For 48 years, IEC of Oregon has fought to protect and advance the merit shop electrical industry. We monitor every level of government—city, county, state, and federal—tracking the legislative, regulatory, and legal issues that affect your business. We keep lawmakers informed, keep our members informed, and make sure your interests never get overlooked.
IEC Oregon has earned deep respect across the industry, holding seats on influential state committees where the decisions that shape our trade get made. Alongside our lobbyist Shawn Miller of Miller Public Affairs, we fight for the policies that keep our industry strong and competitive.
Have a question or want to get involved? I’m here to help. Contact me to talk about the issues affecting your business. Contact Cindy, cindy@iecoregon.org | 503 686-8989
IEC Oregon joined a coalition to secure this important licensing reciprocity agreement between Oregon and Washington, giving general journey level electricians the ability to work across state lines.
IEC Oregon led the effort to clarify and expand the scope of work under the minor label program — cutting costs, speeding up jobs, and delivering real benefits to contractors and consumers alike.
When a proposal threatened to dismantle the apprenticeship reciprocity that Oregon, Washington, and Montana contractors rely on, IEC Oregon led the fight to protect it.
The existing agreement allows registered apprentices to work anywhere across all three states — giving contractors the flexibility to deploy their full workforce wherever the job is. The proposed change would have restricted apprentices to counties bordering Oregon and Washington only, cutting off large portions of the region and leaving contractors unable to staff projects with their own trained apprentices.
IEC Oregon along with the Allied Coordinators group helped rally the merit shop community to oppose the restriction. The result: the tri-state agreement was preserved, and contractors kept the freedom to put every member of their workforce to work — anywhere in Oregon, Washington, and Montana.
IEC Oregon helped pass legislation establishing clear payment timelines for owners, contractors, and subcontractors on commercial construction projects — so the businesses doing the work get paid on time.
IEC Oregon championed and passed legislation that cut the retainage requirement on construction projects in half — putting more money back in subcontractors’ pockets, sooner.
IEC fights for merit shop contractors on the national stage in four key ways. Learn more at the IEC National Advocacy page.
IEC shapes the rules that govern our trade—holding seats on 18 code-making panels for the NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC). Working
alongside the IAEI and NEMA, IEC helps develop the NEC, contributes to the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), and reviews UL standards. See IEC’s work on Codes & Standards.
Labor, energy, tax, jobs, and workforce development—the issues debated in Washington directly affect your bottom line. IEC stands up for the policies that protect our members and interests. Explore national priority issues, the PRO Act, workforce legislation, and more.
New federal regulations can be costly and burdensome—especially for smaller businesses. IEC weighs in directly with key decision-makers at the Department of Labor, OSHA, the SBA, and on PLAs to ensure merit shop concerns are heard before the rules are written.
A strong industry needs a strong workforce. IEC builds relationships and promotes the electrical trade through programs like Explore The Trades, Hire A Hero, veteran outreach, and National Guard employment initiatives. Learn more about workforce development.