ABC Files Suit Against DOL’s Overreaching ‘Persuader Rule’

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 30 – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), ABC of Arkansas and a coalition of stakeholders announced today they have filed a joint lawsuit challenging the final “persuader rule” issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on March 24, 2016. The legal challenge was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. 
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February Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 41 States from 2015

Temperatures remained above normal for much of the country in February. However, precipitation rates were also above normal for much of the East and below normal for much of the West and parts of the South. These factors contributed to the not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates for the nation maintaining a low February rate of 8.7 percent, a slight rise from January’s similarly low 8.5 percent rate. It was also the second lowest February national construction
unemployment rate going back to the beginning of the series in 2000, surpassed only by the 8.6 percent rate in February 2006. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Industry Voices Concerns with Silica Rule

WASHINGTON, March 24—The Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC) has concerns with the final rule on respirable crystalline silica released today by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It appears, upon initial review, that the 1,772-page final rule contains some of the same problematic provisions that the CISC previously identified and shared with the agency. CISC has been a highly engaged participant in the rulemaking process since OSHA put forth the proposed rule two and a half years ago. Read the rest of entry »

ABC Slams Persuader Rule: DOL Proposal Designed to Silence Employers

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 23 – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today issued the following statement in response to the release of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final “persuader rule.” The rule will greatly limit the ability of employers, particularly small businesses, to obtain advice from labor relations experts, and in turn deprive employees of their right to obtain balanced information about union representation. Read the rest of entry »

January Construction Unemployment Rates Improve in 43 States from 2015

Unusually mild weather in much of the country continued into the first part of January but ended for the East near the end of the month with the brutal storm dubbed “Snowzilla.” The storm did not hit until after the reference week used for surveying employment and unemployment. This undoubtedly helped to temper the normal rise in the not seasonally adjusted (NSA) construction unemployment rates for the nation, which rose from a relatively low December rate of 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent in January. This is the lowest January national construction unemployment rate going back to the beginning of the series in January 2000. Read the rest of entry »

Indiana Design Engineer Named ABC Craft Instructor of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named Gaylor Electric Inc. design engineer John Lupacchino of Fishers, Ind., its 2016 Craft Instructor of the Year. Lupacchino received the honor at ABC’s Careers in Construction awards ceremony on March 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Read the rest of entry »

West Michigan Superintendent Named ABC Craft Professional of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 21– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named Scott Walters of Belding, Mich., superintendent at Dan Vos Construction Co., its 2016 Craft Professional of the Year. Walters received the honor at ABC’s Careers in Construction awards ceremony on March 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Material Prices Continue Free Fall in February

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15— Construction input prices fell for the eighth consecutive month during February 2016 according to an analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Read the rest of entry »

Associated Builders and Contractors Congratulates National Craft Champions

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announced the winners of the 29th annual National Craft Championships during the Careers in Construction awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The ceremony took place March 4 at the conclusion of ABC’s Workforce Week. Read the rest of entry »

Construction Employment Growth Slow but Steady

WASHINGTON, D.C., March, 4—The U.S. construction industry added 19,000 net new jobs in February according to an analysis of today's U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment release by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Year-over-year, the industry has added 253,000 net new jobs, an increase of 4 percent. The nonresidential sector added only 2,800 net new jobs in February after adding 3,600 jobs in January (revised upward from 2,900). Nonresidential specialty trade contractors lost jobs for the second consecutive month, while residential specialty trade contractors added 13,800 net new jobs in February—more than the other four subsectors combined. The civil and heavy engineering category continued its tepid growth, adding just 700 net new jobs for the month. Read the rest of entry »