Beginning on May 7, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) division of the Department of Homeland Security will require all employers to use the newly released Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification Form.  The new Form I-9 is longer and more complex than the previous version and comes with new rules affecting which documents may be used to verify the employment eligibility of workers.  There are also new instructions and additional data fields for employees and employers.  As a result, AGC will host a compliance assistance webinar on the new Form I-9.  The webinar will take place on Thursday, May 23 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT.  The cost to participate is just $49 for AGC members and $79 for non-members. 

This week, the Senate bipartisan “gang of eight” unveiled their long-awaited immigration bill.  The 884 page bill covers border security, establishing an opportunity for earned legal status of undocumented workers, visa programs for highly skilled workers and temporary visas for lower skilled workers, and an employment verification system. AGC continues to review the entire bill and will be commenting on issues of high priority to the construction industry. One troubling provision is that the construction industry would be the only industry under a separate, smaller annual cap of eligible visas under the proposed temporary worker visas program for lesser-skilled workers.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to proposed immigration reform legislation released today by the “Gang of Eight” Senators: “The Senators’ proposal for immigration reform provides a long-needed opportunity to fix a significantly broken system. That is why we will fully review the details of a very complex bill. We are deeply troubled that the proposal appears to arbitrarily single out the construction industry for a unique cap while providing a reasonable mechanism for the immigration system to adapt to evolving market conditions for every other segment of the domestic economy."

In light of recent press reports – some conflicting and premature – on a bipartisan “deal” on immigration reform from the Senate “Gang of 8” AGC joined with other construction industry groups to comment on the industry’s view of the negotiations so far. The eight senators (Schumer (D-N.Y.), McCain (R-Ariz.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Graham (R-S.C.), Menendez (D-N.J.), Rubio (R-Fla.), Bennet (D-Colo.), and Flake (R-Ariz.)) continue to work on many elements of immigration reform, with the bulk of the discussions and the source of much consternation centering around a future temporary worker visa program. Other important parts of immigration reform that AGC continues to lobby on include the Employment Eligibility Verification Provisions; the Legalization Provisions; and the Conversion to Permanent Residence Provisions from the Temporary Worker Program. These important areas still need to be agreed upon by the gang of eight and the committee. Only then can the program be put to a vote on the senate floor. Thus, the reports of a “done deal” are extremely premature.

In light of recent press reports - some conflicting and premature - on a bipartisan “deal” on immigration reform we wanted to provide you with an update on the status of those discussions along with the impact for the construction industry. The group of eight Senators are: Schumer (D-N.Y.), McCain (R-Ariz.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Graham (R-S.C.), Menendez (D-N.J.), Rubio (R-Fla.), Bennet (D-Colo.), and Flake (R-Ariz.). While they are working on many elements of immigration reform, the bulk of the discussions and the source of much consternation has centered on a future temporary worker visa program. Other important parts of immigration reform that AGC continues to lobby on include the Employment Eligibility Verification Provisions; the Legalization Provisions; and the Conversion to Permanent Residence Provisions from the Temporary Worker Program.  These important areas still need to be agreed upon by the gang of eight and the committee. Only then can the program be put to a vote on the senate floor. Thus, the reports of a “done deal” are extremely premature.

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been challenging for many employers.  To offer assistance to construction employers, AGC has dedicated a page on its website to providing compliance resources on the ACA.  The members-only page includes links to white papers, a webinar and government resources.  AGC will update the page routinely as new and relevant information becomes available.

An employer must continue to honor a dues check-off provision in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) even after the CBA expires, the National Labor Relations Board recently ruled, overturning 50 years of precedent.  The Board now holds that an employer may unilaterally cease dues check-off only when collective bargaining negotiations have reached a valid impasse.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published an interim final rule that governs whistleblower complaints filed under Section 1558 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Section 1558 of the ACA provides protection to employees against retaliation by an employer for reporting alleged violations of Title I of the act or for receiving a tax credit or cost-sharing reduction as a result of participating in a health insurance exchange or marketplace.

Union representation in the construction industry slipped to 13.7 percent (850,000 workers) in 2012, a decline from 14.9 percent (928,000 workers) in 2011 and equal to the percentage in 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports.  Union membership in the industry dropped from 14 percent (874,000 workers) in 2011 to 13.2 percent (820,000 workers) in 2012.  Total employment in construction fell from 6.244 million workers to 6.205 million.

Things are looking up, according to Rocco Davis of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (“LiUNA”) in a March 6 address during AGC of America’s Annual Convention in Palm Springs, CA.  Davis, who serves LiUNA as Vice President, Special Assistant to the General President, and Pacific Southwest Regional Manager, expressed optimism about the industry and about labor relations.