IBEW Local 329 wins LIVE United Award

Lee Allred (center), Southwestern Electric Power senior line mechanic, and Todd Harris, line mechanic B (right) accept the LIVE United Award from Bruce Wilson, president and CEO of the United Way of Louisiana.

(Story by Carey Sullivan)

The United Way of Northwest Louisiana recently recognized the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 329 with its LIVE United Award. The award is given to a company or organization that demonstrated the LIVE United culture and spirit and is selected by United Way’s staff.

IBEW Local 329 was recognized for:

• Raising more than $18,500 from its Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) employee members during its first campaign in 2004;
• Contributing more than $39,000 in 2013, a 210 percent increase over its first campaign; and
• Giving more than $308,000 to the United Way over its 11-year partnership with SWEPCO.

SWEPCO has about 300 union employees working in Northwest Louisiana. They’re meter readers, troublemen, linemen, field revenue specialists and meter servicers. Some work in storerooms, fleet, the meter shop and in power plants.

In 2004, IBEW Local 329 and SWEPCO leaders partnered and ran their very first United Way campaign.In the 11 years since, SWEPCO and IBEW Local 329 have been recognized many times for coordinating one of the top campaigns in Northwest Louisiana, both in the number of dollars raised and the number of employees participating.

“Please join me in congratulating Local 329 for this wonderful recognition and for their commitment to help others,” said [Venita McCellon-Allen], president and chief operating officer of SWEPCO. “This has been a rewarding partnership that gets stronger every year.”