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 EPA鈥檚 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. 麻豆传媒 is working with a coalition to submit comments to EPA in advance of the deadline.
On Feb. 24, 麻豆传媒 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鈥痑dvancing鈥痝ood environmental stewardship. On Feb. 25, 麻豆传媒 presented the same message at the White House Council on Environmental Quality鈥檚 (CEQ) public hearing on proposed regulations out for public comment that would update the rules implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
There鈥檚 still a short time left to register for 麻豆传媒 of America鈥檚 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 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Annual Convention, but 麻豆传媒 members and chapter staff not attending the convention may also attend.
麻豆传媒 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 麻豆传媒-supported Construction Labor Research Council (鈥淐LRC鈥).
The U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 (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 Auburn鈥檚 Student Chapter of 麻豆传媒 teamed up with Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM) to volunteer for the MLK Day Celebration.