Newsline

The anti-retaliation provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Electronic Injury Reporting and Anti-Retaliation final rule (also known as Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses) go into effect Thursday, Dec. 1. The rule, which was finalized on May 12, 2016, will make the submission of the injury and illness forms mandatory and exclusively electronic for most employers. For the first time, OSHA plans to make this information publicly available on the Internet through a new searchable database and use the data for enforcement purposes. Also, some forms of post-accident drug testing and accident-free programs will be deemed to be unlawfully

On Nov. 22, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) burdensome and costly overtime final rule. The rule would have changed the federal exemptions to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act for administrative, executive and professional employees, the so—called "white collar" worker classifications that have long been exempt from time-and-one-half pay for working more than 40 hours per week. The new rule will not go into effect without further action from the court.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 23– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) welcomed news that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) burdensome and costly overtime final rule. Prior to the injunction, the rule was scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1 and would have doubled the current minimum salary threshold for employees that are exempt from overtime pay and automatically increased it every three years.

ABC has added Massachusetts Chapter member Barry Belcastro of Belcastro Brothers, Inc. to the Beam Club Presidential level. The Beam Club was established in 1966 to recognize ABC’s top membership recruiters for their commitment to growing the association. By recruiting five new members, ABC members are automatically enrolled in the Beam Club by their chapter.

SDV Construction of Albuquerque, N.M., a member of ABC’s New Mexico Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 21– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its annual update to “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard,” which reviews and grades state-specific policies and information significant to the success of the commercial and industrial construction industry. The scorecard highlights states that have created a free enterprise-based environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned to succeed and calls attention to states where strategic improvements need to b

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 16– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today welcomed news that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas has permanently blocked the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) “persuader rule,” officially named the "Interpretation  of  the  ‘Advice’  Exemption  in  Section  203(c)  of  the  Labor-Management  Reporting  and  Disclosure  Act." In finding the rule unlawful, the District Court has maintained employers’ right to obtain advice from labor rel

ABC's Regulatory Alert, released Nov. 22, provides an overview of federally mandated rules, regulations and enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other federal agencies. 

Shapiro & Duncan Inc. of Rockville, Md, a member of ABC’s Metro Washington Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations.  

On Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. EST, Ilyse Schuman of Littler Mendelson P.C . will present a webinar on Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requirements for employers and their potential impact on your company in 2017 and beyond. Ms. Schuman also will discuss how the recent elections could impact the ACA.  

Upon his election as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump has promised to unify our country and work to rebuild our nation and renew the American Dream. He emphasized his background recognizing the untapped potential in projects and people, and expressed the desire to do the same for the nation at large. As the construction industry braces for a critical shortage of skilled craft employees during the next decade, ABC appreciates President-elect Trump’s commitment to developing people to leverage their talent fo

During its Nov. 15 meeting in Dallas, the ABC Board of Directors elected Chuck Goodrich, president of Gaylor Electric Inc., Noblesville, Ind., to serve as the association's 2017 national chair. George Nash of La Plata, Md., was elected to serve as ABC’s 2017 chair-elect.

Three months after the flooding in Louisiana, ABC Pelican Chapter President Alvin Bargas addressed the ABC National Board of Directors at its Nov. 14 meeting in Dallas to give an update on the state of affairs in Baton Rouge. After an emotional speech, fellow chapter presidents took to the floor to raise more than $240,000 to support the Pelican Chapter. In addition, the Trimmer Construction Education Foundation donated $100,000 to the relief efforts and the Executive Committee donated $15,000 from its Strategic Initiatives Fund.

ABC’s 2016 National Craft Championships (NCC) gold medalists were honored before an audience of more than 40,000 at a July 1 baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Before the game, the champions and their families were given all-access passes to the field and were able to watch batting practice, followed by a picnic hosted by ABC in the fairgrounds just outside the stadium. As spectators filed into the stadium, the champions stood on the field while their names were announced over the public address system—recognizing them, their companies and their NCC gold medals during the pre-game ceremony. 

ABC celebrated the achievements of one young professional and two university groups at its Nov. 16. Future Leaders Awards Luncheon during ABC’s Leadership Week in Dallas. Brooke Wenger, director of business development at Triad Engineering Inc., a member of the ABC Cumberland Valley Chapter, won ABC’s second annual Young Professional of the Year Award; Colorado State University won the 2016 Construction Management Competition; and Texas State University was named 2016 ABC Student Chapter of the Year. 

ABC member Page Mechanical Group Inc. (PMG) reached a major milestone in its employee education program in October by launching its own apprenticeship training program. The program is accredited through NCCER and offers PMG employees an in-house apprenticeship training program in pipefitting, welding, sheet metal fabrication and insulation trades. 

Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a race called in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Nov. 9. In addition, Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and will now control the executive and legislative branches of government for the first time since 2006.

Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a race called in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Nov. 9. In addition, Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and will now control the executive and legislative branches of government for the first time since 2006.

ABC has teamed up with Autodesk to create an exclusive learning experience for ABC members. This event is limited to 30 ABC member companies and will be held in Las Vegas on November 16, 2016. For more information, contact Jessica Serafin at (202) 905 -2087 or [email protected] 

IAN Corp. of Barrigada, Guam, a member of the ABC-affiliated Guam Contractors Association, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations.  A company that meets the criteria set forth in the program, and has earned Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Gold, Platinum or Diamond status, is formally designated an “Accredited Quality Contractor.”      

On May 23, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule changing the federal exemptions to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act for so-called "white collar" workers, which include administrative, executive, professional and computer professional employees, that have long been exempt from being paid time-and-one-half for working more than 40 hours per week. The rule will essentially double the current minimum annual salary level for exemption from $23,660 to $47,476 per year effective Dec. 1, 2016.

ABC General Counsel Maury Baskin and ABC National Director of Legislative & Political Affairs Liam Donovan will hold important webinars that will breakdown the post-election political and regulatory landscape Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 respectively.