February 20, 2019, at AGC’s Headquarters in Arlington, Va.

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 AGC of America’s Union Contractors Steering Committee and other AGC 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. AGC, 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, AGC 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 AGC members and chapter staff.

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a new clean water rule to replace the controversial 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The 2015 WOTUS rule is undergoing legal challenges and is on hold in 28 states, creating a patchwork of regulations. Today’s proposal is intended to correct the regulatory overreach of the old rule while continuing to protect federal waters

Construction spending inched lower in October from September levels but increased from the October 2017 total, according to an analysis of new Census data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, investment in public infrastructure posted declines from recent peaks, and association officials urged the White House and Congress to act promptly on comprehensive infrastructure legislation.

AGC’s Lean Construction Forum is focused on growing the implementation of lean practices in the construction industry by providing educational opportunities and developing a community where anyone with an interest in lean construction can come together to engage in a dialog on best practices, share information, and participate in a broad, coordinated effort to promote and define the use of lean concepts and processes within the construction industry.

The AGC Business Development Best Practices are an ongoing effort of the AGC Business Development Forum Steering Committee to bring more BD resources and best practices to the AGC membership. This month, the Business Development Forum Steering Committee highlights: When times are good, some companies tend to drop or back-off on marketing and business development spending. Now is the time to educate your team and support their growth in technical knowledge and developing relationships. In our latest BD best practice, David Little, Gallegos Corporation, discusses “Business Development in a ‘Build, Baby Build’ Market”.

The AGC Business Development (BD) Forum brings together Business Development professionals in one place, for one purpose: to advance the Business Development function in the construction industry. We create business opportunities by sharing the latest techniques and tools of Business Development; follow and report on trends in the construction market; and connect a network of professionals invested in building better businesses. In addition to BD and Marketing professionals, the Forum’s members include Construction Executives, Operations and Pre-construction professionals, from General Contractors and Specialty Contractors, nationwide.