Updated: Aug 1
🎉 Welcome our New Team Member
Based in and recently new to Eugene, Oregon, Melinda Sinay is a seasoned administrative professional with over 37 years of experience in leadership, operations, business finance, and team development in the medical service industry. With significant expertise in bookkeeping, compliance, credentialing, contracting, and business process management, she brings a highly organized and solutions-driven approach to operational support for small businesses, including those in the electrical contracting sector.
Melinda has successfully operated consulting and billing services businesses, private medical practices, and surgery centers, overseeing daily operations, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, and financial reconciliation. Her hands-on experience managing staff, streamlining workflows, and building cohesive teams makes her an asset to organizations aiming for sustainable growth and operational efficiency. We’re thrilled to have her on board and excited to see the impact of her expertise in action!
🏌♂️ Tee Off for a Cause! ⛳
Join us for our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament — a day of fun, networking, and giving back!
📅 September 26, 2025
📍 Emerald Valley Golf & Resort
👥 Four-Person Scramble
🥪 12:30 PM – Lunch & Registration
🏌♀️ 1:30 PM – Shotgun Start
🍽 5:30 PM – Dinner & Awards
🎟 Registration deadline: August 31st
Whether you’re swinging clubs or sponsoring the day, you’ll gain exposure to a wide network of industry professionals — all while supporting a great cause.
💙Proceeds from this year’s tournament will support the Oregon Cancer Foundation in honor of Ron Harvell, former Vice President of Operations at EC Electric. Ron was a highly respected leader in the electrical industry and a dedicated board member and treasurer of the Oregon Pacific Cascade Chapter of NECA.
🎟 Spots are limited — register or sponsor today!
📚Education & Safety Courses
🧰 Advanced Estimating | Tangent, August 18-20, 2025
👷♂ Foreman Development Series | September 19, 2025
WEBINARS:
📈 NECA Future Leaders: Understanding Your UNS: Unsubscribe, Underline and Underwrite | August 12, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
📈 AI and Data Security: What Electrical Contractors Need to Know about the Threat to Construction Data | Aug. 19 | 2:00 PM ET
📈 Succession Planning: Who will be Next in Your Seat? | Aug. 20 | 12:00 PM ET
📈 Trends & Innovations in EV Infrastructure | Aug. 28 | 12:00 PM ET
You're Invited: Picnic at the Park – Friday, September 5, 2025!
Join ORPAC NECA and IBEW Local 280 for a fun-filled afternoon at the Eugene Emeralds field as we host a special Picnic at the Park to celebrate our electrical workforce and build stronger contractor-union connections. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. as the Emeralds take on the Spokane Indians.
This family-friendly, all-you-can-eat event is a great way to show appreciation for our members, spotlight workforce development, and share our story with the community. Bring your team, your family, and your appetite—this is a day to relax, connect, and cheer together.
📅 Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
🕐 Time: Game starts at 6:30 p.m. (Picnic starts before first pitch!)
📍 Location: Eugene Emeralds Field – 3rd Base Picnic Area
🍔 Includes: BBQ buffet, ballpark access, shaded seating, and more!
Catchup contributions to Cascade Pension Trust not permitted starting with hours in or after January 1, 2026
For many years, the Cascade Pension Trust has accepted both traditional 401(k) wage deferrals up to annual dollar limits, as well as so-called catch-up contributions by which persons aged 50 or older could pay an increased 401(k) contribution in order to help get ready for retirement. In 2025, the traditional 401(k) wage deferral limit is $23,500, and the catch-up contribution limit is $7,500. Unfortunately, a relatively new federal law known as SECURE 2.0 has made significant changes to how catch-up contributions must be made starting with the 2026 plan year. The Cascade Pension Trust will not be able to accept catch-up contributions and still remain in compliance with the new law.
As a result of the changes made by SECURE 2.0, the Cascade Pension Trust will no longer accept catch-up contributions starting with reports for hours worked in or after January 2026. Employees may, however, continue to make traditional 401(k) wage deferrals to the Cascade Pension Trust, just not in the increased amount previously available for those 50 or older who elected to make additional catch-up contributions.
Both employees and employers should take steps no later than December 31, 2025, to be ready for this change. Employees who had been making catch-up contributions should provide their employer with an adjusted 401(k) withholding election that eliminates the portion of their previous wage deferral election which was attributable to catch-up contributions. Employers should make sure their HR employees are aware of the elimination of the availability of catch-up contributions, so that HR staff can remind employees who had been making catch-up contributions to provide an updated election form.
🧾A Selection of Significant and Interesting Legislation — An Update from Mark Long at Pac/West Lobby Group
Corporate Practice of Medicine:
SB 951 – requires that medical practices are partially owned and controlled by licensed medical professionals and includes the prohibition on “noncompete clauses” for certain physicians. The noncompete contract language was added as a response to the Eugene area collapse of the Oregon Medical Group.
Energy:
HB 2065 and 2066 - increases and expedites access to microgrids across urban, suburban, and rural Oregon communities. Microgrids are local, self-contained energy systems designed to operate independently or in coordination with a larger power grid (sometimes called ‘islanding’). By reducing red tape and approval time, these new laws will make it possible for communities to plan, build, and own local microgrids and connect them to the larger grid. Microgrids can operate with a wide variety of power sources, but more often they make use of local clean energy power such as solar or wind.
Transportation:
The governor has called for a special session to fund operation and maintenance work at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Without new funding or additional funding, ODOT would need to reduce around 400 workers statewide (about a little less than 10% of the workforce). The governor recently proposed a 6-cent gas tax increase, an increase in registration and title fees and a doubling of the statewide payroll tax for local public transportation programs. The objective will be enough revenue to continue ODOT staffing levels for a few years and to share revenue with local governments. The overall new tax target is about $650 million. The special session is anticipated to begin at the end of August just before the Labor Day holiday.
Prevailing Wage:
HB2688 added bespoke off-site construction work under Oregon’s prevailing wage law. The bill impacts construction sub-assembly work such as plumbing, mechanical and electrical component work (other components are also impacted). For the electrical industry, the new law requires the electrical board to develop a “list” or rule that BOLI will use for making off-site prevailing wage determinations. The board will need to adopt new rules to identify which products will qualify as bespoke or custom-made electrical system work (components) performed off-site that would be subject to Oregon prevailing wage rates. IBEW and NECA have conceptually agreed that the intent of the Bill was to ensure prevailing wage determinations do not influence electrical licensing and to ensure that manufacturing component exemptions and definitions were written in conformance with NFPA 70. BOLI will need to identify how off-site work will be reported in Oregon and clarify any current exemptions for out of state work outside of BOLI’s regulatory purview. HB2688 applies to public contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2026.
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⚠️ Important Update: New Overtime Tax Reporting Requirements Under OBBB
On July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB) was signed into law, introducing new federal tax deductions for eligible overtime compensation and new reporting requirements for employers like you.
While the OBBB does not change existing wage and hour laws or collective bargaining agreement terms, it does create new employer obligations related to how overtime is tracked and reported on employee W-2s starting with the 2025 tax year.
Key Points from the NECA Labor Relations Bulletin:
✅ New Tax Deduction for Employees: Employees can deduct up to $12,500 (or $25,000 for joint filers) in qualified FLSA overtime premiums from their federal income tax.
✅ Only FLSA-Required Overtime Applies: Overtime premiums that exceed federal minimums (e.g., under a CBA or state law) do not qualify.
✅ W-2 Reporting Required: Beginning in 2025, employers must separately report qualified FLSA overtime on employees' W-2 forms.
✅ Transitional Relief for 2025: The Treasury will allow employers to use any “reasonable method” to approximate these amounts in 2025.
What You Should Do Now:
Review your payroll systems to ensure they can distinguish FLSA overtime from other types of premium pay.
Begin separate recordkeeping for qualified overtime compensation.
Consult legal or tax advisors if your operations span multiple states with differing overtime rules.
Stay alert for upcoming guidance from the U.S. Treasury on W-2 reporting procedures.
Read the full bulletin HERE.
⚠️ Tariff Surge Hits Copper and Global Supply Chain: What NECA Contractors Need to Know
A new round of tariffs announced by the Trump Administration is poised to disrupt the electrical construction industry, and NECA contractors must act fast. Effective August 1, 2025, copper will be hit with a 50% import tariff, alongside steep new tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and 21 other countries.
With copper embedded in nearly every phase of electrical construction — from wiring and conduits to transformers and EV chargers — the price surge could drastically affect project costs, timelines, and bids.
🔧 What’s Changing?
Copper: 50% Import Tariff
Justified under Section 232 for national security reasons.
Expected to spike costs across the supply chain, especially for fixed-price or federal contracts.
Canada: 35% Tariff on Non-USMCA Goods
Panelboards, fixtures, lighting, and controls made in Canada will face higher costs if not USMCA-certified.
Mexico & EU: 30% Tariffs
Electrical goods from these partners are now at risk of steep price hikes and procurement delays.
Additional Tariffs on 21 Countries
Affecting components from South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and others — including electronics, semiconductors, and lighting equipment.
📈 What NECA Members Should Do Now
Review Your Supply Chain
Contact suppliers to verify origin documentation and tariff exposure.
Prioritize USMCA-compliant goods from Canada and Mexico.
Review Your Contracts
Make sure your bids and contracts include price escalation clauses.
Use NECA’s partner tool, Document Crunch: Access a free AI-based Tariff Risk Assessment Tool.
Accelerate Procurement
Secure copper and long-lead materials before August 1.
Lock in pricing and consider domestic sourcing where possible.
Advocate
NECA is actively pushing back in Washington, but we need your voice.
Share examples of tariff-related disruptions by contacting govaffairs@necanet.org.
Stay Informed
Watch for updates, webinars, and alerts from NECA’s Labor Relations and Government Affairs teams.
This could be the most significant disruption to electrical material pricing since the U.S.–China trade war. NECA is fighting to protect your ability to build, bid, and grow. Stay proactive, and let us know how we can support you.
Read the full bulletin HERE.
🧠 Members-Only Quiz: Top OSHA Violations of 2024
Think you know the most common OSHA violations from this past year? Take this quick 5-question quiz on the Top 10 OSHA Violations of 2024 and test your safety knowledge!
🎁 Complete the quiz for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!You don’t need a perfect score to be eligible, just participate.
It’s a fun and useful way to stay sharp on key safety standards while brushing up on OSHA compliance.
👉 Take the quiz HERE!
⚖ OMB Issues Revised Guidance on Project Labor Agreements (PLAs)
On June 12, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued revised guidance (Memo M-25-29) concerning the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects. This memo updates OMB’s prior guidance and reinforces the expectations outlined in Executive Order 14063, which mandates PLA use on large-scale federal construction.
The update comes in response to recent legal challenges and inconsistent agency practices regarding PLA implementation.
🔑 Key Takeaways for NECA Contractors
PLA Requirement Threshold Remains at $35 MillionAll federal agencies are expected to require PLAs for construction contracts valued at $35 million or more, unless a documented exception is approved.
New Exception Criteria IntroducedAgencies may request an exception if a PLA:
Would not advance economy or efficiency in procurement
Would reduce the number of potential bidders
Would conflict with federal law or Executive Orders
Stronger Justification RequirementsRequests for exceptions must now include detailed market research and written justification, and must be approved by the agency’s Senior Procurement Executive (SPE).
Quarterly Reporting Now RequiredAgencies must report:
Which projects require PLAs
Which projects were granted exceptions — and why
PLAs Encouraged Below the ThresholdWhile not mandatory for projects under $35 million, the OMB memo encourages agencies to consider using PLAs on smaller projects when appropriate.
📣 What This Means for NECA Members
NECA contractors working on, or pursuing, federal construction work should be aware that PLAs remain strongly supported at the federal level, and that blanket PLA exemptions are no longer allowed. The new guidance aims to bring consistency, transparency, and accountability to federal construction procurement.
Click HERE for the full bulletin.
For more information or questions, NECA members are encouraged to contact the Government Affairs team at necagovtaffairs@necanet.org.
🛠 DOL Ends Practice of Seeking Liquidated Damages in Administrative Settlements
Big news from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): As of June 27, 2025, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will no longer seek liquidated damages during pre-litigation settlements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
This policy change, outlined in Field Assistance Bulletin 2025-3, means that WHD can now only collect back wages in administrative resolutions. Liquidated damages, previously sought alongside back wages, must now be pursued only through litigation.
⚖ Why the Change?
Legal Limits: The DOL acknowledged that Congress only authorized WHD to handle back wages, not liquidated damages, outside of court.
Efficiency: Investigations that included liquidated damages were taking 28% longer and delaying payments to workers.
Fair Process: The change restores a more traditional, court-based approach to penalties, allowing employers to present a “good faith” defense in court when appropriate.
🔑 Key Changes and What It Means for You
WHD can no longer request liquidated damages in settlements, so expect faster resolutions and fewer penalties unless litigation is involved
Applies to cases opened after June 27, 2025. Existing settlements aren’t affected.
FAB 2021-2 and related regional practices are officially withdrawn. We’re back to pre-2010 guidance; liquidated damages are court matters only
WHD can still seek damages if a case goes to court. Court proceedings remain a risk for noncompliance
Bottom line for NECA members: This is a welcome development that may simplify WHD investigations and reduce risk during administrative proceedings. However, litigation still poses exposure; compliance remains key.
View the full DOL Field Assistance Bulletin, and all other labor bulletins, HERE.
📊 Free Infographic: Connected Tech for Electrical Contractors
Looking to streamline workflows and boost profitability? Download the free infographic “Connected Tech for Electrical Contractors” to see how integrated construction technology can help you overcome common challenges like communication gaps, data silos, and project delays.
Discover how connected tools:
Improve collaboration between field and office teams
Eliminate inefficiencies across estimating, procurement, and installation
Consolidate tech platforms for greater productivity and profit
📥 Download your free copy now and see how leading contractors are using digital integration to stay ahead.
Offered by Construction Dive’s studioID and Trimble
Building Tomorrow’s Electrical Workforce Today
How top contractors are closing the talent gap — one hire at a time
The skilled labor shortage remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the electrical industry today, and NECA contractors aren’t alone in feeling the impact. In recent nationwide surveys of top electrical design firms and contractors, more than 60% cited the difficulty of finding and retaining quality employees as the biggest barrier to growth. Whether it’s project engineers, supervising engineers, or electricians, firms across the country are struggling to fill key roles.
And it’s not getting easier. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. will need more than 800,000 new electricians by 2033, with 80,000+ job openings projected each year. At the same time, the demand for workers with advanced skills — from AI and automation to digital system design — continues to rise, widening the gap between opportunity and availability.
But there’s good news: our industry is responding.Top firms are taking bold steps to attract and retain talent. From investing in next-gen training programs to mentoring young professionals, contractors are cultivating a workforce that’s tech-savvy, safety-minded, and ready to lead. This effort is already paying off, as seen in EC&M’s record-breaking 30 Under 30 Electrical All Stars program. These rising stars are embracing innovation, optimizing job-site efficiency, and setting new standards for what the future of electrical work looks like.
What NECA Members Can Do:
Invest in training – Leverage apprenticeship programs and continuing education to upskill your team.
Engage with young talent – Participate in outreach, internships, and recognition programs that showcase the opportunities within the trades.
Champion innovation – Encourage your teams to explore emerging technologies and support creative problem-solving.
As NECA contractors, we have a responsibility and an opportunity to lead the way in workforce development. By building a culture that values growth, mentorship, and innovation, we’re not just filling jobs; we’re shaping the future of our industry!
Read the full article from EC&M Magazine HERE!
📢 New Executive Order Could Accelerate Data Center Work in Oregon
A new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on July 23 aims to fast-track the construction of large-scale data centers and related energy and manufacturing projects. That could mean new opportunities for Oregon’s NECA contractors.
⚡ What the Executive Order Does
The directive:
Speeds up federal permitting for major projects by expanding categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Unlocks access to federal lands, brownfield, and Superfund sites for redevelopment
Opens the door to grants, tax credits, and loan guarantees
Applies to projects that:
Cost at least $500 million
Use more than 100 megawatts of electricity
Or are deemed high-priority by federal agencies
This move comes as data center investment surges across the U.S., driven by rising demand for cloud services, AI infrastructure, and secure digital storage.
🏗 Why NECA Contractors Are Positioned to Win
NECA contractors already have the expertise, manpower, and safety record needed for mission-critical and large-scale electrical projects. With many members actively involved in data center builds, this executive order could open the door to more opportunities, particularly in rural or federally controlled areas of Oregon.
Additionally, Oregon's reputation for renewable energy and its proximity to tech hubs like Seattle and Silicon Valley make it a prime target for data center development.
🔧 The Importance of Early Planning
While permitting may be faster, supply chain constraints remain a major challenge. Lead times for key components — like transformers, medium-voltage cable, and switchgear — can stretch beyond a year.
NECA contractors can stay competitive by:
Locking in procurement early
Partnering with manufacturers and distributors
Staying flexible in project timelines and delivery schedules
📈 As federal policy shifts to support infrastructure and energy expansion, NECA members who adapt early will be best positioned to lead and grow in this evolving market.
Read the full article from Construction Dive HERE.
📱 TikTok is Powering Up the Next Generation of Electrical Workers
TikTok might be known for viral dances and comedy skits, but it’s quickly becoming a powerful tool for recruiting the next wave of electricians and skilled tradespeople.
With over 1.5 billion monthly users, TikTok has proven especially effective at engaging Gen Z by offering short, authentic videos that showcase real people doing meaningful work, including electricians, lineworkers, and union tradespeople.
🔧 Real Influencers, Real Impact
For the electrical industry, creators are:
Highlighting the benefits of trade careers, like job security, strong wages, and no college debt.
Humanizing the jobsite experience through “day in the life” videos and candid career stories.
Recruiting directly by encouraging viewers to pursue apprenticeships and union training programs.
🤝 A Strategic Push for Skilled Trades
Contractors across the country are grappling with a shortage of skilled labor. TikTok has become a grassroots recruitment engine, reaching young people who might have never heard about electrical careers through traditional channels.
Recognizing TikTok’s potential, SkillsUSA, the Skilled Careers Coalition, and TikTok itself have teamed up to launch Skills Jam, a youth-driven content initiative that promotes skilled trades through compelling video storytelling.
This collaboration is specifically focused on helping young people not only learn about trades, but take action, whether that’s applying for an apprenticeship, enrolling in a training program, or finding their first job on a crew.
📣 What Can Contractors Do?
Encourage your apprentices and journeymen to share their work online.
Use TikTok to promote your company culture, job openings, and fieldwork.
Partner with local training programs or unions to create compelling trade content.
Need some inspiration? Check out creator Chelsea Fenton’s page HERE, or Eddy Lopez’s page HERE.
Bottom line: TikTok is no longer just for entertainment — it’s a platform for career inspiration. For electrical contractors looking to connect with the next generation, it may be time to meet them where they are: online, on their phones, and on TikTok.