The AIANY-organized panel discussion comes months after workers at a Brooklyn firm established the profession's first private-sector union.

While the ABI's pace of decline eased slightly this month, a slowdown in activity is still expected after last quarter's negative numbers.

Both the billing index and design contracts continued to slide, while inquiries into new projects rose modestly in November, indicating firms seeing less current and new work but remaining positive.

The 51^st annual conference, with the theme “Unplugged,” offered education and networking sessions, along with opportunities to explore the city.

While this month's ABI indicates a modest increase, the nationwide index foretells an eventual deceleration in the coming months.