The Statewide LMCC meeting is this week starting on Wednesday, September 17th at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento, and on September 18th at the UC Davis Alumni Center with featured tours of the California Lighting Technology Center and the Energy Efficiency Center.  We have a full agenda on both days and contractor attendance is highly encouraged.  If you have not yet confirmed your attendance, please contact Darlene Besst at the Chapter office today or at 925/828-6322.  The detailed agenda is attached.  
 

The Chapter's annual Fall General Membership meeting was held last week at a new and popular venue, the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton.  Over 100 attended the event, networking with old friends and peers and making new acquaintances.  Chapter President Kurt Brinkman welcomed everyone and announced that Greg Armstrong is the Chapter's new Executive Director replacing Don Campbell.  Two Chapter members were honored with a plaque for 25 years of membership with the Northern California Chapter - Smith & Sons Electric and RTS Systems & Design.  The Chapter also welcomed new members Troy Wells and Craig Dyas with Central Valley Electric in Modesto and associate member Marvis McBride with Sims Metal Management.  New members West Coast Electric in Napa and Megalectric in Alameda were also recognized.

Eight Project Excellence Awards were presented to member firms, many of who were accompanied by their project team partners, including:

• BECI Electric - Highland Hospital Satellite Building in Oakland
• BECI Electric - Washington Elementary School Portable Replacement in San Leandro
• Woltz Electric - Kiewit Corpyard project in Vallejo               
• SilMan Construction - ETL #1 and 3 Tension in Pittsburg
• Lloyd F. McKinney & Associates - Capuchino High School Theater in San Bruno
• Lloyd F. McKinney & Associates - West Valley College Theater in Saratoga
• Red Top Electric Co., Inc. - Zero Net Energy Center Tenant Improvements Project in San Leandro
• Long Electric - Children's Hospital Research Center Oakland Project in Walnut Creek

Congratulations to all project winners and their team members.

The second Annual Marv Jensen Safety Award, recognizing excellence in safety, was presented to IBEW 595 member Andy Glock and Lloyd F. McKinney & Associates, Inc. for the Capuchino High School Theater project.  The NECA/IBEW Safety Committee motto is "Safety First=Family First," and we congratulate the team for doing just that.

The evening concluded with our traditional raffle prize drawing, and a gift to each attendee of a NECA logo shirt.  This is always a well-attended popular event and we hope that many more will be inspired to participate with us next year.

NECA is also looking for contractor members to participate in a panel discussion during the Student Chapter Summit on Sunday, September 28th at 2 PM to talk to students about what skills they look for when hiring students. 

To sign-up to attend the job fair and/or to participate on the panel, please email Wanessa Alves at NECA or call 301/215-4532.

Last week Governor Brown signed AB-1522, which will required nearly all California employers to provide a minimum of three paid sick days to their workers each year.  Business groups across the state, including NECA, opposed the legislation.  While we opposed the measure throughout the process, we were able to secure amendments specifically for the construction industry that will provide construction employers with some relief from the new law.  Those amendments provide that:

1.  The new law does not cover employees in the construction industry covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement entered into before January 1, 2015.

2.  The new law does not cover employees in the construction industry covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement entered into after January 1, 2015, if the collective bargaining agreement expressly waives the requirements of the new law in clear and unambiguous terms.

The new law will go into effect on July 1, 2015.  Additional important information:

• "Pay" is at the employee's base rate.
• The right to use paid sick leave begins at 90 days of employment.
• Sick leave accrues from the first day of employment.
• The employee earns an hour of sick pay for each 30 hours worked.
• The employer can limit paid sick leave to 3 days or 24 hours per 12-month period (rolling, calendar, or anniversary year).
• Accrued sick leave carries over to the next year, but the employer can cap accrual at 48 hours or 6 days.
• Personal time off (PTO) and existing sick plans may be sufficient if it satisfies the minimums in the law.
• Employees who are reinstated within 12 months from termination with the same employer are entitled to any sick leave that accrued while previously employed with that employer.
• There is no requirement to payout unused sick leave upon termination.
• The employer must include the accrued balance of sick pay on the employees wage statement or provide a separate document at each payday.
• No private right of action.  The DLSE or the attorney general enforces the law.

Source: Politico Alert, September 10, 2014
 

This question was taken from the "Ask Bob" section of the IVES web based newsletter.  The question is about using a work platform on a telehandler forklift.

Answer:  With regard to mounting a work platform on a telehandler, please note that ANSI/ITSDF B56.1 states:

Also keep in mind that if using a variable reach (telehandler) RT unit, the capacity will change based on the configuration(boom position, use of outriggers, etc.), which means you cannot exceed one-third of the rated capacity in the unit's weakest configuration throughout the lift.  In addition, many RT telehandler manufacturers prohibit the use of their units as personnel elevating devices so be sure to look in the manufacturer's make and model specific manual for information on it first.  If you have a safety related question for the safety professionals on the NorCal NECA/IBEW Joint Safety Committee, please email Juanita Mitchell at the Chapter Office.  We're here to help.