Workshops throughout two days provided insight into the most important issues affecting members in the trade today.

They included:

• Critical Davis-Bacon Issues presented by Department of Labor Branch Chief Carl Poleskey, Senior Wage Analyst Pam Lee and IBEW International Representative, Construction and Maintenance Department, Stanley Hubbard.  The practical workshop instructed participants on conducting wage surveys to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, which establishes the prevailing rate of pay in a certain area for pubic building construction.
• Legal Issues featured IBEW General Counsel Lawrence Cohen and attorney Robert Kurnick from Sherman, Dunn, Cohen, Leifer & Young.  The discussion centered on the changing nature of the National Relations Board under the Bush administration.
• National Electronic Job Board included presenters Buddy Satterfield and Jerry Westerholm, International Representatives, Construction and Maintenance Department, and Wayne Spong, Journal and Media Relations Department.  The workshop introduced members to the first official job board for construction opportunities nationwide on the Internet.
• National Labor Management Cooperative Committee presented by Joe Salimando of the Quality Connection and William Triplett, Labor-Management Standards Director, NECA.  The session discussed the NLMCCs accomplishments and goals.
• Investment Dynamics featured a variety of speakers from the world of finance who devoted the session to protecting the investment portfolios and tips on real estate investment.
• Pattern Agreement Language Guides (Inside, Outside and Residential) provided an overview of the agreement approval process in the session directed by Larry Liles, International Representative, Construction and Maintenance Department.  The history of Category I Language was shown, along with samples of the new pattern agreement guides.
• Workplace Harassment presented by Royetta Sanford, Director of the IBEW Human Services Department.  The workshop focused on helping union leaders and members effectively deal with workplace harassment.  Participants learned how to recognize and confront the issue in a proactive manner and how to promote a workplace free of harassment.