The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development invites members and manufacturers to the 2014 Industrial Executives Forum scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th at Blue Ridge Community College’s Technology Education and Development Center. Registration and networking will begin at 8:00 am.
This year’s forum will include a presentation from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of International Trade on export assistance programs, a business best practices panel comprised of manufacturing leadership from area companies, and a final program featuring Dan Ellzey, a well-respected labor attorney specializing in unionization issues. This week we will feature more information about the unionization program, and future communications will provide more details on International Trade and Business Best Practices. To make plans to attend this event please RSVP to [email protected] or contact Partnership staff directly at (828) 692-6373.
Industrial Executives Forum: Unionization Update
In February, 2014 Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, TN facility narrowly rejected the United Auto Workers by a vote of 712 to 626. The vote and narrow margins raised questions about unionization efforts in the U.S. automotive sector, and in particular the Southeast, a region which has historically operated under a right-to-work system. This vote, combined with National Labor Review Board activities and new union organizing initiatives has created an interest to address this topic at the 2014 Industrial Executives Forum.
Dan Ellzey, a partner in Fisher & Phillips, LLP in Columbia, SC, is an expert in the field of labor relations. During the Forum, Ellzey will discuss current labor trends and unionization efforts in the region and provide best practices for maintaining positive employee relations at local manufacturing facilities. Ellzey advises companies across the nation on union avoidance, as well as the development of proactive employee relations plans. He has been involved in some of the highest profile union campaigns and elections in the United States and routinely consults for automotive companies including top tier, final assembly operations located throughout the nation.
This program series is brought to attendees at no cost thanks to support from HCPED Patron Members: Asheville Savings Bank, Blue Ridge Community College, Continental, Cooper Construction Company, Duke Energy, First Citizens Bank, Friday Staffing Services, GE Lighting Solutions, PSNC Energy, the Van Winkle Law Firm and supporting sponsors AT&T and Carolina Specialties Construction.