Author: agcnews
On June 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized an AGC-supported rule to update and clarify its regulations on state water quality certifications under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This is welcome news as many AGC members perform construction activities on land and water that require section 401 water quality certification before proceeding, such as work that relies on a federal dredge and fill permit. The new rule refines the scope of the certification review to those water quality concerns at the “point source” and sets timelines to ensure the process does not become overly protracted. These changes will streamline environmental permitting for…
Construction employment declined in more than nine out of 10 metro areas from March to April, a time when industry employment typically increases in most locations, an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government data shows. Association officials said new federal transportation funding could help restore many lost construction jobs, but cautioned that new legislation released today by House Democrats includes new regulatory measures that could undermine the broader goals of the measure. “Today’s employment report shows how few areas were left unscathed by April’s unprecedented job losses,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Sadly, our latest survey shows…
A new study released today finds that composite retirement plans would have fared better during the coronavirus pandemic and related market declines than traditional defined-benefit multi-employer plans, allowing participants to receive higher benefits and attracting more employer participants. The study makes it clear that employees and employers stand to benefit once Congress authorizes the use of composite plans. “Composite plans are a voluntary approach with built-in guardrails to keep plans on track that would give plan sponsors a much-needed option as they look for ways to provide sustainable lifetime income to participants,” concluded the study’s author, Josh Shapiro with the Groom Law…
In this episode, three “Lean” practitioners and advocates share their personal stories on how to increase Lean engagement on construction jobsites to reduce waste, improve workflow and add value for project stakeholders. Hear Henry Nutt of Southland Industries, Keyan Zandy of Skiles Group, and Joe Donarumo of Linbeck explain their unique approach to getting earlier and more Lean buy-in from the “boots on the ground” leaders in the field (superintendents and last planners), rather setting Lean performance goals by using a top-down approach. Discover how a “Builder’s Lean” model can produce immediate, positive change on your projects. Guests: Henry Nutt…
Construction spending plunged in April as governmental agencies and project owners shut down ongoing work and canceled projects that were about to break ground, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials warned that further steep declines are inevitable for public projects unless the federal government acts quickly to invest in needed infrastructure and shore up crumbling state and local budgets. “Bad though these numbers are, construction spending appears sure to shrink further,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “In our latest survey, 40 percent of contractors report that an…
Materials: Regional results:
AGC of America’s Union Contractors Committee will hold its next conference call on June 11, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. The call will feature updates from AGC staff and a roundtable discussion of labor matters around the country. Participation is open to all AGC members and chapter staff, regardless of committee membership. (AGC nonmembers may not participate.) To register for the call, click here. Call-in information will be sent to all registrants on the day prior to the call. Future calls are scheduled for September 10, 2020, and December 10, 2020, each starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Please mark your…
North America’s Building Trades Unions (“NABTU”) and CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training (NABTU’s research arm) on April 27 publicly released COVID-19 Standards for U.S. Construction Sites. The document provides recommended practices for construction employers to implement at job sites designed to prevent disease, disability, and death caused by exposure to infectious disease. The practices include staff training, symptom checking, social distancing, personal hygiene, and decontamination measures. Upon invitation to comment on a draft of the standards, AGC CEO Steve Sandherr sent a letter to NABTU President Sean McGarvey commending the building trades for the “thoughtful and comprehensive approach to protecting workers and…
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule that allows employers to pay bonuses or other incentive-based pay to salaried, nonexempt employees whose hours vary from week to week. The final rule clarifies that payments in addition to the fixed salary are compatible with the use of the fluctuating workweek method under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In the final rule, the DOL: DOL news release can be found here. For more information, contact Claiborne Guy at claiborne.guy@agc.org or 703-837-5382.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on AGC educational programs. Since mid-March, all of AGC’s live events have been postponed or we’ve looked for a way bring the same caliber of information to contractors in a virtual format. On this episode, AGC staff goes over the changes AGC has made to move our programs and events online, including the upcoming Federal Contractors Virtual Conference (fedcon.agc.org/) and Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Virtual Conference (shec.agc.org/).