Due to the critical shortage of PPE for our workforce, ECA has coordinated a supplier to place a large order of face masks for all of our members. 

Members must order and pay directly through the ECA website. Then our Chapter will place one large order for everyone.

ORDER DEADLINE IS MONDAY, APRIL 27 @ NOON.  Shipment lead time is 10 – 14 days once order is placed.

The Electrical Contractors' Association of City of Chicago (ECA) Research and Education Committee is proud to present an upcoming live webinar called, "How to Help & Serve Your Customers in a Virtual World NOW & Seamlessly Transition Back to Business as Usual LATER." The session is to be presented by Kelly McDonald. Please join us THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2020 - 3:00 PM (CST) . The program will include a 40 minute presentation and additional time for Q & A.  

APRIL 28, 2020 @ 4:00P.M.

You don’t have to be the boss to be a leader.  In fact, now, more than ever, the way you approach your work, the business landscape and the very real challenges we all face define you as a leader – or someone who needs to be led. It’s time to step up and show your team, your customers and suppliers how you solve problems and keep the business moving forward.

As you are aware, the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission recently adopted an amended Emergency Rule on April 15, 2020. The rule essentially states any employee of an “essential business” as defined in Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order (including construction) is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if they are diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. This change will make it difficult for employers to defend claims and prove exactly where a worker was infected with the virus.

Please be aware that the Illinois Department of Insurance is not including COVID-19 claims in the employers experience modification (EMR) rating. The NCCI updated their FAQ document on their website which reflects this as well. This information is included in item 16 on the NCCI FAQ which can be read by clicking on the following link: https://www.ncci.com/Articles/Pages/Insights-Coronavirus-FAQs.aspx . While this is a positive development, the IWCC’s emergency rule still has the potential to negatively impact contractors in Illinois. The EMR is just one factor used to calculate insurance premiums; contractor’s will not be shielded from thousands of dollars of workers’ compensation costs. IMSCA will continue to keep everyone updated and will inform you of ways you can participate in this issue.

Again, IMSCA will offer updated information as it becomes available. If you have any specific questions, you can contact Jessica Newbold Hoselton, Executive Director, Illinois Mechanical & Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) at: (217) 523-4361.

This is an update from CISCO regarding a Workers Compensation change in Illinois. Governor Pritzker made some significant changes to the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission rules regarding arbitration.

To read the Emergency Workers Compensation Amendment, click here .

To download and print the CISCO News Update,

click here .

NECA is sponsoring a safety stand down on April 29, 2020 to recognize the many electricians and utility workers that have been deemed essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue to go to work each day and make sacrifices to better our country. Take part and share a note or photo with #NECASafety, and on NECA’s  LinkedIn   and  Facebook   accounts. Please share the number of workers who participated with  [email protected]   so NECA can feature this in the future. Material for your safety stand down can be found by clicking on the links below.    

We would like to remind everyone, that our staff is here to serve you, even while a portion of the staff may be working remotely. Our main switchboard may be forwarded to a staff member at any given time, so if you should have difficulty getting through on our main number 708-531-0022, please reach out to us via the following contact information.

Staff contact information is as follows:

Mark Thomas, Executive V.P. [email protected]

Tim Taylor – Assistant Manager      

[email protected]

Carrie Spaeth – Assistant Manager 

[email protected]

Gina Floro – Office Manager/Accounts payable and receivable [email protected]

Jessica Waterous – NEBF collection [email protected]

NEBF PAYMENTS: Please reach out to Jessica Waterous if you do not currently report and pay your NEBF electronically and you would like to do so.

ECA DUES: If you would prefer an electronic dues reporting/payment option, please reach out to Gina Floro.

Meanwhile, staggered staff are still available to accept mail and packages at our office in Westchester.

157 industry organizations responded to a survey conducted by the Electric Association (EA). The survey concerned business operations working under the uncertainty of COVID-19. Please click on the link below for the survey results.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY RESULTS.

You can find all ECA, NECA and Industry Event date changes or cancellations due to COVID-19 on ECA's website here.



Stay up to date on the latest changes for our Industry including news releases, workplace safety and preparation guidelines, OSHA alerts, and more that affect electrical contractors in Chicago and Cook County.



The ECA utilizes the law firm of Baker & McKenzie. The law firm of Baker & McKenzie is offering an on-demand webinar to the ECA membership. 

 

Click here to view the 40-minute on-demand webinar --

COVID-19: 3 Key Areas for US Employers to Master Now

 

In this webinar, several of Baker & McKenzie’s US based Labor & Employment partners, who are deep in the trenches on these issues, discuss issues evolving in three key areas:

In addition to the webinar, Baker & McKenzie has many blog posts, alerts and articles covering COVID-19 related issues. Their team has been busy preparing practical advice to employers in an effort to ease the burden of these trying times.

 

For more insight, please visit... 

Please click on the links below updates regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): The first link is for a copy of a letter to all signatory contractors regarding interim guidance as to how the paid leave requirements in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for employers with 500 or fewer employees will be handled. The second link is an updated NECA FFCRA FAQ. The third link is a link to an article concerning the Department of Labor's direction regarding how employers with fewer than 50 employees are handled in the FFCRA..

Every three years, the National Electrical Code (NEC) is updated to reflect the newest installation practices utilized by the electrical industry, bringing about hundreds of revisions and new rules to the code. This training program provides attendees with a review of over 200 of the most significant changes in the 2020 NEC. Learn about new articles and revisions to existing requirements that directly impact the electrical construction business. This high-energy program promises to deliver authoritative overviews of many of the NEC changes that must be understood by contractors, installers, and inspectors alike. This program includes a textbook titled "Significant Changes to the 2020 NEC" authored by Michael Johnston (NECA) and Jim Dollard (Philadelphia Electrical JATC). The program is presented using PowerPoint slides that align with the information in the textbook. 

For more information contact NECA Education at  [email protected].

As more and more of our members sign up for online training and register for NECA's twice-weekly webinars, NECA has compiled a few frequently asked questions (see link below) that they've received to help assist you when registering for their webinars. You are encouraged to register early for these events and to login to participate at least 10 minutes before the event begins. All programs are available at www.NECALearningCenter.org . On the “ Course Catalog” page of the website, NECA always provides buttons directly to upcoming webinars as well as the past webinar recordings.

Please click on the links below for the National Disease Emergency Response Agreement (NDERA), and the original and updated NDERA Q&As. The updated questions have been developed in response to questions received by the NECA National office, and takes into effect the changing nature of the current situation.  

 

Please visit the ECA website at: www.ecachicago.com (Latest News) and also the NECA website at: www.necanet.org under the COVID-19 Resource Center, for much more information. Please contact the ECA with any questions at: (708) 531-0022.  

NECA has compiled several helpful documents to better understand your business options as a result of this new law:

Please visit the ECA website at www.ecachicago.com Latest News) and also the NECA website at:  www.necanet.org  under the COVID-19 Resource Center, for much more information. Please contact the ECA with any questions at: (708) 531-0022.

CARES ACT information for Businesses

Paycheck Protection Program Provisions

Small Business Administration:  PPP Checklist

The Chicago Building Congress shared this information regarding the new Paycheck Protection Program. You can access the files here.

Please click on the link below regarding an update from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce concerning the recently enacted CARES Act. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has now published, the “Coronavius Emergency Loans Small Business Guide & Checklist.” Stay tuned for much more information on the CARES Act.

 

Please Click Here for a copy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Guide.

Please review two new documents from NECA Safety: “Risk Assessment Process and Checklist for Work Impacted by COVID-19” and “NECA Example Exposure Control Plan (ECP).”

 

Links to these documents are below and can also be found on the ECA website at www.ecachicago.com and also on the NECA website at: www.necanet.org under the COVID-19 Resource Center, along with much more information.

 

CLICK HERE FOR COPY OF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS CHECKLIST

 

CLICK HERE FOR COPY OF EXAMPLE EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

Read the Guidance here from the Department of Labor.

Additional Resources from ECA Legal Team:

Baker McKenzie Questions answered on FFCRA

Guidance on Dept. of Labor FFCRA

Contractors who work on public works projects will soon be moving to filing their certified payrolls directly to the Illinois Department of Labor rather than through local governments where the work is performed.

Please click the link below for a copy of a notice from the Illinois Department of Labor. The letter provides an update on the status of the system for filing certified payrolls with DOL.

Please Click Here for a copy of the Illinois DOL Notice.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was signed into law on March 18, 2020 and went into effect on April 1, 2020 . 

Please use these links for a summary and FAQ concerning the FFCRA from NECA National. These documents are also available on our website, ECA's COVID-19 page here.

A number of the questions are not completely answered as the Department of Labor (DOL) has stated that they will be issuing further guidance. We will keep you informed as additional guidance is issued.

Please click on the link below for an EIT notice on the Temporary Benefit Changes due to the impact of the coronavirus. Please contact the ECA with any questions at: (708) 531-0022 .

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE TEMPORARY BENEFIT CHNAGES.

The Midwestern NECA office has submitted a package of Subcontractor forms / letters regarding potential coronavirus delays and suspensions on construction projects. The letters were provided by Roy S. Cohen, Partner of the law firm of Cohen, Seglias, Pallas, Greenhall & Furman PC. (Associate Members of the Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter). Please be aware that that your firm might have a slightly different factual pattern which might need to be addressed before sending. Mr. Cohen’s contact information is listed on the first page of the compilation if you would like to reach out to him and discuss further. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR COMPILATION OF SUBCONTRACTOR LETTERS 

Stay safe from Coronavirus on the worksite - review these guidlines about jobsite cleaniness and precautions.



With temporary adjustments to our work schedule and working conditions, this is the perfect time for everyone to undergo personal development with online training. For a limited time NECA is offering more than 100 online training courses to all employees of NECA members for FREE!

LEARN MORE: https://www.necanet.org/about-us/news/news-release-archive/news/2020/03/18/neca-education-take-advantage-of-free-webinars-online-training

The Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) has forwarded an update from the Chicagoland AGC, as there have been recent discussions among Management and Labor leaders regarding construction site precautions. 

Click here to download and print the Construction Site Precautions Notice.

In response to Executive Order 2020-10 issued by the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Construction Safety Council announces suspension of delivery of all in-person training programs through Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Read More.....

NECA began accepting submissions for the 2020 Project Excellence Awards Program on January 1, 2020. These prestigious awards recognize NECA member companies for their outstanding commitment, professionalism and ingenuity in delivering an electrical project across 12 different market sectors.

Submissions for projects completed in 2019 will be accepted until April 30, 2020. 

LEARN MORE »

Join NECA and the electrical industry's leading safety experts at the premier safety event,  NECA Safety Professionals Conference , presented by  NECA Premier Partner Westex by Milliken .

The conference is now scheduled in conjunction with the NECA Convention October 5 - 7, 2020 in Chicago. Visit NECASafetyConference.com for additional details.

The Annual President's Party will now be held in conjunction with the ECA Holiday Party on Friday, December 4th, 2020 at the Crystal Gardens of Navy Pier. More information to come later this year.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) is pleased to present a special event in lieu of the ECA Annual Spring Conference. The event is the “ECA Golf Outing.” This is an opportunity for Chapter members to not only participate in a complimentary golf outing on August 4, 2020 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road in Kildeer, Illinois, which includes use of a driving range, lunch, food and beverages on the course, cocktails and dinner, networking and a raffle; but, an opportunity to contribute to the NECAPAC.

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION. 

The Illinois Mechanical and Specialty Contractors Association (IMSCA) is the lobbying entity that the Electrical Contractors’ Association of City of Chicago (ECA) utilizes in regard to issues concerning the Illinois General Assembly. The IMSCA Political Action Committee (IMSCA-PAC) has postponed the raffle until later in the year. The raffle information included in the link will still apply except for the drawing date.

 

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.