April showers bring… lineworkers.
Lots and lots of lineworkers!

Although we celebrate telco and electric lineworkers throughout the year, Lineworker Appreciation Day (or month, for some utilities) creates a national network of thanks for the men and women who live life on the lines.

Celebration Resources

If you’re a Pioneer Social subscriber, our team’s already creating branded content for you to share on social. Utility members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association can pick from a gallery of images and social posts at Cooperative.com (ZIP file, password required). The American Public Power Association offers free social content, too; lineworker appreciation content hasn’t been posted yet, but we bet it’s on the way. 

Still looking for messages that resonate with lineworkers? Here are a few of our favorite sources for brainstorming content: 

• Read Power Lineman magazine, created by lineworkers for lineworkers (see inside the magazine at Instagram.com/powerlinemanmag) 
• Visit Instagram.com/LinemenWorld, from Transmission & Distribution World magazine 
• Tune in to the Line Life Podcast 
• Visit the International Lineman’s Museum in Shelby, NC (I’ve followed their Facebook channel for years) 
• Follow the International Lineman’s Rodeo Association for a glimpse inside the annual training competition. 
• Browse Lineman Barn.com, a store with shirts, hats and more celebrating line life. 

Exploring social channels and websites written for lineworkers helps broaden your perspective. For example, I’d never thought of a cup holder for a bucket before, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.

Save the Date(s)

When do utilities celebrate lineworkers? Every year there’s confusion about the dates, which makes sense. There are a lot of options!  

Since Congress designated April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day, utilities across the nation take time to #ThankaLineworker. Resolutions have been introduced in Congress to set a firm annual date, but no action has been taken. Here are the 2023 celebration dates: 

• Monday, April 10: Celebrated by many electric co-ops. Always falls on the second Monday of April, per a 2014 NRECA board resolution. 
• Tuesday, April 18: The date marked by Congress in 2013 and still celebrated by some utilities. 
• Monday, July 10: The Edison Electric Institute, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Utility Workers Union of America and the National Electrical Contractors Association salute lineworkers on July 10. 

Some states have specific celebration dates. Ask your statewide association if there are regional party dates! 

More Ideas to Celebrate Life on the Line 

Brainstorming more ways to celebrate? The Pioneer team gets excited when we talk about celebrating lineworkers. Past blog posts share several more ways (and free graphics!) to honor the heroes on your lines: 

• Keeping Life Connected (2021) 
• Celebrate Lineworkers (2019) 
• Test Your Lineman IQ (2018) 
• Party Ideas (2017) 
• Sample shirt designs (2016) 

Share Your Ideas 

We’d love to let other utility communicators hear about your lineworker celebration plans! Share ideas below or email them to hello@pioneer.coop.