On Feb. 27, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment a draft of its general permit to regulate stormwater discharges from most industrial activities. Construction companies that perform activities associated with cement or concrete manufacturing, asphalt paving, minerals mining, or landfill operations will all likely be impacted by changes to EPAs Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP). The MSGP applies where EPA is the permitting authority and sets the standard for related general permits issued by states. 勛圖窪蹋厙 is working with a coalition to submit comments to EPA in advance of the deadline.
On Feb. 24, 勛圖窪蹋厙 CEO Steve Sandherr, along with other national business leaders, spoke at a press briefing on the need to streamline the environmental review process for projects that require federal approval in order to unlock American investment in modern, efficient infrastructure while畝dvancing症ood environmental stewardship. On Feb. 25, 勛圖窪蹋厙 presented the same message at the White House Council on Environmental Qualitys (CEQ) public hearing on proposed regulations out for public comment that would update the rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Theres still a short time left to register for 勛圖窪蹋厙 of Americas upcoming Collective Bargaining Seminar. The half-day seminar will take place in the morning of March 9 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The seminar is part of 勛圖窪蹋厙s Annual Convention, but 勛圖窪蹋厙 members and chapter staff not attending the convention may also attend.
勛圖窪蹋厙 of America on Feb. 4 released a white paper titled The PRO Act: What Union Contractors Need to Know. The PRO Act is a bill that would make vast, transformational changes to labor laws and upsets the delicate balance of rights and restrictions established over decades by the NLRB, courts, and Congress. While the union-favoring legislation presents obvious concerns for open-shop contractors, union contractors may not realize the detrimental impact it could have on them.
March 11, 2020, at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino
Construction-industry collective bargaining negotiations completed in 2019 resulted in an average first-year increase in wages and fringe benefits of $1.67 or 2.9 percent, according to the annual year-end Settlements Report issued by the 勛圖窪蹋厙-supported Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC).
The U.S. Department of Labors (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced the release of its new technical assistance guide created specifically for construction contractors. OFCCP intends for construction contractors to use the technical assistance guide as a self-assessment tool to review the practices they have in place to eliminate discrimination and achieve their equal employment opportunity goals.
On Jan. 31, 2020, The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. This new version contains minor changes to the form and its instructions. Employers should begin using this updated form as of Jan. 31, 2020.
OFCCP recently announced the release of its new Contractor Compliance Institute (CCI), an on-demand learning management system designed to help federal contract holders meet their equal employment opportunity obligations.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020, a group of seven student members in Auburns Student Chapter of 勛圖窪蹋厙 teamed up with Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM) to volunteer for the MLK Day Celebration.