CASE STUDY: Barnes Alison Labor Management Cooperation Committee (BALMCC)

For 100 years, the unique partnership between contractors and union electricians through the National Electrical Contractors Association/International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NECA/IBEW), also known as the Barnes Alison Labor Management Cooperative Committee (BALMCC), which is a trust organized under the Taft-Hartley Act. NECA/IBEW contactors and electricians have wired many of Oregon and Southwest Washington’s most important projects.

Since 1998 Pac/West has been retained for public relations, marketing outreach and media relations for the partnership. Recently in the marketing arena for BALMCC, Pac/West developed the “Wiring a Green Tomorrow!” effort, building upon the organization’s commitment to renewable and sustainable green energy technologies.

Our work includes brand development and implementation, public relations, advertising, collateral production, community outreach, electronic communications, social media and special events. BALMCC’s mission is to lead the electrical industry – by example – to the highest levels of quality, value and integrity, thus earning the respect of their customers and community.

The partnership was among the original sponsors of the Portland Business Journal’s Sustainable Business Oregon and KGW’s public affairs show Straight Talk. As well, our team created an engaging series of You Tube videos as tools in the public relations and recruitment efforts.

Tapping a variety of communication vehicles, Pac/West has successfully built a customer base for BALMCC that has expanded market share and worked to position members as leaders in energy policy and innovation in the construction industry and among elected officials, opinion leaders and the public at large.

We created and marketed a web-based electrical contractor locator tool (www.nwelectricians.com) that relies on Google Maps to pin point contractors near a searching customer’s location. The “Hire the best!” program has expanded to include other NECA/IBEW jurisdictions in Pacific Northwest.

These efforts have also played a significant role in recruiting some of the regional’s best and brightest men, women and minorities into the apprentices program, guaranteeing the future viability of NECA/IBEW Local 48.