News From PCCA...
What Employers Should Consider About OSHA Temporarily Suspending Implementation of Vaccine Mandate
As most of you likely have heard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has suspended enforcement of its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates for large private businesses after a federal appeals court blocked the measure
OSHA posted a message regarding the ETS on its website on November 12: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2
“The court ordered that OSHA 'take no steps to implement or enforce' the ETS [Emergency Temporary Standard] 'until further court order.' While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation,” OSHA said.
PCCA Announces Release of 811 Emergency Study
PCCA is proud to inform you of today's release of a new, comprehensive study of the nation's 811 system, which found that failures in the system are costing the U.S. some $61 billion a year in waste and excess costs and creating unnecessary hazards for public safety.
The study, unprecedented in scope and scale in the damage prevention space, was conducted by Continuum Capital for the Infrastructure Protection Coalition (IPC), a coalition of industry groups who represent regular users and stakeholders in the 811 system and want to see it run safely and efficiently.
You can view the study at the coalition website: www.ipcweb.org.
PCCA Announces 2022-2023 Scholarship Program
PCCA has begun accepting applications for scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year. The scholarships are open to the children and other dependents of PCCA members' employees. Each scholarship is worth up to $10,000, and up to four scholarships are awarded every year.
PCCA will also be awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a student at each school participating in PCCA's Who Will Do the Work? program. These applicants do not need to be affiliated with a PCCA member.
The application deadline is February 15, 2022.
We encourage all of you to pass along this information to your employees and their children. Please provide this information to your HR departments and use the PCCA scholarship program as a benefit to their employees.
PCCA Supports Infrastructure Bill, Strongly Objects to Reconciliation Package
As Congress nears an agreement on budget reconciliation legislation, PCCA Chairman Bob Breeden, ElectriCom, Inc., sent a letter to congressional leaders on October 26 reiterating the association's support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act while also strongly objecting to many of the provisions in the framework of the Build Back Better budget reconciliation package.
2022 PCCA Convention News
PCCA Members:
I’m reaching out to you for the second time in two weeks to announce further changes to our 2022 Convention. Our plans are now final!
We are holding our 2022 Convention March 4-9 (the original dates we had scheduled in Hawaii) at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bob Breeden and I flew out to Arizona last week with the intention to finalize a contract with the Sheraton at Wild Horse Pass, but we were unable to make our convention work with that resort. Luckily, we had two backup properties to look at in case the first choice didn’t work out. After looking at all our options, we determined that the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was by far the best choice to host our 2022 Convention. The property is nearly perfect for our group and our program.
The process of choosing a convention location and negotiating a contract with a resort has always been time-consuming and complicated. In this case, we were under the gun to find a location in a very short period with far fewer choices than exist when doing a search two to three years out. This process has dominated both Bob Breeden’s and my time since Turtle Bay canceled our convention on September 10.
Recognized as the longest-running AAA Five Diamond resort in Arizona, the Fairmont Scottsdale provides endless enchantment for all ages. Indulge yourself in locally inspired creations at five award-winning restaurants and bars. Lavish yourself with exquisite pampering at the world-renowned Well & Being Spa. Feel like a kid again as you frolic your way through six stunning pools and play your best rounds ever on two championship-level TPC golf courses.
We look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale.
Sincerely,
Tim Wagner
President & CEO
PCCA Opposes Biden's Vaccine Mandate
The Power & Communication Contractors Association has voiced strong concerns with the sweeping new federal vaccine requirements laid out by President Biden on September 9, noting that the mandates "will lead to unnecessary job cuts and resignations at a time when the expansion of several infrastructure markets is within reach and construction workers are needed most."
"While there may be varying opinions about vaccinations, PCCA is not anti-vaccine," PCCA Chairman Bob Breeden said. "What we do oppose is vaccination mandates coming from the federal government."
Read PCCA's full statement here.
PCCA Journal - 2021 Q3 - Available Online
The latest edition of the PCCA Journal is in the mail but you can avoid the wait by reading it online.
We'll revisit the Mid-Year meeting in Maine... discuss the infrastructure package... and more.
Take it with you.
The PCCA Journal is portable and optimized for reading on your phone or tablet.
PCCA Workforce Development Information
Click the links below for information from Northwood Technical College (formerly Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, WITC) on the school's online Overhead and Underground Utility Installer Technician programs. Northwood Tech is a partner school in PCCA's workforce development program, and these courses can be used as part of the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program (TIRAP), a Department of Labor registered apprentice program, www.tirap.org.
- Watch the WITC Apprenticeship Program Overview Video -
See here for course and cost information on the programs.