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Ninth Circuit's Expansion of Successor Liability May Make Asset Purchases More Costly

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, WA, Guam) has ruled that an asset purchaser that was deemed a successor was liable to pay the seller’s pension fund withdrawal liability even though the purchaser did not have actual knowledge of the liability. The circuit court found that constructive notice of the liability was sufficient to impose withdrawal liability on the asset purchaser. The ruling raises the hurdles that a successor must overcome to avoid withdrawal liability in an asset sale transaction.

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASES IN 263 METROS BETWEEN MAY 2017 & 2018; LACK OF TRAINED WORKERS THREATENS FURTHER JOB GAINS, ASSOCIATION WARNS

Merced, Calif., Midland and Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas Have Largest Gains as 63 Areas Set May Records for Construction Employment; Newark, N.J.-Pa. and Bloomington, Ill. Have Biggest Annual Decreases

Construction Association Official Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Reform the Nation's immigration System

James V. Christianson, Vice President, Government Relations, for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), the nation’s leading construction trade association, today urged Congress “to reform the nation’s immigration system.”

Labor Department Finalizes Rule Expanding Small Business Health Plan Options

On June 19, the U. S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released a final rule intended to expand association health plans (AHPs) and increase flexibility for small employers to join groups or associations to offer insured health coverage in the large group market at potentially more favorable pricing with less restrictive requirements. A number of AGC Chapters across the country currently recognize the need to offer alternative health care options and administer AHPs that offer “group health plan” coverage to employees of members.  As outlined in response to the proposed version of the rule, AGC is supportive of the flexibility and opportunity the DOL intends to provide and pleased that existing AHPs were preserved in the final rule.

Construction Employment Rises in 42 States and D.C. from May 2017 to May 2018 while 28 States Add Construction Jobs for the Month

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between May 2017 and May 2018, while 28 states added construction jobs between April and May, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials warned that soaring construction costs, aggravated by new tariffs on steel and aluminum, could trigger project cancellations and job losses.

AGC Call for Workforce Development Success Stories

In conjunction with AGC’s 2018 workforce development campaign, we are currently seeking success stories and best practices in the areas of construction workforce development, industry image enhancement and industry recruiting. Our goal is to gather and share these success stories with member firms and AGC chapter staff in the hopes of increasing knowledge sharing and program collaboration, communicating lessons learned, and sparking innovative workforce solutions.

Construction Staff Wages Projected to Rise by 3.4% This Year

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction staff wages rose by 3.7% in 2017 and contractors are projecting wages to increase an average of 3.4% in 2018. The prediction is based on data gathered from 295 companies who participated in the 36th edition of PAS’s Construction/CM Staff Salary Survey.

Construction Costs Soar in May, Outpacing Contractors' Pricing; New Tariffs Threaten to Worsen Cost Squeeze, Lead to Project Delays

Association Officials Say the Threat of New Tariffs Has Already Led to Dramatic Increases in the Cost of Many Construction Materials, Warn Prices Will Grow As the New Trade Restrictions Take Effect

California's High Court Adopts Tough New Independent Contractor Test

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of California in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court adopted a new test to determine whether a worker performing services for a company is an employee or an independent contractor under California’s wage orders. The new three-factor test, known as the ABC test, will determine whether a company “employs” a worker under the wage orders, which address certain requirements for minimum wage, overtime, and meal and rest periods, among others.