On Nov. 10, the general counsel鈥檚 office of the National Labor Relations Board issued a memo expressing the position that employers have both decisional and effects bargaining obligations in relation to implementation of OSHA's Emergency Temporary Standard to Protect Workers from Coronavirus (鈥淓TS鈥). Although the ETS is currently on hold, the memo is valuable for what it reveals about the office鈥檚 views on employers鈥 duty to bargain over government mandates generally.
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., Open Shop contractors anticipate skilled craft hourly wage increases of 3.01% in 2021 (3.21% excluding zeros). Actual increases for 2020 were 2.88% (including zeros) and 3.41% (excluding zeros). These increases are across the board for all craft, contractor types, sizes, and regions of the country. WorldatWork reports 2021 actual construction increases at 3.4% for Non-exempt Hourly Non-union positions. Historically, projected numbers are slightly lower than the actual year end figure.
Provides Additional Information on Religious Objections to Workplace Vaccine Requirements
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) released a proposal on Nov. 18, 2021, that would return to the 1980鈥檚 regulatory framework, with some changes, on Waters of the United States (WOTUS). As previously reported in September, a district court vacated the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which the Biden Administration has interpreted as a nationwide vacatur. Since then, the regulated community has been following the 1980鈥檚 regulatory regime and guidance on relevant U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Earlier this summer, the U.S. EPA announced its intention to remove and replace the Trump Administration鈥檚 NWPR. The first step is the proposal the U.S. EPA just released as a pre-publication version. Comments will be due within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register. 蜜桔直播 will respond to the proposal.
蜜桔直播 of America鈥檚 Union Contractors Committee will hold its next quarterly virtual meeting on Dec. 14, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. EASTERN Standard Time. All interested 蜜桔直播 members and chapter staff are invited. The meeting is not open to nonmembers. The agenda will include updates from 蜜桔直播 staff and an open discussion of labor relations developments around the country.
There are significant flaws with the current 811 utility location system according to a new survey of construction firms that perform any kind of underground excavation released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Most contractors say that calling 811 often leads to inaccurate line marking and that utility firms are often very slow in coming out to even do locate and mark their underground lines.
蜜桔直播 of America is releasing a new series of COVID-19 vaccine PSAs designed to encourage construction professionals to get their shot. The series will feature testimonials from workers who did not get their shot, contracted COVID and nearly died. They are now urging their co-workers to get their shots. Other videos feature construction mentors talking about the value of the vaccine. You can view the current videos here. The videos urge people to visit 蜜桔直播 of America鈥檚 vaccine toolkit to learn more.
Today, the Associated General Contractors of America (蜜桔直播), the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the Signatory Wall & Ceiling Contractors Alliance (SWACCA) filed a petition for review of OSHA鈥檚 new COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The groups explain that the new rule will put many construction companies at grave risk of losing a substantial number of their workers to smaller companies, instead of leading to more people getting vaccinated in the sector.
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