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                           JULY 2019
Upcoming Events

We hope that you will be able to attend these events: 

September 11, 2019
ECA Regular Membership Meeting (Evening)
Gibsons Steakhouse
Oak Brook, IL


September 14 - 17, 2019
NECA Convention 
Trade Show
Las Vegas, NV


September 25, 2019
"Succession Planning"
Seminar
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL


October 9, 2019
ECA Regular Membership Meeting
Maggiano's Banquets
Chicago, IL


October 16, 2019
"Are You a Project Manager or a Project Witness?" First Level Seminar
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL


November 13, 2019
ECA Regular Membership Meeting
Erie Cafe
Chicago, IL


November 20, 2019
"Are You a Project Manager or a Project Witness?" Next Level Seminar
Drake Oak Brook Hotel
Oak Brook, IL

Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago

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Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA


Phone:  708-531-0022
Fax:  708-531-0071
  

Please review this month's LiveWire newsletter.  We hope you enjoy the local and national industry updates.   As a reminder, we also invite to join us on Facebook and LinkedIn!  

ECA Website Update

As a reminder, the ECA has transitioned to a new website!  We look forward as we finalize the update(s) to our web content.  New "Log-In" Registrations will be sent out later in the Summer.  The monthly LiveWire e-newletter will continue; however, in a somewhat revised format.  Please visit us at:  www.ecachicago.com. 

 
ECA 48th Annual Spring Conference Highlights
 
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) held its 48th Annual Spring Conference on June 5 - 6, 2019 a the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. 

Pictured above is Richard Jamerson, ECA President, 
Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc. 
as he addressed the Conference attendees.

ECA Programming for Fall 2019

The ECA Research and Education Committee continues its ambitious education schedule for the rest of 2019.  Please click on the link below for the full Program Schedule.  A link for the Registration Forms / Information for these events are located in the "Upcoming Events" section of this LiveWire newsletter.  Also, initial registrations for any seminar is limited to four per member firm; however, if there are spots still available close to a seminar date, the waiting list will be reviewed.
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ECA President's Party
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) presented its President's Party on June 21, 2019 at the Chicago History Museum in Chicago, Illinois.  
Pictured above is Richard Jamerson, ECA President, 
Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, Inc., 
as he introduced the program.
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ECA End-of-Summer event  
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) will be holding an end-of-Summer event on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. The event will be held at Wrigley Rooftops to watch the Chicago Cubs vs. the San Francisco Giants!  The evening's festivities will be held in the Legends Suite.  Wrigley Rooftops is located at 3637 N. Sheffield in Chicago.  Details of the event are to follow, soon!
NECA Updates 

Chapter Member to receive the NECA 2019 "Abraham Lincoln Leadership" Award

The Chicago & Cook County Chapter, NECA would like to congratulate James McGlynn, Sr., McWilliams Electric Company, Inc. as the recipient of NECA's 2019 "Abraham Lincoln Leadership" Award.  He is to receive the award during the upcoming NECA Convention in Las Vegas.

Pictured during the January 2019 ECA Membership Meeting from left to right are:
Marco Giamberardino, NECA's Government Affairs Executive Director and
James McGlynn, Sr., ECA Legislative Committee Chairman, 
McWilliams Electric Company, Inc.
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NECA Publications

NECA has informed the Chapter that several NECA members have received a solicitation advertising a publication with a very similar title to NECA's "Manual of Labor Units." This publication is not affiliated with NECA in any way. The 2019 - 2020 edition of the "NECA Manual of Labor Units" will be available in late Summer 2019.
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NECA Premier Partners
- Monthly Focus - ABB 

NECA's Premier Partner sponsorship program connects NECA members to the leading companies in the electrical construction industry.  It represents the most comprehensive business-to-business marketing and sales opportunity ever presented to reach the $160 billion electrical construction industry.  Premier Partners of NECA showcase their brands, products and services in the electrical construction industry through hundreds of NECA events, publications and digital platforms year round, including the annual NECA Convention and Trade Show, the industry's premier trade show and gathering. 

The Chicago and Cook County Chapter, NECA will focus on each NECA Premier Partner over the coming months.  This month's focus will be on ABB.
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NECA/ELECTRI Market Survey Assistance

NECA and ELECTRI International are requesting input from members throughout the country for a study intended to support the 1025 Initiative to increase market share of union electrical contractors. Please click on the link below to learn more.
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NECA Service Network's Special Introductory Pricing

NECA contractors are reaping rewards from greater and greater involvement in the seemingly endless range of service & maintenance work opportunities that they are uncovering in their market areas. Add in modernization and retrofit work-which is commonly performed by an electrical contractor's "service department"-the proportion runs even higher. With that in mind, NECA is now sponsoring a nationwide program to capitalize even further on the potential in this profitable segment of electrical contracting. The "NECA Service Network," which to date has enrolled member contractors from nearly half of the contiguous states, has launched in response to opportunities in national and regional service & maintenance coverage that previously have gone unanswered.   Please click on the link below to learn more about this new service.
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NECA Value Added Services

One of the benefits of membership in the National Electrical Contractors Association is using Value Added Services. Through Value Added Services, NECA connects members and chapter staff with the products and services that support their businesses by securing discounts with popular companies. Some new discounts recently added through the program come from BFGoodrich Tires and WordStream. For BFGoodrich Tires, NECA members and staff have access to an exclusive discount. They can save $100 on a set of four BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires until Dec. 31. WordStream offers a number of discounted marketing and advertising services to help contractors improve their reach by getting better results from paid search, click conversions, lead development and more. Additionally, UPS recently updated its special discount program for NECA to help members and staff improve their bottom line, with some of the most competitive shipping rates available and savings reaching up to 45%. Please click on the link below to learn more.
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NECA Convention & Trade Show 

The 2019 NECA Convention & Trade Show will be held September 14 - 17, 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Registration opened May 16, 2019.  We hope to see you, there!  Please visit:  www.necaconvention.org to register. 

Legislative Updates

ECA Legislative Committee Activity
 
The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago's (ECA's) Legislative Committee is active throughout the year.  Representatives participate with special events, area Associations and labor-management groups on a continual basis, including the Illinois Mechanical and Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) and the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO).

Pictured above at a special event from left to right are:
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Senate Majority Leader and
Steve Diamond, NECA District IV PLC Chair, ECA Legislative Committee member,
Malko Communication Services, LLC.

Pictured above is Illinois Rep. Keith Wheeler, 50th District (far leftside of photo),
 as he addressed the IMSCA meeting.

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Trump Apprenticeship Regulatory Update 

On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) allowing for the creation of Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs). These IRAPs are third-party certified apprenticeship programs with little oversight and minimal regulatory framework. 

The proposed rule  includes an exemption from allowing the creation of IRAPs within the construction industry. June 27, 2019 marked the beginning of a 60-day comment period on the newly proposed rule and NECA will use this period to submit comments and work with other groups to amplify our position on this matter. Once finalized, NECA will circulate a "How To" document encouraging our Chapters, Members, their non-bargained employees, and all interested parties at all levels to provide comments to the DOL urging them to solidify the construction industry exemption from IRAPs.

Safety Update

eSafetyLine Member Benefit Activiation
 
The ECA Executive Committee has recently approved one complimentary eSafetyLine subscription for each interested member firm!  Please register your firm, as soon as possible! The ECA has an active list for e-SafetyLine.  Once the Registration Form is received, eligible member firms will then be sent activation information. Again, please review the e-mail and send us the completed Registration Form.

The eSafetyLine subscription provides access to a wealth of NECA safety resources which include:

- NECA Safety Manual
The Safety Manual is continuously updated to address changes in OSHA's regulations and enforcement policies as well as the changing requirements established by many third party assessment services.

- eSafetyLine Recordkeeping
The eSafetyLIne Recordkeeping System records and reports on occupational injuries and illnesses, training, and safety related events and actions. New reports will be added to assist users in complying with the OSHA's recordkeeping requirements.

- NECA Safety Archive
The NECA Safety Archive provides subscribers with access to the latest editions of NECA's safety publications in digital format including updated 70e guides, supporting materials, and training. This and other content can be easily accessed through a searchable online database.

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CSC July Schedule 
 
For a listing of coursework available through the Construction Safety Council (CSC) for the month of July 2019, please click on the link:  www.buildsafe.org. 
Chicago Department of Buildings 
Video Presentation highlighting Updated Building Code Process

The Department of Buildings is committed to ensuring that everyone in the building community is well prepared for the changes that will occur as Chicago implements Phase 2 of the building code modernization over the next 14 months. In collaboration with the American Institute of Architects Chicago (AIA Chicago), the Department of Buildings hosted educational sessions for the building community in May 2019 featuring a presentation entitled "Chicago's Updated Building Code: The Basics for the AEC Community." The presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the changes to the Chicago Building Code that will take effect as a result of the historic code modernization ordinance that was passed by City Council on April 10, 2019. 
Video segments from the presentation are now available on the Department of Buildings'  website  and YouTube channel . You can view the full presentation or segments covering each chapter of the code. 

The following topics are covered:
Chicago's Updated Building Code: The Basics for the AEC Community: 
  • Introduction and Overview of Code Modernization
  • Organization and Definitions (Chapters 1 and 2)
  • Fundamentals of Building Planning (Chapters 3-6)
  • Fire Protection Features and Systems (Chapters 7-9)
  • Egress, Accessibility, Indoor Environment and Energy Efficiency (Chapters 10-13)
  • Exterior Walls and Roofs (Chapters 14 and 15)
  • Structural Design and Material-specific Requirements (Chapters 16-26)
  • Building Systems and Special Construction (Chapters 27-33) 
  • Building Rehabilitation and Conclusion
The videos are a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the updated building code. The DOB encourages you to share the link with your co-workers and colleagues. Should you have any questions or comments about the material covered in the video(s), please email the DOB at  DOBCommissioner@cityofchicago.org .
 
Portions of this article were excerpted from a recent Chicago Department of Buildings e-mail update.
Industry Statistics - April 2019

Stay on top of monthly data for our industry:  number of contractors active, quantity of people employed and total hours worked.