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In 2023, the IUEC hosted the Global Power Trade Unions (GPTU)’s annual conference in Vancouver, where around 40 international delegates discussed common concerns like safety, health, inequality, and the climate crisis. A notable guest, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, emphasized the need to attract more individuals to skilled trades, given Canada’s worker shortage. The conference also delved into issues like licensing procedures, international collaboration on standards, and the role of unions in addressing labor shortages.

NEIEP hosts an educational fair in Arlington, Texas, attracting apprentices and experts alike, including IUEC Local 21 members. The apprenticeship program is nationally standardized and ensures all apprentices receive the same quality of education, regardless of location. “We have code courses, we talk about different safety issues and factors, how to keep you and your crew safe. If you want to be successful in this field, and I would say life, you have to continue to learn,” stated Lester White, NEIEP’s Department Head of Development.

IUEC Local 133 members working for TK Elevator explored NEIEP’s extensive educational offerings at the NEIEP fair, in Austin, Texas. Led by Lester White, Head of Development, the event showcased hands-on lab materials and provided a platform for exchange between apprentices, seasoned elevator constructors, and NEIEP’s subject matter experts. “All the lab work that you see in here today – we didn’t have that when I went through (the education program), so seeing the technology and the growth – it helps them out in the field so they can apply what they do in the field in the classroom, and vice-versa,” stated Pat Corker, IUEC Local 133 member.

NEIEP joins the National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII) at SkillsUSA Techspo at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, where NEIEP actively educated and interacted with students, instructors, and industry experts, highlighting the exciting career prospects within the elevator industry. NEIEP’s involvement shows the organization’s commitment to advancing technical education and workforce development in the dynamic field of elevator construction. “As an industry, we want to ensure a workforce that is diverse and inclusive,” stated David Morgan, NEIEP Executive Director.

NEIEP joined The International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC), the Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund (EIWPF), and Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) to demonstrate the value that hands-on training and education opportunities play in the elevator industry. Lawmakers were on hand to hear about the classroom lessons, first-hand experiential learning, and online simulations that the NEIEP curriculum provides to elevator construction apprentices. “At NEIEP, it’s all about safety – safety, education, and training,” said Lester White, Head of Development at NEIEP.