High voltage worker stories: Elden 

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7th step lineman apprentice

Vice President of RENEW Local 66 committee
Union Steward for Local 66

Location: houston, texas
years in the trade: 6.5 years in the trade

LU66RENEW
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Someone that thrives is someone that enjoys a challenge, walks with purpose, shows up early, and studies the trade in their own time

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Stories in the trade

This series hands the mic to the folks who keep the lights on—how they got in, what they’ve seen, and where the trade’s headed

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How did you first hear about the trade and how did you get into your first role?

I first heard of the trade when an older friend of mine recommended I get into the trade. He was a retired lineman and felt that I would be a good fit for the trade. He constantly mentioned that it's a good career. After much consideration I applied to the utility he worked at, he stuck his neck out for me, and the rest is history. 

What do you wish someone had told you when you first started on the job?

Surround yourself with the right people. There are some lineman that work unsafe. Surround yourself with lineman that are passionate about teaching you, passionate about the craft, work safely, and are leaders that want to raise leaders. 
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This trade does not provide many second chances, so it is up to me to master my craft

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What’s one thing about this work that outsiders totally misunderstand?

That we are simpleminded. It takes a highly skilled individual to arithmetically figure out rigging/load charts, electrical and transformer theory, and have the resolve to maintain it all while completing a physically demanding and hazardous job. It is no wonder that a lot of linemen become entrepreneurs, inventors, and engineers. I also know many individuals that have tried the corporate route after college only to land in the trade and find contentment in it. Heck, I'm one of them. 

What’s your proudest moment on the job so far?

My proudest moment has probably been winning the Local 66 rodeo two years in a row in the apprentice bracket. Both years I was out of work and contemplated quitting the trade. To be honest I competed to sort of stand out and hopefully a company take notice of me in order to want me to work for them. It was mentally hard for me to muster the courage to do so, but at the end I realized that I truly belong in this amazing trade. 

What’s the most high-pressure or intense situation you’ve had to handle?

We were in a back yard replacing a two pot bank, the pole, and re-conducting the open wire secondary. I was on the pole and two of my buddies were in a bucket over a garage in a customer's garage. As I was near the bank the pole broke below ground, and the pole landed on my friends as they're in the bucket. One of them ended up being pinched by the transformer on his chest. It happened so quick. (Thankfully everyone was ok) But while it happened it was scary and chaotic. If it wasn't for the bucket being there I would have ridden the pole through the garage and things could have possibly been worse. I was able to maintain my composure as I'm on a broken pole. Ask for tag lines to tag it back and regulate the situation. As my buddies went to the hospital I knew that I could not let what happened mentally handicap me. I put on my bucket harness, finished wrecking out the job, put my hooks on, and finished the job. It was the least I could for my friends and for my mental stability. 
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My proudest moment has probably been winning the Local 66 rodeo two years in a row in the apprentice bracket

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What’s the hardest part (physical/mental) of the job and how do you handle it?

Physically: everyone in the trade gets to the point where you have to push your body farther than you've ever pushed it. It may be a 24+ hour storm shift of climbing in the backyard or carrying plywood on your back for a quarter mile. Everyone gets pushed physically and the only way to surpass it is to find your "screw it". What I mean by that is you have to say to yourself, "screw it", suck it up, and keep going. Everyone finds their "screw it point" so it is pertinent to have a why.

 

Mentally: Some may argue that this trade pushes you harder mentally than physically. The difficulty comes from an array of angles. There are guys that make it difficult for you to want to come to work some days. (Bullies) This trade takes a lot of time away from your family. You may have to travel and it gets lonely. Nevertheless, it goes back to the "why". It is pertinent for you to have a why when times get hard.  

What kind of person thrives in this work? What kind of person doesn’t?

In order to be a decent lineman there is one thing you need and it is this, common sense. The difference between a decent lineman/lineman apprentice and one that thrives is the effort that one individual takes to hone his craft. As well as the effort that individual expresses to prove they are grateful to be in the position they are in. 

Someone that thrives is someone that enjoys a challenge, walks with purpose, shows up early, and studies the trade in their own time. Someone that doesn't thrive in this trade is someone that is entitled. Someone that feels like the title of Journeyman Lineman should have given and not earned. 

What advice would you give to someone who's just thinking about joining the trades?

The trades are a great career choice. Join a union you as soon as you can. There are certain trades that pay more than others, so do your research for the trade you're interested in. Also there are some trades that travel more than others. 

 

If you have a family make sure that your family is ok with that. Generally the trades that pay the most are the most difficult to get into. Stand out by having more certifications and experience relevant to that trade. 

 

Finding work and moving up in your trade is 60% hands and 40% mouth. What I mean by that is be a person that others want to be around (i.e. sociable), because if you're able to make friends at different projects and you are a good worker you will always have work. So work on your soft skills. 

Have you worked in both union and non-union environments? 

Yes, I worked non union in the oil and gas industry non union working in refineries and chemical plants. Even back then I felt like I didn't get the pay to match the skills I had. The pay variety and promotion was often caused because the boss was related to the individual. The culture was very much dog eat dog, so people will throw you under the bus so they they move up. The safety back then was a far thought. It was ALWAYS production first. The first year I became union I made more than I ever did non union. In the union there is a brotherhood and a practice of being your brother's keeper. Safety is also on the forefront and not in the back or your mind. The union fights to make our job sites safer and thus more efficient. 

What’s something that went wrong on the job but taught you something important?

When I was young in the trade I remember we replaced a transformer in the backyard with my journeyman who was very young about a month topped out, and a 40-year lineman. We had a Delta Bank and we removed a bad power pot. The journeyman was on the pole and we all thought that he checked rotation. Long story short the Journeyman Lineman ended up burning up an AC unit, because he got the rotation wrong. I learned that just because somebody has a title does not mean they know what they are doing. Everyone makes mistakes yes, but I learned early in my career that I have to learn this trade for me. I should not have to depend on somebody to know it. This trade does not provide many second chances, so it is up to me to master my craft.
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Surround yourself with the right people that are passionate about teaching you, passionate about the craft, work safely, and are leaders that want to raise leaders

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How do you handle stacking OT or traveling for the job while having a family?

I used to work as much as I can often times working 48 hour shifts. I had to learn the hard way to slow down. At the end of the day I want to be a Journeyman Husband and Father. It is hard to do that when you are never home. Communication is key on and off the field. The process of overtime now is discussed with my wife and we plan our month ahead around our priorities and the want for extra money. We also discussed ahead of time when it is hurricane season, because we do live in hurricane alley. As far as traveling goes that too is discussed ahead of time, and we try and communicate as much as possible while we are in different states. 

What’s your career path look like (past, present, and future plans)?

My career path has not been the most linear. I started in 2019, and have been in two apprenticeship programs. I will be finishing this current apprenticeship in 2 months. I am very grateful to have worked in a utility and in outside construction doing line work. I am also grateful that I have been able to do many aspects of line work that include distribution, transmission, and substation. In the future I see myself becoming bare hand certified, hopefully doing helicopter work, and giving back to my union and craft. Whether that be teaching or organizing. 

we’re opening the floor to the folks who do the work

⚡ Features of real workers in the trade 
⚡ Craft features 

⚡ Tips for the trade

Just real experiences, real lessons learned, and real advice from people who do this work every day.

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We're High Voltage Industries

High Voltage Industries started because the most dangerous and essential work in America is also the most invisible. You put your lives on the line every single day and people don't even know what you do. 

 

We're here to share your stories and honor the sacrifices you make so people can flip a switch every day. And we make gear for those who literally risk their lives to keep the world running.

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Working in conditions others won't face, taking risks others can’t even imagine, solving problems others can't understand, carrying responsibility others can't handle. The grid doesn't maintain itself.

 

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