NECA-IBEW Agreement on Unfilled Calls, Recruitment Toolkits & Member Only Portal Launch

Last year, NECA CEO David Long and IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper signed a joint memorandum formally committing both organizations to fill unfilled electrical worker calls through coordinated joint hiring initiatives.

Watch a message from NECA CEO David Long on the importance of this initiative:

The bottom line: Where there are unfilled calls in your jurisdiction, after 48 hours, you are authorized to actively recruit non-union electricians, bring them to your IBEW local for processing, and have them referred back to your company. 

What you're authorized to do: The MOU explicitly authorizes NECA member contractors to take the following actions in areas where unfilled calls exist:

1. Actively recruit electricians from the non-union workforce. You can reach out directly, post jobs, and attend or host hiring events targeting non-union candidates. 

    

2. Bring recruited candidates to your IBEW Local Union Hall for processing. Make a classification recommendation to the Local Union for the workers you recruited. The local takes your input into account and is to issue a referral.
   
   

3. Request the workforce recruitment list. NECA Chapters can request in writing the list of names from the National Workforce Recruitment Task Force, Local Unions, and We Power America initiatives. IBEW Locals are directed to share this list immediately upon request. Work with your NECA Chapter to make this request.
   
   

4. Use NECA’s hiring event toolkits to run a structured event, single or multi-employer, that moves candidates from the door to a conditional offer in a single day.

NECA recognizes there is not one single solution to solve workforce recruitment shortages and continues to encourage collaboration and strong communication to maximize success with the Joint Hiring Initiatives process and any local issues with the above processes should be brought to your NECA Chapter Executive for engagement with your NECA Field Representative.

Download the Hiring Event Toolkits

NECA has developed comprehensive toolkits for structured hiring events, expediting the process from candidate introduction to conditional offers in a single day. Each covers outreach, event structure, candidate flow, IBEW coordination, checklists, and post-event follow-up. This the most effective way to activate the MOU!

• These toolkits will also be available on NECA's Member-Only Portal! More about this brand new portal below.

Unlock More with the Member-Only Portal

NECA is excited to announce the launch of the all-new NECA Member Portal on NECANET.org. This new destination gives member contractors one streamlined place to access the tools, resources, and information you need to grow your business and stay connected with the association.

The portal will be routinely updated with important announcements and member-exclusive opportunities, reflecting NECA's ongoing commitment to delivering practical, easy-to-access resources that help contractors succeed in a competitive marketplace.