By / Julie A. Muller-Neff, Esq.
Executive Vice-President, SMACNA-WW
Executive Vice-President,
SMACNA-WW
For many of us, 2020 will be an historic and unforgettable year. In times of distress, successful industries can be measured by their resilience and adaptability under extreme uncertainties, such as those generated from the COVID-19 pandemic. SMACNA-Western Washington has taken several initiatives to adapt to this rapidly changing situation. As our state begins to lift restrictions and define the new ‘normal,’ SMACNA-Western Washington is dedicated to supporting its membership every step of the way.
Industry Fund Relief
To provide our members and industry fund contributors financial respite during the COVID-19 crisis, SMACNA-Western Washington provided a relief on Industry Fund contributions for the hours worked in March, paid in April, and an additional month within the calendar year of 2020 at their discretion. SMACNA-Western Washington strategically offered this relief beginning in April when many contractors in the state were restricted from working on job sites. The Industry Fund Relief is not a loan and will not need to be paid back. We believe providing this moratorium on Industry Fund contributions has helped ease the financial insecurity our industry is facing.
Reopening Construction
Construction was one of the first industries to have a limited reopening under the Stay at Home order in our state. SMACNA-Western Washington has been closely following the news with regards to construction reopening and deciphering the guidelines within each phase. Working with our legislative consultant, Kathleen Collins, we have provided clear and concise communication with how the construction industry can move forward through the phased openings. SMACNA-Western Washington will continue to update its membership as the industry moves through each phase.
Industry Resources and Webinars
In addition to our communications about reopening construction, Administrative Services Coordinator, Patricia Bovie, has been diligent about curating weekly industry news related to COVID-19 in an email campaign titled, “COVID Updates.” We believe this communication is instrumental to contractors staying informed and receiving the latest industry news. All our curated campaigns can be accessed directly on the SMACNA-Western Washington website under “COVID-19 Resources.”
In April, Operations Manager, Carrie Heinrich, organized an economic webinar with Dr. Tom Schleifer titled, “Economic Crisis—An Immediate Measured Response.” We hosted two webinar sessions for our membership and Industry Fund contributors. Dr. Schleifer provided a construction industry analysis and economic forecast for the future. This was a highly informative and industry specific webinar. If you missed the webinar and are interested in the recording, please contact SMACNA-Western Washington. Additionally, Carrie is also orchestrating future webinar events for our membership coming this summer.
We Are Here for You
As we look forward to safely reopening our state and putting the first half of 2020 behind us, SMACNA-Western Washington wants to let its membership know: We are here for you. Should you have any questions or concerns we (Carrie, Patricia, and I) are available Monday through Friday to answer inquiries. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need additional guidance. With resilience, adaptability, and hope, we can surmount a difficult circumstance with success. We hope you and your families continue to stay safe and healthy. Please take care until we can see you again.▪
