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Collective bargaining negotiations settled from January through September of 2018 resulted in an average first-year increase in wages and benefits of 3.0 percent or $1.70, and a median of 2.6 percent or $1.43, according to the Construction Labor Research Council’s (CLRC’s) latest Settlements Report.

Enrollment in E-Verify is a mandatory subject of bargaining, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) recently held, and an employer committed unfair labor practice when it unilaterally enrolled without notify its workers’ union and offering an opportunity to bargain.

On Nov. 1, 2018, members of �۽�ֱ�� of America’s Union Contractors Steering Committee and other �۽�ֱ�� leaders and staff held a lunch meeting with several leaders of the building trades in Washington, DC. Participants discussed a variety of matters currently of concern to union contractors and labor.

Given the many shortcomings of the multiemployer pension system traditionally used in the unionized sector of the construction industry, many parties are looking for alternatives. �۽�ֱ��, in cooperation with labor and others, is actively advocating for legislative changes that would authorize a new retirement plan model called “composite plans.” In the meantime, there are some alternative plan designs already available to consider. In January, �۽�ֱ�� will offer a three-part WebEd series designed to educate union contractors and their representatives about alternatives and help inform their decisions. The series is free to �۽�ֱ�� members and chapter staff.

December 11, 2018 – AND – December 13, 2018 | 2 – 3:30 PM EST

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) today announced three new directives aimed at establishing an opinion letter process and enhancing OFCCP’s Help Desk, establishing a process to resolve compliance evaluations at the earliest stage possible with corporate-wide compliance, and clarifying the Agency’s compliance review procedures. These new directives are part of the Department’s efforts to maximize the effectiveness of compliance assistance outreach. Together the directives are intended to provide federal contractors and their employees with greater certainty on how OFCCP conducts compliance evaluations and investigations, in general and in particular fact-based scenarios.

The webpages were established in response to feedback received from new and small business stakeholders voicing their need for a centralized location to secure the tools and information they need to comply with federal labor laws. These new webpages provide the most relevant publications and answer the questions most frequently asked by new and small business owners. These tools, in conjunction with worker.gov and employer.gov, hope to ensure greater understanding of federal requirements and provide tools to help employers find resources offered by other regulatory agencies.

�۽�ֱ��’s report, The Business Case for Diversity & Inclusion in the Construction Industry, outlines six reasons why diversity and inclusion are strategically valuable in generating corporate/industry innovation, increasing profitability, and ensuring a positive and sustaining legacy of progress for your firm.

�۽�ֱ��’s 2018 Construction HR & Training Professionals Conference wrapped up Oct. 12 after two-and-a-half days of education, sharing of best practices and networking in Fort Worth, TX. The conference continues to be a must-attend event for HR and training professionals in the construction industry.

Potential Two-Year Moratorium on Compliance Evaluations for Winning Establishment