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The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to the administration’s decisions to finalize two new employment rules despite federal data indicating no need for the new measures:  “The administration’s decision to finalize two new oppressive employment regulations for federal contractors forces us to object to measures whose goals we support and objectives our members already meet.  That is because these rules will force federal contractors to spend an estimated $6 billion a year to produce reams of new paperwork proving they are doing what the federal government already knows they are doing.

First Meeting Sept. 17, Covering Union Jobsite Access �鶹��Ƶ of America is pleased to announce a new initiative to enhance service to our open-shop members:  quarterly Open Shop Committee Web Meetings.   These virtual meetings will be free and open to all interested �鶹��Ƶ chapter staff and members, whether or not they are members of the committee.  Each meeting will feature: (1) an update by �鶹��Ƶ staff on relevant matters; (2) a “Quick Learn” presentation (typically under 30 minutes) by an expert on a different labor-related topic of interest; and (3) a roundtable discussion about that topic and other labor matters of interest at that time. 

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, �鶹��Ƶ met with the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) to discuss the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) proposed rules that will govern federal contractors’ employment of veterans and people with disabilities.

The Obama administration should reconsider its proposal to impose oppressive new regulations governing the employment of veterans and people with disabilities on federal contractors, officials with �鶹��Ƶ of America argued today during a meeting with the administration. Association officials said federal employment and compliance enforcement data indicate there is no justification for the costly new rules.

This week, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) sent two final rules to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on revising the regulations implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act. This marks the last step in the regulatory rulemaking process. Typically, final rules are under OMB review for 30 to 90 days and after that allotted period of time, the far reaching rules could be finalized and published.

As expected, the Senate confirmed four new appointees to be members of the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) on July 30 and reconfirmed the current chairman for a new term.  This brings the Board to a full complement of confirmed members for the first time in a decade.  The Board had been operating with only one confirmed member (Chairman Mark Pearce) and two arguably invalid recess appointees – all three Democrats – since December.

Over the past several months, we have received a number of reports, most of which were anecdotal, about sporadic shortages of skilled construction workers in certain parts of the country. At the same time, overall construction employment, while rising steadily, remains well below peak employment levels. As a result, we are having a hard time gauging the extent of worker shortages and if and where those shortages may be impacting construction projects.

On July 2, 2013, the Department of Treasury announced that the employer mandate requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be delayed for one year, until January 1, 2015. The decision came after several complaints from the employer community regarding the complications, confusion and lack of understandable guidance surrounding compliance with the provision.  The employer mandate requires that large employers, as defined by the ACA, either provide health coverage for its full-time employees and equivalents or pay a penalty.  Implementation was to begin January 1, 2014. 

�鶹��Ƶ recently hosted a webinar on The Hispanic Workforce: Best Practices for Construction Employers.  According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, 30 percent of all construction workers are Hispanic.  Therefore, understanding and exploring the impact culture plays when working with a Hispanic workforce is vital to the success of construction companies nationwide. The webinar serves this need and can help contractors provide a safer and more welcoming environment for Hispanic employees.  An on-demand version is available for purchase from the �鶹��Ƶ Bookstore.

In the video below, Ann Michalski, HR Director for �鶹��Ƶ member-company Joseph B. Fay Company, talks about �鶹��Ƶ's Construction HR and Training Professionals Conference.  She describes her experiences and explains why you should attend this year's event in Chicago, Ill.