Newsline

ABC, Industry Groups Urge President Trump to Reverse Obama-era Policy on PLAs

ABC joined a coalition of construction and business associations urging President Trump to eliminate government-mandated project labor agreements and allow for the vast majority of qualified contractors and their skilled employees to compete for federal and federally assisted taxpayer-funded construction projects. READ MORE

Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Arizona Law Restricting Government-Mandated PLAs

On March 11, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by the Arizona State Building and Construction Trades Council that aimed to block enforcement of parts of a pro-taxpayer Arizona law restricting government-mandated project labor agreements. READ MORE

ABC Supports Bill to Establish New Construction Visa Program

ABC sent a letter of support to Congress urging passage of the Workforce for an Expanding Economy Act (H.R. 1740) introduced by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.). The bill would create a new visa program for non-farm, temporary foreign workers and includes important protections for employers and employees, ensuring that jobs remain available for hardworking Americans. READ MORE

Women in Construction Week 2019 Recap

From interviews to editorials and many articles in between, Women in Construction Week, March 3-9,  showcased the voices of women from all areas of the construction industry.  READ MORE

House Passes ABC-opposed Campaign Finance Messaging Legislation

On March 8, H.R. 1, the For the People Act, passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives by a party line vote of 234-193. ABC sent a letter in opposition to the legislation, arguing that it is an attack on free speech and would cripple the business structure of nonprofit associations such as ABC.  READ MORE

PennDOT Withdraws Appeal of Commonwealth Court’s Decision on PLA Mandate

Following the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania’s Jan. 11 decision to strike down the state Department of Transportation’s project labor agreement mandate for the Markley Street reconstruction project, PennDOT withdrew their appeal of the decision on March 7. READ MORE

OFCCP Launches Section 503 Landing Page

On March 8, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced the launch of the new Section 503 Focused Review Landing Page, which is intended to provide contractors with helpful information and assistance in implementing best practices and increasing the employment of individuals with disabilities. READ MORE

DOL Issues Long-awaited Overtime Proposal

On March 7, the U.S. Department of Labor unveiled its long-awaited proposal to update and revise the “white collar” overtime exemption regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which DOL estimates will make more than one million new workers eligible for overtime pay. READ MORE

Register for ABC’s Upcoming Webinar on OFCCP’s Recent Actions and Policy Changes

ABC is hosting the upcoming webinar, “Understanding the Impact of OFCCP’s Recent Policy Changes on Federal Contractors” at 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 19. Lance Gibbons, Shareholder at Littler Mendelson P.C., will lead the webinar and discuss recent activity at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and what federal contractors need to know. READ MORE

ABC’s Ben Brubeck Talks Construction Careers, Policy Priorities During CPAC

ABC’s vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs did a radio tour last week during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Speaking with The Epoch Times from the convention floor, he discussed the advantages of a career in the construction trades. Brubeck also discussed project labor agreements and prevailing wage issues in four additional interviews. READ MORE