ABC frowns on proposal to open OSHA inspections to third-party reps

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff The Associated Builders and Contractors has outlined opposition to a Department of Labor-proposed rule, Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process, that would allow an employee to choose a third-party individual, such as an outside union representative, to accompany an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector in nonunion facility visits.

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ORGANIZATIONS – AUGUST 2020

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has named 21 rising stars from producer and associate member companies for the 2020 Developing Industry Leaders program: Master Builders Solutions’ Mason Booth and Matthew Wilson; Aggregate Industries’ Jenay Brown, Dan Corneau and Matthew Riggi; Titan America’s Marty Elkes, Jr. and David Novitzki (S&W Ready Mix Concrete) and Justin Walker (Roanoke Cement); Euclid Chemical’s Jason Jimenez; Irving Materials’ Andrew Mercker, Tyler Stanley and Kyle Norwood; Oremus Material’s Alireza Nili; Dickinson Ready Mix’s Ben Olin; U.S. Concrete’s Francis Pico-Llerena and Luis Soto-Rivas; Coast 2 Coast’s Micah Red Elk; CalPortland’s William Regis; Bayou Concrete’s Leighton Reynolds; Preferred Materials’ Frank Russo-Alesi; and, Maschmeyer Concrete’s Michael Tucker.

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ORGANIZATIONS – November 2016

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The National Precast Concrete Association elected Greg Stratis, president of Wilmington, Mass.-based Shea Concrete Products, to a one-year term as chairman during its 51st annual convention in Austin, Texas. Joining him as 2016-17 officers are Chairman-Elect Ashley Smith of Smith-Midland Corp. in Midland, Va., and Secretary/Treasurer Michael Hoffman of Lindsay Precast in Canal Fulton, Ohio.

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AGC, ABC document Obama order’s certain harm to competition, small businesses

Sources: Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

ABC and AGC have been among the most vocal “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” critics since President Obama added it to his expansive executive order roster in June 2014. Response to the Labor Department and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council announcement of a final rule implementing the order show neither group changing its tune.

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ABC leads coalition suing agency over union-biased ‘persuader’ rule

A lawsuit Associated Builders & Contractors and other national or state groups have filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas challenges the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) final “persuader rule.” Officially titled Interpretation of the “Advice” Exemption, it revises the definition of what activities constitute “advice” and expands circumstances under which public reporting is required per the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959.

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Construction interests challenge OSHA silica rule on multiple fronts

Sources: Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), Washington, D.C.; National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

Seven national construction organizations, led by ABC, AGC and ARTBA, plan to join eight state affiliates petitioning the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for review of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s final rule on crystalline silica exposure. Released in late March, it sets a threshold of 50-micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift, compared to a longstanding 250-microgram level for the construction industry.

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Contractor-led coalition sues Labor Department over union-biased ‘persuader rule’

Sources: Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Washington, D.C.; CP staff

A lawsuit ABC and other national or state groups have filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas challenges the U.S. Department of Labor’s final “persuader rule,” issued late last month. Officially titled Interpretation of the “Advice” Exemption, it revises the definition of what activities constitute “advice” and expands circumstances under which public reporting is required under the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959.

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ABC quantifies states’ fidelity to merit shop principles

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Associated Builders and Contractors’ new “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard” reviews and grades state-specific information significant to the success of commercial and industrial construction stakeholders. The meritshopscorecard.org site identifies states that have created an environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned plus those where strategic improvements need to be made in order to create a friendly business climate.

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ABC, AIA & NAHB economists underscore residential, nonresidential market health

Source: Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.

“The nonresidential construction sector gained momentum over the last year and should continue to expand into 2016,” affirms ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The construction industry has benefited from increased stability stemming from low materials prices and greater certainty regarding federal budgeting and monetary policy, although a lack of appropriately skilled labor will remain a challenge for contractors. ABC predicts the nonresidential construction segment will experience 7 percent nominal growth in 2016.”

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