LABOR RELATIONS

NECA values highly the long record of constructive and responsible labor relations practiced by the national association, its chapters, and its members. NECA's basic policy is that every effort should be made by all parties concerned-the national association, its chapters, its members, supervisory personnel, the IBEW, and local unions-to improve labor management relations. The goal is to provide the maximum possible productivity per man-hour of labor to meet competition and to promote consumer use of the trained and skilled electrical craftsmen employed by qualified electrical contractors.

In order to implement this basic policy NECA endorses, and seeks to develop on the local and national level, programs and procedures of rational and peaceful approaches to the settlement of disputes and the avoidance of strikes, work stoppages, and jurisdictional disputes. NECA has joined with the IBEW to develop the National Labor- Management Cooperation Committee (NLMCC) with the goal of improving the relationship between signatory employers and the IBEW at all levels and exploring ways to work together to become more competitive, to implement programs that increase employment opportunities, and to promote the value of union electrical work. NECA develops programs for improving safety, training apprentices and journeymen, employment and benefit programs, and other programs for the benefit of the industry and the general public. NECA plays an active role in the Council on Industrial Relations (CIR), the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC), the Employees Benefit Agreement (NEBF), the Plan for the Settlement of Jurisdictional Disputes, the Continuous Pipe-Type Underground Oil-Filled Transmission Conduit Installations Agreement, the Outside Utility Construction National Project Agreement, the National Teledata Agreement and the National Maintenance Agreement. The association often sponsors seminars to promote harmonious local labor relations.

The industry and the general public have earned immeasurable savings by NECA's diligent efforts to promote and maintain full and uninterrupted productivity while striving for economically realistic terms of employment. The Council on Industrial Relations is a forum, mutually endorsed by NECA and the IBEW, which meets quarterly for the timely and peaceful resolution of the labor-management disputes which cannot be resolved at the local level. Parties may jointly or unilaterally submit disputes to the CIR and the resulting unanimous decision becomes binding on the parties involved.