California Politics and Industry News

On February 25th CAL SMACNA welcomed its members to the 13th Annual ‘Day at the Capitol’ (DAC) event. More than 30 CAL SMACNA members traveled to Sacramento to meet with their Legislators and discuss issues important to the industry.

Forbes published an article discussing blue-collar labor in 2019.

Sheet metal shop tours provide excellent opportunities for CAL SMACNA members to meet face-to-face with their elected officials to better educate their representatives about the sheet metal/HVAC industry and discuss the various issues important to their local businesses.

Two deserving chapter executives received SMACNA’s Chapter Executive of the Year award at SMACNA’s Annual Convention for their efforts in tackling one of SMACNA’s most critical initiatives: recruiting a skilled workforce. Lauri Rollings, executive director of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association of Milwaukee, and Linda Jennings, executive vice president of SMACNA San Diego, were recognized by then SMACNA President Jack Knox as co-winners.

The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) sent out the following notice on October 5, 2018:

Licensed contractors eager to grow their business and receive free specialized FEMA training can participate in Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) a California program offering homeowners up to $3,000 toward a code-complaint seismic retrofit.

PAGA Exemption for CBAs — Governor Brown signed AB 1654 (Rubio, D), supported by CAL SMACNA, to strengthen and uphold the sanctity of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) when it comes to settling grievances. This bill exempts construction industry employees in a CBA from also using the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) to resolve disputes with their employer in a civil action.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) sent out a notice announcing that new educational videos are now available on their Online Resource Center (ORC). These videos review the 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for HVAC requirements in nonresidential, high-rise residential, hotel and motel buildings.

Due to strong growth in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, the need for certified personnel is in high demand. Contractors are taking advantage of industry growth by earning ICB/TABB certifications at a record pace.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is providing interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the residential and non-residential drafts of the 2019 Title 24 documents (2019 Energy Code Compliance Manuals and Documents).

On May 31, 2018, CAL SMACNA member Bob Tuck, testified in front of the California Public Utilities Commission regarding Workforce Standards. Watch the video below!

2018 Guilfoy Award Winner (Architectural), CMF Inc., was featured in the May issue of SMACNews.

On Tuesday May 15, 2018, the State of California Labor and Workforce Development Agency sent out the following press release: California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary David M. Lanier today announced that there are nearly 82,000 active apprentices in California – the highest number in the 79-year history of formal apprenticeship job training in the state.

Check out this video of Cal Poly’s HVAC&R Students talking about their program.

At CAL SMACNA’s 52nd Annual Convention’s President Luncheon, Angie Simon, President of Western Allied Mechanical, Inc., received the 2018 Ed Banks Memorial Award for Contractor of the Year.