IEC ED Niel Dawson Update – March 5th
New Workforce Initiatives
With the economy still going strong, IEC is committed to evolving our services to meet the needs of the membership. I’ve always said that workforce was the number one issue pre-COVID, it’s the number one issue during COVID, and will be the number one issue post-COVID.
We have some exciting announcements and initiatives that we are rolling out, including our new Basic Skills Installer program, and are realigning staff and resources to more directly address finding new workers. We just completed the first 32 hour installer program with 13 people in February and now have another full class that will complete the training and be ready for hire at the March 30 job fair (register here) we are holding. We are now enrolling new workers in the April class.
More info.
More than two months after the first COVID-19 vaccine was approved in the U.S. and healthcare workers began getting shots, only around 14% of the population has gotten at least one dose. At the current rate of around 1.5 million jabs per day, it will take until next February for 90% of Americans to be vaccinated. More info.
IEC completed its first group of skill based training program for workers and applicants. The February session ended February 24th with 13 individuals trained and knowledgeable in tool identification and usage, pipe bending, wire pulling, 3 way switching installation and more.
We currently have 11 individuals in the program that are available for hire when they complete the program March 24th. You can interview them at our job fair on March 30th. Click here for registration.
The Skills Based Installer Program is only one of IEC’s answers to the contractor’s need for experienced workers. IEC is actively recruiting experienced workers from the small workforce pool in the electrical industry. IEC contractors can enroll new workers in this monthly program and have them ready to be productive on the jobsite! Click to Enroll. The next session begins April 12th! Click here and see what they learn.
IEC Contractors you can either interview candidates from your laptop for Savannah interview sessions or sign up for Atlanta Inp-person interview sessions at the Atlanta Training Facility. IEC’s Workforce Development Coordinator is organizing and preparing candidates for your needed workforce. Sign up, Log in and interview! Savannah– (Virtual) March 11th, 11am – 12:30pm Register here.
Register here.
Private recruitment opportunities are available if your organization prefers recruitment focused on your company’s needs. Delast Muhammad organizes interviews just for the positions needed. Delast has also organized mock interviews and resume building workshops to better prepare candidates to meet with contractors. Reach out to her at delast.muhammad@iecatlantaga.
SAFETY
Toolbox Talks- Law and Conditions Dictate Top Speed
Action Alert
Congressional Democrats will be considering the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act on the House floor next week (the week of March 8), completely bypassing the committee process. The PRO Act would completely overhaul our country’s labor laws at the expense of employers and employees. The legislation is a virtual ‘wish list’ of organized labor. Among the radical policies included in the bill are:
Elimination of the Secret Ballot in union elections by implementing ‘Card Check’; More info.
Georgia’s House of Representatives passed an omnibus bill that would reform a range of election rules, including over absentee voting, voter ID for absentee voting, time limits for voting, and more.
The 66-page bill, HB 531 (pdf) passed the Republican majority chamber on a party line vote of 97-72 and is headed to the state Senate for further debate. More info.
March 11th,2021 11:00am- 12:00pm
An overtly pro-union administration and Congress not only means an increase in the number of policies aimed at bolstering big labor, it also means emboldening unions to ramp up their organizing efforts. Don’t let your operation fall victim to the union’s efforts to upend your business. Hear about your rights and the steps you should take to remain union-free. Register to attend.
Acuity Brands
Interested in learning how to confidently design lighting controls systems? Join Acuity Brands for a one-hour webinar to learn more about Visual Controls a comprehensive software tool developed for industry professionals to easily create lighting controls designs. Register here.
Sustainability has grown to be a major focus within the lighting industry, which influences the mission statements and purchasing decisions of many businesses. Hear some of the factors that not all buyers recognize when they decide to pursue sustainability in lighting renovations. Watch this 15-minute video now to learn more!
