Eddie Bernacchi, NECA’s Legislative Lobbyist in Sacramento, put together the attached Politico Alert for our NECA Members. We would like to express our appreciation to Eddie Bernacchi and his team for their tireless efforts in Sacramento on behalf of our contractors!

On July 12th, our Chapter hosted Brian Perlberg (Executive Director and Senior Counsel for ConsensusDocs) and Carol Bionda (Vice President and General Counsel for Nova Group, Inc.) to discuss the advantages of ConsensusDocs contracts. Brian and Carol identified what attendees need to know about ConsensusDocs, which helped attendees understand the differences between the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) and ConsensusDocs contracts.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a direct final rule on May 4 clarifying aspects of the beryllium standard for general industry as it applies to processes, operations and areas where workers may be exposed to materials containing less than 0.1 percent beryllium by weight. Because OSHA did not receive significant adverse commentary during the submission period, the direct final rule is set to go into effect on July 6th.

OSHA said it will begin enforcing certain requirements of the beryllium final rule, including the permissible exposure limits in the general industry, construction and shipyard standards; and the exposure assessment, respiratory protection, medical surveillance and medical removal provisions in the general industry standard.

The agency plans to issue a proposal to further extend this compliance date for the ancillary provisions to December 12th.

The purpose of the Academy are to honor outstanding leaders in the electrical contracting field and to preserve and utilize for the benefit of the construction industry the wealth of experience and ability they have developed through their years of dedicated effort. Fellows of the Academy must have rendered exceptional service to their industry, and that service is continued and enhanced through membership in the Academy.

Fellowship in the Academy of Electrical Contracting is one of the highest honors bestowed on an individual in the electrical industry. It has been announced that Chapter President Greg Long, Long Electric Company, will be installed on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at the NECA Convention in Philadelphia. The NorCal NECA Chapter will be hosting a reception at the historical Union League of Philadelphia on Monday, October 1st to recognize this achievement! Details will be sent to those Chapter member’s attending the Convention. Congratulations on this much deserved honor!

Brian Perlberg, Executive Director and Senior Counsel with ConsensusDocs will be discussing why you should leverage the new ConsensusDocs to stay ahead of the curve. Contractors set the foundation for project success, and conversely unfair contracts raise prices up to 20%. ConsensusDocs contracts incorporate best practices and fairly allocate risk to help reduce costly contingencies and adversarial negotiations. This presentation will identify what you need to know about ConsensusDocs and it will help you understand the differences between the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) and ConsensusDocs contracts. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the advantages of using ConsensusDocs contracts.

• Date: July 12, 2018
• Time:  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Location:  Technology Training Center _ 3033 Alvarado Street, San Leandro, CA

Please click here to register your attendance to this seminar.

The NorCal NECA/IBEW 595 Joint Safety Committee is pleased to announce the 2018 Safety Excellence Award Program, established to recognized excellence in safety demonstrated by NorCal NECA member contractors and IBEW Local 595 electricians/technicians.

Please click here to review the program guidelines and to submit your entry form no later than September 28, 2018. Please contact Juanita Mitchell at the Chapter office should you have any questions.

Remember…Safety First = Family First!

President Trump released his $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan and NECA believes this is a solid first step in moving legislation forward that will help rebuild our nation’s aging infrastructure. It is also our next best chance for Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner. Infrastructure is not an issue either party owns; we as Americans own this issue.

It is time for Congress to enact a sweeping infrastructure plan that will rebuild and modernize our nation’s electrical grid, broadband infrastructure, as well as our roads, bridges, waterways, clean water and wastewater infrastructure, and building infrastructure. America suffers from a serious infrastructure investment gap and this proposal can pave the way to correcting our current trajectory.

In order for this plan to be successful, it should also include needed reforms to speed up the extraordinarily slow federal permitting process, invest in rural America and increase innovation at the state and local levels. Click here to take action today.

The election process for the Chapter’s Board of Directors has begun. This year there are seats available in our Alameda, Modesto, Solano/Napa, Stockton and Technology Divisions. If you are interested in serving your Division as a representative on the Chapter’s Board of Directors, please contact the Nominating Committee Chair for your area:

• Alameda Division: Mike Boehmer
• Modesto Division: Brian Gini
• Solano/Napa Division: Greg Long
• Stockton Division: Gary Woody
• Technology Division: Kurt Brinkman

Pursuant to the Chapter’s Bylaws, to be eligible to serve as a director an individual must be the designated voting representative of a member firm in good standing. Nominating Committee Chairs must submit their recommendations to the Chapter office no later than September 10, 2018.

On June 11th, NECA National President David Long visited the NorCal NECA Chapter to speak on his mission statement “Sustainable-Viable-Imaginable – Empowering Lives and Communities.” President Long discussed keeping our contractors sustainable by helping to fill the manpower shortage. NECA, as a national association is working to provide the tools for our contractors to fill the manpower gaps we currently have in the industry. Contractors need to be viable by increasing education, such as project management training and field leadership training, for employees. Finally, we need to be imaginable in order to hit our goal of increasing market share by 10 percentage points by 2025.

Plans are underway for the NorCal NECA/IBEW 595 Joint Safety Committee’s annual Safety Calendar! Artwork for the calendar is submitted by IBEW Local 595 family members who participate in our Safety Poster Contest. Once completed, the calendar will be distributed to NorCal NECA member contractors, IBEW Members, general contractors, building officials, local politicians, school board members and various business groups and individuals associated with NECA and the IBEW.

We are currently seeking sponsors for our 10th edition of this popular publication to help defray the costs associated with printing and distribution. Sponsorships are available at $300 for a shared page and $500 for a full page. We will include your company logo and contact information for each month sponsored.

Sponsorships are available on a first-come basis and we are hoping to have them finalized by September 28, 2018. If you are interested in this terrific opportunity, please contact Juanita Mitchell with the Chapter office.

Remember…Safety First = Family First!