Author: agcnews
On April 13, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a notice about an annual $1 billion transportation infrastructure grant program, formerly known as the BUILD and TIGER grant programs, and renamed the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program. Projects submitted for RAISE funding will be evaluated based on criteria that include safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership. The USDOT will also newly prioritize projects that demonstrate improvements to racial equity, reduce impacts of climate change, and create good-paying jobs, similar to new criteria recently set out for the INFRA grant…
Senate Republicans are reportedly preparing a counteroffer to the White House’s $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito and others in a Republican working group have stated that such a proposal would be in the range of $600 to $800 billion, more targeted in scope— focusing on traditional infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports, airports, broadband, and water infrastructure— and would be funded by unspecified user fees. AGC will continue to monitor Congressional activity on infrastructure and surface transportation reauthorization negotiations. For more information, contact Alex Etchen at alex.etchen@agc.org or Cory Gattie at cory.gattie@agc.org.
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 3.8% for 2020 and are projected to rise by an average 3.4% in 2021. Though it is pointed out that historically executive staff predictions are low and readers are warned that it might not be until late in the second quarter that we get a better sense of true year end expectations. PAS reports that they just finished their 2021 Construction/Construction Management Staff Salary Survey and that the results project a 3.2% increase for middle managers and professionals in the 2021, with only 4%…
AGC chapters and members should be aware that fraudulent unemployment claims are on the rise. While this has been a problem throughout the pandemic and while the construction industry is not a unique target, many AGC members have reported experiencing such claims and some have reported a spike in recent weeks. The problem has spread across the country. States – which are largely overwhelmed with both legitimate and illegitimate unemployment claims due to the pandemic – are each responding in their own ways, but the federal government has also taken some action. On April 14, the U.S. Department of Labor…
Now that the country is on course to see all adult Americans eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in a matter of days, and an increasing number of employees are returning to the workplace, vaccination status is likely to be an increasingly common topic over the coming weeks and months. This has led many AGC members to ask: when and how can employers ask their workers whether they’ve been vaccinated without getting into hot water? Whether it’s an innocent question asked while trying to make conversation or an inquiry posed to determine whether someone can return to normal duties, employers need to…
The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released its latest edition of the Union Labor Costs in Construction. The report covers trends in collectively bargained compensation in the industry, providing data analyses by region, time, and trade. It can be a valuable resource when preparing for collective bargaining negotiations, particularly when used in conjunction with CLRC’s latest Settlements Report. CLRC reports that the plurality of total package (wages and fringe benefits) rates paid by union contractors in 2020 fell in the $50.01-$60.00 range. Nearly 73 percent fell in the in the $40.01- $70.00 range. Regionally, the largest average total package in 2020 – $69.45…
On this episode, President and CEO at Gilbane Building Company Mike McKelvy covers everything you need to know about Construction Safety Week 2021 – happening May 3rd through May 7th. Mike shares his excitement to be the chairman of this year’s event and his passion behind the “Holistic Safety” theme; walks through the wealth of planning resources and communication tools that firms can use to participate; and talks about lessons learned, future goals, and how he keeps him team engaged in safety initiatives. Also hear from some Construction Safety Week partners who are offering free training and resources. Kevin Cannon,…
On April 5, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that the administration is planning to propose that money from its infrastructure package be paid out through a “competitive bidding process,” and that states and other entities would “have to apply for funding for rebuilding the infrastructure in their states or local communities. On April 6, Psaki clarified these comments, noting that while “it will be up to Congress” to shape the bill, the administration expected “a mix” of formula grants and competitive grants. She went on to say “…existing transportation funding flows through formula grants, which gives states a…
New Producer Price Index Data Shows Costs Outstripping Contractors’ Bid Prices as Firms Cope with Growing Delivery Delays, Limited Supplies of Key Items; Association Urges Relief from Tariffs An unprecedented leap in the price of goods used in construction and supply-chain disruptions are wreaking hardships on contractors and slowing projects, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. The association posted a Construction Inflation Alert to update contractors and their clients about the latest developments. Association officials urged the Biden administration to end a variety of tariffs and quotas on imported construction inputs and to help ease…
On March 26, members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an enforceable heat standard for workers exposed to high temperatures. The bill specifically cites construction workers as suffering among the highest incidences of heat illness. AGC previously testified on similar legislation, citing the industry’s thorough, proactive work on this subject and informed lawmakers that legislation mandating OSHA to quickly formulate a one-size-fits-all national standard to address workplace heat exposure is unwarranted. In addition, AGC pointed out how the Obama administration’s OSHA previously decided against issuing such a standard given…