It has been a busy summer season for membership of Local 10 IBEW. Our membership has been tasked with many construction projects to keep their skills sharp. I’d like to share a success story of the Lake Avenue Betterment Project that happened early in the Lockport Division.
The work started May 12th, 2025, and was led by Chief Line Mechanic and IBEW Union Steward Stephen Walker. The Lake Avenue betterment Project was a job to upgrade old conductor (wire) to increase electrical capacity for customers use. Multiple poles and electrical transformers were replaced including a two-pole electrical voltage regulator structure. A variety of Line Mechanic classifications were provided opportunities to sharpen construction skills. Line Mechanics used common reconductor tools; fiberglass fan out arms, wire spool travelers, spider rope system and puller/tensioners machines. For many of the Line Mechanics this was the first opportunity to participate in a construction project. Visiting Line Mechanics from Lancaster Division participated in the work also.
Additionally, traffic controls were handled by Local 10 IBEW members. Lockport Division employees also maintained the daily operations of the business, including customer service work and trouble calls. The Project was completed safely on June 12th, 2025 with the only recordable injury as a tick bite. Chief Line Mechanic Walker noted “We took this Project on as a challenge to show that contractors are not the only option. Your Divisional employees can do the work safely and efficiently without leaving gaps in customer service and trouble response”. He also said, “I’m very proud of these young Lineman for the work that they performed”.
The goal of Local 10 IBEW is to return to a workforce that does all construction work “in-house”. Although slow to start, our employers are seeing the value of using our membership in lieu of contractors. I encourage the Membership to continue to advocate for construction work to their supervisors as your Union Leadership team does every day. Together we can make a difference, and I congratulate the Lockport Line Department on their good work on the Lake Avenue Betterment Project.
Roman Cefali, Business Manager