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Politics & Policy
ABC’s October Regulatory Roundup—Learn About the Latest Developments Affecting the Construction Industry
ABC’s September Regulatory Roundup—Learn About the Latest Developments Affecting the Construction Industry
ABC Disappointed in NLRB’s Cemex Decision
Safety
ABC Expresses Serious Concerns to Congress About OSHA Worker Walkaround Rule
Build Health and Safety Engagement Through Leadership Commitment and Metrics Tied to Leading Indicators
Is Your PPE and Mobile Equipment as Safe as You Think It Is?
Events/Products/Programs
Nearly 350 ABC Leaders Gather in Washington for Annual Legislative Conference
ABC Members Rank Among ENR’s Top 400 Contractors
Trades Day: Industry Outreach Opportunity With Meaning
State/Local News
Ed Capodanno Honored by Delaware State Legislature
Election Update: ABC Staff and Members Elected in 2022
California Targets Workplace Cannabis Testing
Awards
Graham Roofing Earns the AQC Credential in September
ABC's Construction Executive Magazine Wins Silver in Publishing Competition
Legislation
ABC-Supported Legislation To Overturn the Northern Long-Eared Bat’s Endangered Species Listing Heads to President Biden’s Desk
ABC Advocates for Solutions to Workforce Shortage at U.S. House Committee Roundtable
Smucker Introduces the ABC-Supported Main Street Tax Certainty Act
Regulations
ABC Launches Resources for Contractors Competing for CHIPS Act Projects
Workforce Development
Register Now for ABC’s Construction Inclusion Week Webinar Series
DOL High Road Workforce Development Program Map Snubs Nonunion Programs
LISTEN: How to Design an Effective Technology Adoption Strategy
During a controversial budget session, Wisconsin significantly reformed its prevailing wage laws with the help of the ABC Wisconsin Chapter which organized a coalition of local chambers of commerce, school districts, small businesses, and municipal utilities to repeal prevailing wage requirements on all Wisconsin public works projects except those built by the state of Wisconsin and state highway projects. When this change takes effect on January 1, 2017, it is estimated that between 80-90 percent of public construction projects in Wisconsin will be exempt from prevailing wage. In addition, employees that transport mineral aggregate to a project site or transport excavated material or spoil away from a project site will be exempt from prevailing wage laws. Federal “Davis-Bacon” rates will replace any state determination and will be used to set prevailing wage rates on state projects. Wisconsin prevailing wage still will not apply to private/local entities that receive tax breaks. Local governments are also prohibited from creating their own prevailing wage laws. The new law also includes some much needed regulatory reforms of third party prevailing wage complaints. The $48,000 single trade and $100,000 multi-trade thresholds triggering prevailing wage requirements on state projects was not changed by the reforms. “Wisconsin’s prevailing wage reform is meaningful, significant and will provide Wisconsin taxpayers with relief for years to come,” ABC Wisconsin President John Mielke said. “Thanks to these reforms, opportunities for small, local businesses like ABC members will open up for them to compete to build public works projects. We commend the state legislature for passing this reform and applaud Governor Walker for signing it into law.” Although this was a big win, the special interests groups that opposed this pro-taxpayer, pro-small business reform are not accustomed to losing. ABC Wisconsin is going to work over the next 18 months to make sure that the voters of Wisconsin and the public officials know how important it is for this change to become effective and remain in effect.