
00:24:21
Workers' comp, working on long-term disability 'cause now,
00:24:26
you know- Yeah … wheelchair.
00:24:27
And, um, sometimes when you have accidents, things happen, and y- you
00:24:31
may not be 100% mentally there like you were before, and that, you know,
00:24:36
that's part of one of the cases.
00:24:38
So we were able to stay with that family, um, and help them out.
00:24:42
It was 12 months.
00:24:43
Oh my.
00:24:44
So w- we helped supplement their income for 12 months while, um, her and I
00:24:47
worked together and, you know, kinda trying to guide them in the right place.
00:24:52
Yeah.
00:24:52
Sometimes it's time to get rid of, you know, maybe the extra vehicle that
00:24:56
you really don't need, or you got… If you're not tramping and you're
00:24:59
not gonna be traveling now, might be time to sell the, the fifth wheel.
00:25:03
Yep.
00:25:04
And just kind of find your new normal.
00:25:07
I hate the term, but, but that's what it really becomes- Yeah … when
00:25:11
it… And it's not your choice.
00:25:12
No.
00:25:12
So you just have to find it and, and figure it out.
00:25:15
Yeah.
00:25:15
And so we're able to help with that.
00:25:17
And, and that- Yeah, that's awesome … does that makes you feel
00:25:18
good to be able to help with that.
00:25:19
Yeah.
00:25:19
It's such a, it's such a crappy reason that you have to.
00:25:23
Yeah.
00:25:23
And I really wish it wasn't the case, but to be able to Let them be
00:25:28
able to stay in their house, right?
00:25:30
Yeah.
00:25:31
Um, we worked with the local union hall back in North Carolina.
00:25:35
Got a wheelchair ramp with some volunteers, uh, built
00:25:38
onto the front of their house.
00:25:40
That's awesome.
00:25:40
You know, did their Trex decking in, in case they end up, you know,
00:25:43
downsizing- Yeah … or whatever, they can resell their house.
00:25:46
But it makes a huge difference, and people don't see it.
00:25:48
People don't know it.
00:25:50
Um, we're pretty careful about sharing anything- Yeah … that
00:25:56
has to do with a family.
00:25:57
Mm-hmm.
00:25:58
Um, so y- you know, you don't see those things.
00:26:00
We don't- Yeah, behind the scenes stuff.
00:26:02
Yeah.
00:26:03
Yeah.
00:26:03
Yeah, the, it's there.
00:26:04
We, you know, even with the union halls.
00:26:06
Mm-hmm.
00:26:06
Yep.
00:26:06
You know, I, pride, uh, proud people.
00:26:09
Yeah.
00:26:09
Linemen are proud people.
00:26:10
Yeah.
00:26:11
And, and there are some linemen that have taken help, but if their union hall knew
00:26:15
about it, there's no way they would do it.
00:26:16
You know what I mean?
00:26:16
Yeah, yep.
00:26:17
If all their brothers knew it, they, they wouldn't do it.
00:26:19
That's it.
00:26:19
But- Yep … when it happens, just take it.
00:26:24
Yeah.
00:26:24
We're not gonna tell anybody.
00:26:26
You know- Yeah … we're gonna say, "We took in 50 reports last year, and
00:26:30
then, and we sent out this much money." It- And, and that's as far as it goes.
00:26:33
It's- And, and it is hard.
00:26:35
It is hard for these families, and these guys especially that have always
00:26:39
been that big, burly, tough guy full of pride, "I'll take care of it, I'll
00:26:43
fix it, I'll do whatever." Oh, yeah.
00:26:45
And now their life gets flipped upside down, and they're feeling helpless
00:26:48
for the first time in their life.
00:26:49
Their family's frustrated because- Mm-hmm … like you said, it's a new normal.
00:26:53
You've gotta figure out how to go about all these things completely
00:26:56
different, and it's, there's a lot going on there behind the scenes.
00:27:00
Yeah.
00:27:00
Mentally.
00:27:01
Yeah.
00:27:01
Physically.
00:27:02
Um, you know, physically we can help with some things.
00:27:06
Yeah.
00:27:06
If, if they're in the hospital, she needs a babysitter, we'll do the
00:27:09
best we can do to find somebody.
00:27:11
If, um, you need, you know, the house cleaner, we can get Merry Maids over
00:27:15
there and help get stuff squared away before he comes home from the hospital.
00:27:18
We can get the union hall to go get somebody to mow the lawn.
00:27:21
There's plenty of apprentices- Yeah … that need something to do.
00:27:24
Um- brothers are, are, are, they're always willing to get out there and help Yeah.
00:27:29
And it's okay to ask for it.
00:27:30
A- and it, it's okay to ask for it.
00:27:32
Yeah.
00:27:32
Um, mentally we'll help with that too.
00:27:37
I mean, I'm available 24/7.
00:27:39
They text, they call.
00:27:41
E- even guys will text and call.
00:27:43
Um, I talked an apprentice out of canceling a wedding
00:27:47
once when he got burnt.
00:27:49
Isn't that crazy?
00:27:50
You know?
00:27:50
Yeah.
00:27:50
Um, he just decided he just didn't think he wanted to do
00:27:54
that- Yeah, he was in his head
00:27:55
for her- Yeah … for the rest of her life.
00:27:57
And I had to ask him, "Who was at the hospital with you?" Yep.
00:28:01
"Was she there?
00:28:02
Was, was she in the room?
00:28:04
How many weeks?
00:28:04
How many months?" Oh, wow.
00:28:06
"And now you wanna leave her?" Yeah.
00:28:08
If, if she's there with you in the hospital, and she's walking that walk with
00:28:13
you, you have found your life partner.
00:28:15
Yeah.
00:28:15
'Cause it's not about money.
00:28:17
It's not about the good times.
00:28:18
You find that best life partner- Mm-hmm … when you're down here.
00:28:22
Yeah.
00:28:22
That, the- For sure … ride or die down here, that's gonna be your best
00:28:26
person in retirement later on, right?
00:28:27
Yeah, that's exactly right.
00:28:29
So- Yeah … um, you know, that's hard to do.
00:28:31
Oh, yeah.
00:28:31
It's hard to hear.
00:28:33
Yeah.
00:28:33
But like you said, they c- they get in their head, and we'll help with that.
00:28:37
It… We'll make- That's awesome … phone calls.
00:28:38
We'll screen to try to find the right therapist for you.
00:28:41
If, um, something is happening and, you know, LINECO isn't gonna pay for
00:28:45
it or whatever insurance company, we have funds set aside for that.
00:28:49
We'll help with that.
00:28:50
We know other organizations that will help with that as well.
00:28:53
So when, when we call and say that we wanna help, it's short-term
00:28:58
financial, it's long-term financial, it's physical needs.
00:29:02
If you tell us what the need is, we're gonna try to figure it out.
00:29:04
Yep.
00:29:05
You know?
00:29:05
Like, she was really concerned about bringing her husband home and getting
00:29:09
in and out of the house and stairs.
00:29:11
Yeah.
00:29:11
You know?
00:29:12
Yeah.
00:29:12
I haven't been able to get my husband in and out my front door-
00:29:14
No … if he is in a wheelchair.
00:29:15
No chance.
00:29:16
Yep.
00:29:17
You know?
00:29:17
Exactly right.
00:29:17
So- And, and most wouldn't.
00:29:19
No, right?
00:29:20
Yep, yep.
00:29:20
'Cause y- and you buy these houses.
00:29:23
Yep, that's exactly right.
00:29:24
You buy big houses, right?
00:29:25
Yeah.
00:29:25
You don't think about, uh, wheelchair access when you're buying a house.
00:29:28
Exactly.
00:29:28
Yeah.
00:29:28
Exactly.
00:29:29
So- Yeah … you know, we can help with that.
00:29:31
Um, and then we don't stop there.
00:29:34
We have some scholarships available.
00:29:36
Okay.
00:29:36
Um, PG&E helped us start, um, a Don Plant scholarship.
00:29:40
So if there is somebody who is wanting to, is from a trade family,
00:29:45
like, you know, say you had a son.
00:29:47
Yep.
00:29:47
And you said, "Hey, he wants to go to line school.
00:29:49
Can we get money for books?" That's awesome.
00:29:52
We'll send it.
00:29:52
Okay.
00:29:53
Um, children The children that have grown up without their parent
00:29:59
Okay … they can, uh, notify us after high school when they're looking
00:30:03
for colleges, and we will help them.
00:30:07
That's huge.
00:30:07
So- Yeah … it, it go- between 1 and 2, um, depending on
00:30:12
where they're going- That's awesome
00:30:14
and what they're doing.
00:30:14
Yeah.
00:30:14
And we'll do that for them every year.
00:30:17
Um, if our fund builds more and we, we get more money in there- Mm-hmm … then
00:30:24
we would probably even move that up.
00:30:25
Okay.
00:30:25
Because we, it, there's a lot of money to go- For sure.
00:30:28
For sure … each and every semester.
00:30:29
Yeah.
00:30:29
Yeah.
00:30:30
Um- School's expensive … but some of these kids, they grow up tough.
00:30:33
Yeah.
00:30:33
They, they grow- Yeah … up tough.
00:30:35
We, we had a young lady, lost her dad, I wanna say 10.
00:30:39
If I'm wrong and she hears us, I'm sorry.
00:30:41
Um, but she wrote us the best letter last year.
00:30:44
Okay.
00:30:44
And she builds robotics, and she's- That's- … done stuff with competitions,
00:30:50
and, you know, sh- she's, she's gonna be working for NASA or, or something big.
00:30:54
That's awesome.
00:30:55
You know, the strength she got out of losing her father and what she
00:30:59
did with her emotions is amazing.
00:31:01
So she reached out to you 10 years later, roughly?
00:31:05
Mm-hmm.
00:31:06
That's awesome.
00:31:07
Yeah.
00:31:07
That's when you know you're- It is … making an impact.
00:31:09
It was 10, 10 years.
00:31:10
She, she sent us the letter.
00:31:11
That's awesome.
00:31:12
Um, she signed it with her name, and then her daddy's name
00:31:15
and his number at the bottom.
00:31:16
Wow.
00:31:17
So we sent her 2 bucks, and she starts school this fall.
00:31:21
That's great.
00:31:22
She's gonna do great.
00:31:23
We're gonna s- Yeah … behind her.
00:31:25
Heck yeah.
00:31:25
Maybe in 10 years somebody'll get to go to her graduation or,
00:31:28
or however long it takes her, but she's gonna do great things.
00:31:31
That's awesome.
00:31:31
She's gonna do great things.
00:31:33
That's awesome.
00:31:33
Um, and then we do our Christmas.
00:31:35
At Christmas time, we have a big- Yep … giving tree, and then anybody
00:31:39
can sponsor families or donate money, and we make sure that the families that
00:31:44
we've been with throughout the year, you know, that are getting less income
00:31:49
than what they're used to, um, can still provide those Christmases for the kids.
00:31:52
Yep.
00:31:53
So people will sign up to l- they'll either adopt a family or donate
00:31:56
money, and then w- we send them a- At least, you know, a decent amount.
00:32:02
We, we try to stay right around $250.
00:32:04
Mm-hmm.
00:32:05
Um, and then we're all shopping the sales and- Yeah … you know,
00:32:09
our kids- And you go as far as you can … are shopping the sales.
00:32:10
Yeah.
00:32:10
And they get to do a wish list, so- That's awesome … it's
00:32:13
not that we're just picking.
00:32:14
You know, they send us the Amazon wish list, and we go in there
00:32:18
and try to get as much of it as we can and- That's great … so.
00:32:22
Yeah.
00:32:23
What you c- We get- What you can when you can, right?
00:32:25
Yeah.
00:32:26
A whole lot in 12 months.
00:32:26
So, so outside of the, the fundraising part of it, what's one of the biggest
00:32:31
challenges you have to, to keep something like this up and running, right?
00:32:35
I- obviously, the funds is a big deal, but what, what else is
00:32:38
another big challenge that you face?
00:32:39
Volunteers.
00:32:40
Okay.
00:32:41
Um, volunteers.
00:32:42
I feel like we're in the baby boom again.
00:32:45
I really do.
00:32:46
Um, so right now, me and one other person are pretty much primarily traveling-
00:32:53
Okay … to do all our fundraising.
00:32:54
So I'm going everywhere that we have been invited.
00:32:58
Yep.
00:32:58
So I am traveling at least every week or every other week
00:33:02
for the next couple of months.
00:33:03
Oh, wow.
00:33:04
And then I have two other board members, um, that have taken a little bit of time.
00:33:09
They're m- one of them is meeting me in Massachusetts.
00:33:11
One of them just spent some time with me in New Jersey and Washington, DC.
00:33:16
Uh, we need volunteers.
00:33:17
Okay.
00:33:18
Um, preferably, um, computer-oriented.
00:33:22
Uh, anybody who's good with design, anybody who's good with
00:33:26
numbers, you know, is great.
00:33:29
Um, other people that are, you know, soul servants that may, you know, have
00:33:35
some good life experience that they can pull from to help work some accidents.
00:33:40
Um, somebody that can travel.
00:33:42
Go hang out with me at golf outings.
00:33:44
If I'm, you know, in Indiana and you live in Indiana, that always works out great.
00:33:48
If not, you know, and we can get you there, then we'll definitely get
00:33:51
you there- Okay … to help us out.
00:33:53
Perfect.
00:33:53
So n- never enough Indians helping the tribe, right?
00:33:56
There's never.
00:33:57
Our village is thin sometimes.
00:33:59
Yeah.
00:34:00
Sometimes the village is thin.
00:34:01
I guarantee it.
00:34:03
Um, so let's, let's talk about support from the line community, right?
00:34:08
Yeah.
00:34:08
I know whenever you have an accident, there's, there's
00:34:10
support around that accident.
00:34:12
Yeah.
00:34:12
W- what kind of support could you, could you expect or, or you would
00:34:16
like to get from the line community when there's not an accident?
00:34:18
You know, when there's not an accident, gosh, just making…
00:34:25
Number one, make safety.
00:34:27
Make safety like that's your day, okay?
00:34:30
When you get up in the morning, I mean, you drink the right
00:34:34
temperature coffee, right?
00:34:36
You, you don't go to McDonald's or wherever, Burger
00:34:39
King, let's name six more.
00:34:41
Um, and buy the coffee that's too hot and scald your mouth, okay?
00:34:44
Yep, yep.
00:34:45
You've learned that.
00:34:46
Yep.
00:34:46
Okay?
00:34:47
When you go through the apprenticeship, you're, you're told stuff.
00:34:49
You learn stuff.
00:34:50
So number one, safety.
00:34:51
That's the biggest way to help.
00:34:54
The day that they don't need us, we're gonna have a big celebration.
00:34:58
Yeah.
00:34:58
But that's- The biggest party ever … it's a need right now.
00:35:00
Yeah.
00:35:01
So, you know, getting up, working safe, making sure that, that other people
00:35:05
know who we are and, and what we do.
00:35:07
Don't be afraid to share it.
00:35:08
Don't let, you know, don't let your pride get in your way if, if
00:35:12
there's something that's happened.
00:35:13
Um, don't let anybody's pride to get in their way if somebody else needs help.
00:35:19
Call, text, tell us you heard about the accident, tell us
00:35:23
what you know about the family.
00:35:25
Um, I- we're working really hard at getting in, in front of
00:35:29
apprenticeship schools, right?
00:35:32
Because today's apprentices w- are gonna become tomorrow's foreman.
00:35:37
They're gonna work their way up.
00:35:39
Some of them are gonna go in the office.
00:35:41
Yep.
00:35:41
They're gonna be the business manager.
00:35:43
The more apprentices that know who we are, the less work we have to do later.
00:35:47
Yeah.
00:35:48
'Cause I don't know what they keep having, you know, those elections booting them
00:35:51
out and have to keep starting back over- Yep … in, in the, in the offices, right?
00:35:54
Yep.
00:35:54
So, you know, we're working really hard at making sure the apprentices know
00:35:59
so that they can move up through the ranks and have that information already.
00:36:03
Yep, yep.
00:36:03
Um- So help spread that awareness.
00:36:05
Just, yeah.
00:36:06
Yeah.
00:36:06
Yeah.
00:36:06
I mean, and it can be done by so many ways, you know.
00:36:10
You can buy a shirt, it helps us.
00:36:12
Um, you wearing it, people are gonna ask questions.
00:36:16
You know, wear it to your functions, people are gonna see it.
00:36:19
If we're in front of them somewhere somehow- Yep
00:36:23
then, then that helps.
00:36:24
Okay.
00:36:24
Follow us on Facebook, social media.
00:36:27
Yep.
00:36:27
Um, following our page, that's a great way, and that's a great way to see where
00:36:31
I'm at and what we're doing, 'cause, so right now, you know, all of the
00:36:35
companies that have been donated for sponsorships for the rodeo can see if
00:36:38
they're- opposing company has, you know Yep, yep I mean, I like to, you know,
00:36:44
pit them against each other when we can Yeah, a little friendly competition Or
00:36:47
the union halls, you know Yep I mean- Yep
00:36:50
if, if you haven't, you know, hit our platinum sponsorship yet,
00:36:53
look at who has and, you know.
00:36:55
But, I mean, make it fun if you have to.
00:36:58
Just- That's it … I d- I don't care.
00:36:59
Yeah.
00:36:59
As long as somebody's talking about us somewhere- Okay … somehow.
00:37:03
Perfect.
00:37:04
It is all gonna help in the end.
00:37:06
Perfect.
00:37:07
So if, if someone's listening out there and, and they wanna help
00:37:09
and they wanna get involved, how do they get in contact with you?
00:37:12
Is the website the best way?
00:37:14
Uh, they can go to the website.
00:37:16
Okay.
00:37:16
They can hit the contact form.
00:37:17
Okay.
00:37:18
That comes straight to me.
00:37:19
Okay.
00:37:19
They can email me directly.
00:37:21
It's super simple.
00:37:22
It's just the generic Tammy, T-A-M-M-Y, @nsujl.org.
00:37:27
Okay.
00:37:28
Um- And that .org is important.
00:37:30
The .org, yes.
00:37:31
Yeah.
00:37:31
Don't go .com.
00:37:32
I don't know where it's gonna go.
00:37:33
Um, but it will come right to me.
00:37:35
Okay.
00:37:35
I mean, I always answer within usually 12 hours.
00:37:39
I don't sleep much.
00:37:40
Um, so I, I, you know, I usually will get away.
00:37:42
If there's a, you know, a company like yours or another company wants
00:37:46
to band together and do something, you know, a golf outing, a family
00:37:50
barbecue, anything where we can come and be like, "Hey, this is who we are.
00:37:54
This is what we do," and just hang out for the camaraderie- Yep … that helps a lot.
00:38:00
Okay.
00:38:01
Right?
00:38:02
You know.
00:38:02
Yep.
00:38:02
I mean, you can say, "Hey, Tammy, we're having a skeet shoot," or I don't
00:38:06
care, if you wanna chase pigs in the mud, okay- I will come play, and the
00:38:12
more people that, you know, get to have fun with us, then they remember.
00:38:16
Yeah.
00:38:17
You know?
00:38:17
It's- Yeah.
00:38:18
We see so much sad stuff- Yeah … and take so many sad calls
00:38:23
or- Yeah … frustrating calls.
00:38:24
Sometimes it's just fun to come out and play and- Yep … let
00:38:27
you see the other side of us and be like, "Oh, yeah." That's it.
00:38:30
"Let's call… Yeah, let's call her now that, you know, shit's hit the fan-" Yeah
00:38:33
"… and we need help," or just family has and.
00:38:36
Well, it, it ties it all back to the human factor like we
00:38:38
talked about earlier, right?
00:38:39
It's, it's all a human factor, and it, it's like that whether you're
00:38:43
going through an accident or, or a fatality or whether you're
00:38:46
going through an everyday Monday.
00:38:47
Whatever it is, there's human factors involved.
00:38:49
Yeah.
00:38:49
And being able to see all sides of that makes a difference sometimes.
00:38:52
Oh, yeah.
00:38:52
Yeah.
00:38:52
Yeah, so many.
00:38:53
Yeah.
00:38:54
So many.
00:38:54
Yeah.
00:38:55
So is there anything you wanna say to anybody that we didn't
00:38:57
touch on today, anything I missed?
00:39:00
I don't, I, I don't think so.
00:39:02
I think I just really want, um, I, I just really, like a lot of the other
00:39:07
organizations out there, I think that we just really want people to go back
00:39:11
to the time where people thought about what they were doing, followed through
00:39:17
on how they wanted to do it, they wanted to do it safe, and they weren't
00:39:22
afraid to speak up when it wasn't safe.
00:39:24
That is perfect.
00:39:25
Okay?
00:39:25
Yeah.
00:39:26
Um, we obviously come from the union background, and you do as well.
00:39:33
Yep.
00:39:33
And we know that there are avenues out there to allow you
00:39:39
to stand up and to speak up.
00:39:43
And the more people that do that, it's just like the union, right?
00:39:46
What, what the union says, one voice for all.
00:39:48
Yep.
00:39:49
Right?
00:39:49
Mm-hmm.
00:39:49
We're all one voice.
00:39:52
If everybody just made it their thing in the next months to be
00:39:57
like, "If I see something that's not right, I feel something that's
00:40:01
not right, I just know it's not right," stand up and say something.
00:40:06
Either stop the work, tell the foreman, talk amongst
00:40:12
yourselves if you have to- Yep
00:40:14
and sit out.
00:40:17
But until that happens, we're powerless.
00:40:20
That's it.
00:40:21
Yep.
00:40:22
So just go back… Just remember, you know- Yep … one voice is powerful- Yeah
00:40:28
… when there's a lot of people standing behind it, and help us make that change.
00:40:32
Stand up for the right things the right way.
00:40:33
Yeah.
00:40:34
Yeah.
00:40:34
Yeah.
00:40:34
100%. And you've got that golden ticket, right?
00:40:36
100%. Yep.
00:40:38
Yep.
00:40:38
Absolutely.
00:40:39
I, I like that message.
00:40:40
I think it's gonna resonate with a lot of people out there,
00:40:41
and people need to hear it.
00:40:43
Yeah.
00:40:43
Right?
00:40:43
Yeah.
00:40:44
Thank you so much for your time today.
00:40:45
I appreciate it.
00:40:46
You're welcome.
00:40:46
Thank you.
00:40:46
You guys go out and find nsujl.org, right?
00:40:50
Yep.
00:40:50
Okay.
00:40:50
Sounds good.
00:40:51
Thanks.
00:40:52
That's it for today's episode of Power Grid Talks: From the
00:40:55
Bucket Trucks to the Boardrooms.
00:40:57
I'm your host, Tom Williamson.
00:41:00
I wanna thank you for joining me as we talk to the people behind the
00:41:03
scenes who keep our grid strong.
00:41:05
If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to hit that subscribe button, give
00:41:09
it a share, and leave a review so we can keep bringing more voices from across the
00:41:13
utility world to the conversation table.
00:41:16
You can also find us at powergridtalks.com.
00:41:20
Until next time, stay safe and keep the power flowing.