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Effective Sept. 30, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration will begin enforcement of the ancillary requirements of its standards for occupational exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds in the construction and shipyard sectors.
On Sept. 28, ABC submitted comments to the National Labor Relations Board on its proposed rule amending the agency’s representation election regulations under the National Labor Relations Act. Additionally, the ABC-led Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
On Sept. 22 and 23, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Andrea Lucas (R), Jocelyn Samuels (D) and Keith Sonderling (R) to serve as commissioners of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
On Sept. 22, Bernalillo County’s board of commissioners passed an ordinance requiring a community workforce agreement, also known as a project labor agreement, on all construction projects performed for the county that are valued at more than $7 million. The threshold was originally set at $5 million, but was raised to $7 million after a 30-day comment period following the introduction of the ordinance in August.
On Sept. 22, U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves (R-La.) introduced H.R. 8333, the Building U.S. Infrastructure Through Limited Delays & Efficient Reviews (BUILDER) Act. The legislation would codify much of the Council on Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act rulemaking, which
On Sept. 22, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would revise its interpretation of independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The DOL indicates the proposal would offer clarity to determine whether a worker is an employee under the FLSA as well as promote certainty for stakeholders, reduce litigation and encourage innovation in the economy.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with a national update from the National Republican Congressional Committee. It will be followed by a Mountain West and Pacific region election update on Thursday, Oct. 8, and a national update from the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Thursday, Oct. 22.
On Sept. 14, 2020, in a 2-1 ruling, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and vacated a U.S. District Court’s preliminary injunction in 2018 that barred the Department of Homeland Security from implementing or enforcing its determinations to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti and El Salvador while the case continued its way throug
ABC’s Chief Economist Anirban Basu reports on the construction backlog indicator which rose in August, according to an ABC analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. Confidence among U.S. construction industry leaders also rose in August regarding sales, staffing levels and profit margins, according to ABC’s Construction Confidence Index.
On Sept. 11, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued revisions to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act regulations, which implement paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave. FFCRA requires private-sector employers with fewer than 500 employees and certain public employers to provide covered employees emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave.
On Sept. 3, ABC sent a letter to Rep. James Comer, the ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform, explaining the negative impacts of the Obama administration’s regulatory expansion on ABC member contractors, as well as the Trump administration’s regulatory relief initiatives, which have helped to remove burdensome barriers to job creation.
On Sept. 8, a U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York judge ruled that parts of the U.S. Department of Labor’s joint employer final rule, which was issued on Jan. 16, 2020, are illegal. Associated Builders and Contractors had applauded the 2020 joint employer
On Aug. 31, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule amending its standards for occupational exposure to beryllium and beryllium compounds in the construction and shipyard sectors. ABC and other construction organizations previously filed a settlement with the agency to effectively narrow the scope of the
The ABC PAC is kicking off the Fall Meet & Greet Series with Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) on Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 4:15-4:45 p.m. ET. This event is free of charge for all ABC members who have a completed a prior authorization for this calendar year.
ABC’s Chief Economist Anirban Basu reports on the national nonresidential construction spending which fell 1.2% in July, according to an ABC analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. To learn more visit abc.org/economics.
On Aug. 31, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a notice in the Federal Register to announce that the minimum wage for federal contractors will increase from $10.80 per hour to $10.95 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, ABC will continue its Election Briefing Series with an exclusive Mid-America and Midwest region election update. It will be followed by two national updates from the National Republican Congressional Committee on Thursday, Sept. 24 and the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Thursday, Oct. 22.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, President Trump’s memorandum deferring payroll tax obligations went into effect. This memorandum allows for the deferral of the employee portion of federal payroll taxes — 6.2% for social security and 1.45% for Medicare — from Sept. 1, 2020, until Dec. 31, 2020, for workers earning less than $4,000 on a biweekly basis or $104,000 annually.
On Thursday, Aug. 27, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published new frequently asked questions for workers and employers regarding qualifications for paid leave eligibility under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, specifically adding new guidance detailing paid leave options related to schools reopening.