Over the last several months I have seen Journeyman Lineman positions at dozens of utilities - Ohop Mutual Light, Mason PUD, Inland Power, City of Ellensburg, Homer Electric, Benton Co. PUD, Clatskanie PUD, Probst Electric Inc., - the list goes on. What I have not seen are pre-apprentice lineman positions from any of these same utilities. As an industry we are going to have to do better. You may not need a pre apprentice lineman today, but you are going to need a journeyman lineman tomorrow and all the hiring bonuses in the world are not going to magically increase the number of available workers. Perhaps it is time for utilities to re-evaluate how they have always done things and make an investment in the future? Open your doors an accept a second, or third, pre-apprentice lineman. You may be creating the loyal and dedicated worker you are trying to purchase with a hiring bonus.
