TECHNOLOGY & MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION
E-NEWS BULLETIN
MANUFACTURING STRONG !
MEMBER INFORMATION
ILLINOIS DEPT. OF LABOR GUIDANCE ON EMERGENCY TEMPORARY STANDARDS

From Illinois OSHA: President Biden ordered the federal Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any unvaccinated workers produce a negative test on a weekly basis. Federal OSHA will be adopting an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employers with 100 or more employees. As of September 16, 2021, the Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Illinois OSHA) has not received any detailed information on the content of OSHA’s proposed vaccine mandate ETS and the federal process for adopting it.

Illinois OSHA is charged under 820 ILCS 219 with ensuring the protection of Illinois employees and employers under its jurisdiction in the public sector from occupational safety and health hazards. In Illinois, federal OSHA has jurisdiction over the private sector.

When federal OSHA adopts a vaccine mandate ETS for employers with 100 or more employees, standards adopted by Illinois OSHA are required to be “at least as effective” as those adopted by OSHA in accordance with 29 USC 667(c)(2) of the OSH Act of 1970. Once federal OSHA files the ETS, Illinois will have 30 days after the date of promulgation of the Federal standard to adopt a State emergency temporary standard. The potential State standard would have to remain in effect for the duration of the Federal emergency temporary standard which may not exceed six (6) months.

At this point in time, there is no action required of employers in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Labor and Illinois OSHA will communicate when action is required of employers with 100 or more employees.
STATE EMPLOYMENT REPORT
Kentucky created the most net new manufacturing jobs in August, adding 5,700 workers. Other states with notable employment growth for the month included Missouri (up 4,500), Illinois (up 3,900), Kansas (up 3,300), Tennessee (up 3,200) and Pennsylvania (up 3,100). Just eight states have notched increased manufacturing employment since February 2020, or in the 18 months since the pandemic began. Those states were Utah (up 8,100), Nebraska (up 1,500), Nevada (up 700), Kentucky (up 200) and Montana, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Vermont (each up 100). In contrast, the largest declines over that time occurred in big states, such as California (down 69,200), Michigan (down 46,600), Ohio (down 31,400), Washington (down 30,300), Texas (down 29,600) and Illinois (down 28,900). More HERE.
THREE OPTIONS TO TACKLE LABOR SHORTAGES, ALL HAVE PROBLEMS
Summer may officially be over, but labor shortages seem to drag on despite enhanced unemployment measures lapsed. While there is not one exact reason for what is driving this, employers are adapting. Some are leaving demand unsatisfied, raising wages, or leaning more on the workers they already have. Bank of America researchers break down three ways employers are dealing with labor shortages and why these approaches might be fueling a temporary boon in productivity. More HERE.
AGING WORKFORCE COMPLICATES SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR MANUFACTURERS
Family-owned manufacturing companies are facing similar challenges as the industry at large as succession planning is complicated by an aging workforce. “This is a different generation of people — manufacturing is not as sexy as it might have been for a Baby Boomer father,” said Laurie Harbour, president and CEO of Southfield-based Harbour Results Inc. More HERE.
NFIB SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM INDEX
Small business owners continue to experience record-level challenges with prices and employment, according to the National Federation of Independent Business. Half of all respondents in the August survey said that they had job openings that they were unable to fill, with 60% saying that there were few or no qualified applicants, also an all-time high. More HERE.
CEO CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO SLIDE IN SEPTEMBER
Chief Executive’s latest poll finds U.S. CEOs increasingly concerned that labor shortages and Biden-era policies will stall chances to rebound from the pandemic. CEOs’ forecast for business conditions by this time next year declined by another percentage point, to 6.7 out of 10. That is nearly 8 percent lower than they had projected earlier this year. More anecdotally, Chief Executive heard from a large number of CEOs that they were increasingly concerned with policies and regulations being pushed out by the Biden administration, among them Jim Nelson, president of Parr Instrument Company, a manufacturer of laboratory instruments in Moline, Illinois. “The success of Biden passing unfavorable tax policy is in my mind the one thing that could quickly derail our strong economic recovery,” he said. He was far from alone. More HERE.
MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION SLOWS
Manufacturing production slowed significantly in August, edging up 0.1% for the month after rising by 1.6% in July. Much like the larger economy, manufacturing production has softened likely due to supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages and rising raw material costs. Still, manufacturing production has increased 5.9% over the past 12 months, or 3.2% year to date, with output in the sector the strongest since January 2019. More HERE.
HOUSE PREPARED TO ADD CIVIL PENALTIES TO NLRA ACT
Although the “Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act” was unable to advance in the Senate last spring, House Democrats are now attempting to pass pieces of the legislation through the $3.5T spending bill. Legislative language released last week includes provisions of the PRO Act that would impose civil penalties for unfair labor practices (ULPs) and creating a host of new ULPs. The changes contemplated would turn the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) into a punitive statute, fining employers up to $50,000 per violation. Among the new ULPs is a provision prohibiting an employer from entering into or enforcing any prohibition on joint, class, or collective action, essentially banning the use of arbitration in employment cases for unionized and non-union employers alike. More HERE.
BIDEN PLAN TO REBUILD U.S. SUPPLY CHAINS
On Feb. 24, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order opting to "create more resilient and secure supply chains for critical and essential goods." The recent effort to strengthen U.S. self-sufficiency in an era of global value chains represents an intersection between a more confrontational foreign policy stance toward China and a domestic effort to reshore manufacturing. More HERE.
SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUP PREPARES TO SUE ADMINISTRATION
The Job Creators Network (JCN), a small business advocacy group is preparing to sue the Biden administration over its COVID vaccine requirement for employers with more than 100 workers. JCN CEO Alfredo Ortiz told the media that the President's vaccine mandate is an overreach of federal authority on small business, and that JCN "plans to file a lawsuit to block the implementation of this order." More HERE.
MEMBER ADVOCACY
CALL TO ACTION: SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON THE ENGERY BILL
Last week, Governor Pritzker signed into law the massive energy bill that will be the single largest rate increase in Illinois history. Energy costs will increase by $5-$15 per month for the average household and 10%-15% for industrial consumers like manufacturers. If you would like to sign your name to a letter to the editor explaining how the new energy bill will to impact your company, email us HERE and we will prepare a pre-written letter that you can send to your local newspaper. This energy bill will have major implications on consumers and businesses across Illinois for decades to come, and many members are eager to voice their frustrations.
CQ's FALL LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW
Raising or suspending the debt limit, and passing the infrastructure package are just a few issues facing Congress this session. Find out what else is likely to be a top priority in the CQ report HERE.
MEMBER COMMUNITY
9.22.21 | South Burbs Manufacturers' Breakfast
Come enjoy some coffee and conversation with your fellow manufacturers!
We welcome our guest speaker, Mike Weber, President of MLW Marketing, Inc. Free to attend, manufacturers only please.
Time: 7:00am-8:30am
Cost: Free to Members
Location: Tinley Park, IL
Register: HERE
9.23.21 | Manufacturers' Brewery Event
The idea of a brewery sparked the interest of three men back in 2013. Two years later, Alter Brewing Company was born! The TMA Supplier Network Committee invites you to take a break and join your fellow manufacturer's at Alter Brewing for craft beers and bites. Manufacturer's only please.
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Cost: Free to Members
Location: Downers Grove, IL
Register: HERE
9.28.21 | Taiwan→U.S. Midwest Business Roundtable
Join local and regional manufacturers along with Taiwanese officials at an infrastructure and high tech innovation conference including former TMA Chairman Zach Mottl of Atlas Tool Works. More information HERE.
Time: 9:30am-12:00pm
Cost: Free to Members
Location: Chicago, IL
Register: HERE
10.6.21 | Critical Cyber Security Protections for Every Mfg.
Anyone concerned about the safety of their company data and network, the loss of privacy of confidential information, lost or stolen devices should participate in this webinar. More info HERE.
Time: 8:00am-9:00am
Cost: Free to Members
Location: Webinar
Register: HERE
10.14.21 | HR Peer Group
This meeting will focus on best practices for health insurance renewals, including: 1) Tasks in preparation for renewals; 2) Evaluating rates and quotes; 3) How to prevent large premium increases; 4) Potential cost savings
Time: 8:00am-10:00am
Cost: Free to Members
Location: TMA Schaumburg
Register: HERE
10.27.21 | South Burbs Manufacturers Breakfast
Come enjoy some coffee and conversation with your fellow manufacturers. Steve Lorenzini, Senior Vice President of The Daniel and Henry Co., will be our guest speaker. Free to attend, manufacturers only please.
Time: 7:00am-8:30am
Cost: Free to Members
Location: Tinley Park, IL
Register: HERE
10.28.21 | Technology for the Future Workforce
Join Global Midwest Alliance, Wipfli, AMT, and TMA for an interactive panel discussion on the impact technology will have on the nature of work and the composition of the workforce. More info HERE.
Time: 7:30am-10:30am
Cost: $95
Location: TMA Schaumburg
Register: HERE
MEMBER RESOURCES
U.S. TO TARGET CRYPTO RANSOMWARE PAYMENTS WITH SANCTIONS
Curbing ransom attacks. The Biden administration is preparing to unveil an array of actions, including sanctions, designed to disrupt the digital currency infrastructure that facilitates ransomware cyberattacks. More HERE.
TMA | CYBERSECURITY: Cybersecurity is a must for any small and medium-size manufacturer. TMA can help connect you with fellow members that can assist you with cybersecurity. For assistance, contact us HERE.

TMA | CYBER INSURANCE: To help protect your business, TMA has partnered with Daniel & Henry Company to provide you risk-mitigation and cyber insurance to help you cover vulnerabilities. More HERE and HERE
MEMBER TRAINING
Since its founding in 1925, TMA has served as a training resource for small and mid-size manufacturers. We help our members educate and certify their personnel at all levels - from entry to apprentice to owner/manager. Learn more HERE.
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