Author: agcnews
Hensel Phelps was recognized for having the nation’s top construction safety and health program in 2022 by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). The association, which oversees the prestigious AGC-WTW Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety and health programs, noted that 47 other companies were also selected as winners for their commitment to safety and occupational health management and risk control. “We invest so much time and energy in organizing what is a very rigorous awards program because this is a vehicle for elevating the safety and health of the industry” said Dan Fordice, the association’s president and vice-president of…
Construction employment increased in 45 states in February from a year earlier, while 24 states added construction jobs from January to February, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Association officials said the annual job gains are a sign that demand for construction remains robust and continued to caution that labor shortages are holding many firms back. “Unfavorable weather may have held back construction in many states last month compared to January,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But construction employment continued to expand almost everywhere in February compared to a…
At the AGC Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Highway and Transportation Division by acclamation elected Jeff Firth as Chairman for 2023-2024. Jeff is the Vice President of Hamilton Construction, in charge of company operations and contract management. With over 27 years of estimating, engineering, and project management experience on complex, heavy civil bridge and highway projects in Oregon and Washington, Jeff provides critical executive oversight on Hamilton’s most complex and demanding projects, as well as insight on elements of open-book accounting, value-engineering, preconstruction technical approach and management. Jeff is actively involved in his local AGC chapter in Oregon. He also…
In a recent article reporting on the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB or Board) decision in McLaren Macomb, which changes the Board’s approach to the lawfulness of key provisions often found in severance agreements, we indicated that the NLRB’s general counsel would eventually issue guidance on questions arising as a result of that decision. That day has come. On March 22, 2023, NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued Memorandum GC 23-05, Guidance in Response to Inquiries about the McLaren Macomb Decision. The Guidance covers a range of topics and questions of importance to employers. Abruzzo starts off the Guidance describing the holding of McLaren Macomb: “the Board…
In its February 21, 2023, decision in the McLaren Macomb case, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) explicitly overruled Baylor University Medical Center, 369 NLRB No. 43 (2020) and IGT d/b/a International Game Technology, 370 NLRB No. 50 (2020) and reversed Trump-era decisions in Baylor University Medical Center and IGT d/b/a International Game Technology that had permitted employers to include broad confidentiality provisions and non-disparagement clauses in severance agreements. Background McLaren Macomb is a unionized hospital in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, McLaren Macomb permanently furloughed 11 employees and presented each with a Severance Agreement, Waiver, and Release. All…
AGC of America released a new, highly interactive, digital Annual Report this week that catalogues the many steps the national association took to help the construction industry overcome significant challenges and build new opportunities. This includes details about the steps the association took to protect worker health and safety, recruit new and more diverse workers, address supply chain challenges and rising materials prices, provide new virtual education opportunities, and continue to serve as strong advocates for the industry in Washington, D.C. The 2023 AGC of America Annual Report: Overcoming Challenges and Building Opportunities also includes a printable and video version. The Annual Report is…
Marking Equal Pay Day and acknowledging that new federal money is now flowing for infrastructure projects, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced a renewed Mega Construction Project Initiative reaffirming contractors’ Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action requirements under covered federal contracts. OFCCP will designate an initial group of newly-funded projects from the Department of Transportation and the General Services Administration as Megaprojects. Construction projects eligible for designation as Megaprojects are valued at $35 million or more in funding, some part of which must be federal funding, and are expected to last for at least one year. For each Megaproject, OFCCP claims…
Attendees at the 2023 AGC Annual Convention in Las Vegas participated in several sessions of specific relevance to union construction contractors. On March 12, 2023 attendees participated in a tour of the Carpenters International Training Center where they received presentations by the Carpenters Training Fund and the education and training department of the ITC as well as a tour of the 17 acre campus, 1.2 million square foot facility. The convention also offered an opportunity for attendees to participate in a Collective Bargaining Seminar on March 13. At the seminar members heard from speakers on negotiation strategies and legal and practical considerations…
Construction employment increased in 306 of 358 metro areas between January 2022 and January 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials urged officials in Washington to ease hiring of foreign-born workers to accommodate expected growth in infrastructure, manufacturing, and renewable energy-related projects. Read more.
In AGC’s annual survey with FMI, the top risks identified included price increases in materials and equipment, lack of skilled/craft labor as well as lack of field supervisors. While most respondents reported moderately higher or significantly higher backlogs today compared to the end of 2021, 70 percent of them admitted having a low labor force relative to backlog demands. Furthermore, almost 40 percent of survey respondents reported an increase in subcontractor defaults compared to a year ago. In light of these trends, contractors are increasingly trying to lock in pricing and add contingencies in contract language as well as increase…