Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today welcomed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to invalidate the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) “notification of employee rights” notice posting rule. A three-judge panel struck down the rule on the grounds that the NLRB had overstepped its authority under law. ABC General Council Maurice Baskin, a shareholder with Littler, argued the case before the appeals court.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced Anthony Ayotte, craft training manager for the Cianbro Institute, Pittsfield, Maine, as its 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year. Ayotte received this honor May 3 during ABC’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced Michael Arledge, a journeyman electrician for Greiner Electric, Littleton, Colo. as its 2013 Craft Professional of the Year. The award was presented May 3 during ABC’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced the winners of its 13th annual Student Chapter Construction Management Competition during the 21st Century Workforce Development Conference, April 30 - May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. Teams of students from 14 colleges and universities across the nation competed for more than $6,000 in cash and prizes, as well as the coveted “Construction Management Champions” title.  

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today announced the winners in its 2013 National Craft Championships competition, held at the association’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference, April 30 - May 3 in Birmingham, Ala. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today celebrated a victory after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded Eckman Construction Company a $31.6 million contract to build a DOL Job Corps Center in Manchester, N.H., after removing a controversial government-mandated project labor agreement (PLA) from the federal project’s solicitation for construction services. Eckman Construction Company, Bedford N.H., submitted a bid that was more than $6 million below the lowest offer when the project was subjected to a PLA. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate introduction of immigration reform legislation: “We congratulate the senators on taking this important first step toward fixing our broken immigration system in the United States,” said ABC Vice President of Federal Affairs Geoff Burr. 

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today criticized President Obama’s renomination of Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) as a move to promote the narrow policy goals of politically powerful labor unions.  

On the eve of the third anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today said the health care law continues to create uncertainty and confusion in the construction industry, making it difficult for the nation’s contractors to plan for the future.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today congratulated the winners of its annual Excellence in Construction Awards celebration – the industry’s leading competition, where the top construction projects and the firms that displayed exemplary commitment to safety and diversity in 2012 were recognized Feb. 20 at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named Cajun Industries, LLC, Baton Rouge, La., its 2012 Contractor of the Year. Cajun Industries Founder and Chairman, Lane Grigsby, accepted the award on behalf of the company during ABC’s 23rd annual Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence Award program held Feb. 20 at the Harbor Beach Marriott in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s nomination of Democrats Sharon Block and Richard Griffin to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB):

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address: “We welcome President Obama’s call for comprehensive immigration reform,” said ABC Vice President of Government Affairs Geoff Burr. “Legal immigrants play a vital role in our construction workforce. Unfortunately, current immigration laws disproportionately affect construction companies due to their fluctuating work needs.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today unveiled its new political advocacy action software application (app), ABC Action, which allows users to send letters directly to the offices of federal officials in Washington, D.C. on a mobile device.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today voiced its strong support for the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act (H.R. 436/S. 109), a measure introduced by Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) that would ensure fair and open competition on federal and federally funded construction projects.

The ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace today won a challenge to President Obama’s Jan. 4, 2012, recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the president violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate to fill NLRB vacancies with Democrats Sharon Block and Richard Griffin.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today commended Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a new Right to Work law that will protect all workers in the state from being forced to pay union dues as a requirement of employment. Michigan is the 24th state in the nation to enact a Right to Work law, and similar legislation has been introduced in 12 other states.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its 2013 economic forecast for the U.S. commercial and industrial construction industry, and it shows the continuation of a modest recovery for nonresidential construction next year.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released the following statement regarding the White House fiscal cliff summit with corporate leaders.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today criticized President Obama for undermining the U.S. Senate’s advice and consent role by recess-appointing Democrats Sharon Block, deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs at the Department of Labor; Richard Griffin, general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); and Republican Terence Flynn, chief counsel to NLRB member Brian Hayes. 

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) 2012 National Chairman Eric Regelin, president of Granix, LLC, Ellicott City, Md., today said the vision President Obama offered in his State of the Union address last night is no different than what he has promoted during his past three years in office.  

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today commended the Indiana legislature for approving a new right-to-work bill that will protect all workers in the state from being forced to pay union dues as a requirement of employment. Once Gov. Mitch Daniels signs the bill, Indiana will become the 23rd state in the nation to enact a right-to-work law.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its Construction Backlog Indicator (CBI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. CBI declined 3.2 percent from the previous quarter from 8.1 months to 7.8 months, but is still up 10.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. CBI is a forward-looking economic indicator that measures the amount of nonresidential construction work under contract to be completed in the future.  

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named American Infrastructure, Worcester, Pa., its 2011 Contractor of the Year. American Infrastructure Chairman and CEO, A. Ross Myers, accepted the award on behalf of the company during ABC’s 22nd annual Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence Award program held Feb. 22 at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz.

Phoenix, Ariz. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today endorsed Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to be the 45th president of the United States. The association’s endorsement of Romney came during the ABC National Board of Directors meeting in Phoenix.