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Association Officials Say the Threat of New Tariffs Has Already Led to Dramatic Increases in the Cost of Many Construction Materials, Warn Prices Will Grow As the New Trade Restrictions Take Effect

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of California in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court adopted a new test to determine whether a worker performing services for a company is an employee or an independent contractor under California’s wage orders. The new three-factor test, known as the ABC test, will determine whether a company “employs” a worker under the wage orders, which address certain requirements for minimum wage, overtime, and meal and rest periods, among others. The ABC test, which has long existed in other parts of the country in different forms, has not previously been used in California.

Construction employment increased in 256 out of 358 metro areas between April 2017 and April 2018, declined in 63 and was unchanged in 39, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that the data showed a continuation of strong labor demand amid shortages of qualified workers.

�鶹��ý Fights Back Against Obama-Era Rule that Would Have Slowed Project Approval

Following in the tradition of Presidents Bush’s “greening the government” and Obama’s “federal sustainability” efforts, President Trump ordered federal agencies to meet statutory requirements for environmental performance and prioritize actions that reduce waste and enhance the resilience of federal infrastructure and operations. Trump’s May 17 Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations takes a less prescriptive approach and provides agencies greater flexibility in meeting existing requirements than Obama’s now rescinded 2015 order – which set far-reaching goals for federal buildings and fleets beginning in 2016 through 2025 and beyond.

n May 21, �鶹��ý challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s consideration of using the Clean Water Act (CWA) permit program to regulate discharges to groundwater eventually making their way to a jurisdictional surface water.

On May 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the legality of arbitration agreements containing collective- and class-action waivers. The Court held that arbitration agreements providing for individualized proceedings are valid and that neither the Federal Arbitration Act’s (“FAA”) savings clause nor the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) suggests otherwise.

“Optimism about future job opportunities and market growth in 2018 and beyond remains high among union contractors, labor representatives and owner-clients – but at the same time, many remain concerned about a growing shortage of union craft workers,” reports The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) in a recent press release about the publication of the 2018 Union Craft Labor Supply Study. The study was conducted by TAUC and the �鶹��ý-supported Construction Labor Research Council.

On May 15, �鶹��ý put forth its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to expand the universal waste regulations to include non-empty aerosol cans. Recognizing that aerosol cans are often the only hazardous waste stream produced on a construction site, this proposal could change a company’s status as a “generator” and reduce program costs and facilitate recycling.

From the repeal and replacement of the 2015 definition of Waters of the United States and opening up the National Environmental Policy Act procedures, to reevaluating regulations on listing species and designating critical habitat; the spring Unified Agenda sets a busy schedule for the year ahead.