Once again, NECA, MCAA and SMACNA have partnered together to host the 2024 MEP Innovation Conference. Immerse yourself in educational sessions, collaborative roundtable discussions and hands-on exhibitor demonstrations that spotlight cutting-edge technologies that can improve NECA contractors productivity and profitability.

• Dates: January 29 – 31, 2024
• Location: Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Cost: $1,295 for NECA Members  |  $400 for Guests

You can view the conference schedule by clicking here. If you are interested in registering for the conference, click here or contact Scot VanBuskirk with the Chapter office.

Suicide Prevention Month

Did you know that September is Suicide Prevention Month? Further, male-dominated industries tend to have more suicides. The macho, tough-guy, and stoic nature of construction workers can even discourage those who are most at risk for suicide from seeking help. Men, especially white men in their early 20’s through their 50’s, account for the bulk of suicides. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 97 percent of the U.S. construction workforce is male and according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 38 percent of construction workers in the U.S. in 2018 were between the ages of 45 and 64.

Moving from jobsite to jobsite can create an environment in which workers are not as connected to their families, each other, or a workplace community. Coupled with working long or irregular hours, sleep patterns can be impacted, causing sleep deprivation and mental and physical exhaustion.

The Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) has created tools and resources which can be used to help integrate suicide prevention into your company’s culture as a safety and health priority! Items available include a social media toolkit, toolbox talks, posters, OSHA suicide prevention resources, QR codes for CIASP’s website, and logos. You can view and download all their Suicide Prevention Resources by clicking here.

The construction industry dedicates a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that lead to suicide and what we can do to prevent it. During Construction Suicide Prevention Week, the industry calls attention to the higher-than-average suicide rate in the construction industry and provides resources to help prevent those deaths. Use these resources to plan activities with your workers during the week of September 4 – 8, 2023. Learn more here.

Recruiting Talent With Handshake

Colleges and Universities have begun posting career fair dates and recruitment events for the upcoming school year. If you plan to attend these events and engage with students, it is strongly encouraged to join the Handshake platform. Handshake is an all-in-one early talent recruiting platform connecting employers to 12M+ students and alumni across 90% of the top educational institutions in the US (and growing). The platform is utilized by students seeking internships and employment, employers seeking to recruit, and colleges and career centers to network, engage and connect. Today, Handshake is the number one site for college students to find jobs, powering career offices at over 1,400 higher educational institutions including community and technical colleges. The platform provides solutions to employers’ early talents needs and offers tools for employers to hire the most qualified and diverse candidates from start to finish. Click here to sign up!

Union Relations for Project Managers

Union relations are an important aspect of your success as a project manager. Maintaining a positive relationship with both the local and its members is a big part of any project. Adhering to the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement is crucial for your company. Union Relations training will allow the project manager to identify how their role plays a part in union relations. Participants will be able to explain the importance of the CBA and essential provisions therein, as well as identify Category 1 language that may differ between locals. Participants will be able to summarize their role in interacting with the union, describe their company’s policies and practices, and identify historical past practices that are not in the agreement, but are common interpretations. Following this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of understanding the local CBA
• Identify Category 1 language to determine what provisions will vary between locals
• Describe the important provisions of the CBA
• Summarize the PM’s role and interactions with the union
• Describe your company’s policies and practices
• Explain the importance of the superintendent and foreman in the union relationship
• Identify the impact union relations will have on a job.

This course is available in the NECA Learning Center.