ABC: Project labor agreement order ignores workforce realities

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.  In light of the White House’s “Build Back Better” ambitions, Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck questions a new executive order encouraging project labor agreement (PLA) mandates on federal construction contracts exceeding $35 million.  “The policy will not help America; instead, it will exacerbate the…

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Florida stays on top of ABC construction business climate survey

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff The Associated Builders and Contractors’ seventh annual Merit Shop Scorecard salutes the Sunshine State for fostering a climate friendly to construction interests and their clients. The group determines the ranking on state policies and programs that encourage workforce development, grow career and technical education, strengthen careers in construction, and advocate for…

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Organizations – January 2022

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute has announced new show management for Hardscape North America 2022. Yoffe Exposition Services will work with the ICPI team to produce the annual tradeshow, which is set for October 19-21 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, and co-located with GIE+EXPO.  According to ICPI Executive Director Charles McGrath, Yoffe Expo is a natural fit for…

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National Environmental Policy Act: Same old, same old?

The Associated Builders and Contractors joined a coalition of stakeholders in a response to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking revising implementation of new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) provisions. ABC filed comments supporting a streamlined approach to the permitting process under NEPA to reduce delays hindering critical projects, resulting in better infrastructure, a…

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Wage theft report: Project labor agreements shortchange nonunion workers

The Associated Builders and Contractors is spotlighting a new study highlighting one of the most negative economic impacts on nonunion construction workers, who comprise 87.3 percent of the construction industry workforce. “Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements Result in Lost and Stolen Wages for Employees and Excessive Costs and Liability Exposure for Employers” finds that the limited number of nonunion craft professionals…

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Leadership appointments confirm glass ceiling absence at ABC, AIA

Sources: Associated Builders and Contractors, American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C.; CP staff Associated Builders and Contractors Directors have elected Stephanie Schmidt, president of Poole Anderson Construction, State College, Pa., as 2022 national chair, while their American Institute of Architects counterparts have named Lakisha Woods successor to Chief Executive Officer Robert Ivy.  “As the fourth woman to serve in this…

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Coalition counters push for project labor agreement mandates

An Associated Builders and Contractors-led coalition of construction industry and business organizations has kicked off a six-figure advocacy campaign aimed at educating taxpayers and members of the U.S. Senate about controversial government-mandated project labor agreements. Build America Local argues that such schemes reduce competition and increase costs for the construction of taxpayer-funded affordable housing, clean energy and infrastructure projects acrosst…

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Pandemic measures drive doubling of safety training outlays

Members responding to the Associated Builders and Contractors 2021 Workforce Development Survey invested $1.3 billion last year to provide craft, leadership and safety education to 500,000 course attendees, advancing their careers in commercial and industrial construction. Safety education accounted for 71 percent of the total workforce investment as per-person spending doubled, revealing an elevated focus on total human health during…

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PCA shipment figures show industry handily overcoming 2020 adversities

Fourteen months after pandemic panic and economic uncertainty compelled a guarded 2020-2022 outlook for U.S. construction activity, the Portland Cement Association Market Intelligence Group reports that a key indicator of building and nonbuilding project volume actually grew year over year—a trend likely to continue for the near term.

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ORGANIZATIONS – JANUARY 2021

The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association has announced new Board, Associate Board and Young Leaders Development Group officers and directors, all for two-year terms. During a late-2020 virtual meeting, Bob Housel of Masters RMC Inc. was elected chairman, Jeff Detwiler of New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co. vice chairman, and Jamie Stilley of Amerikohl Aggregates Inc. secretary/treasurer.

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