The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a big victory to the AGC-supported Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) and U.S. Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) in a June 26 opinion invalidating President Obama’s January 2012 recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board).

AGC of America’s Union Contractors Committee will hold its next quarterly conference call on Thursday, July 24, at 3:00 p.m. EDT.  The agenda includes reports on legal and labor relations developments since the last call and a roundtable discussion of activities of interest to union contractors.  The call is open to all AGC union contractors and chapter staff.  AGC membership is required, but Committee membership is not.  Chapter staff and leaders are encouraged to actively participate in the discussion and to come prepared to share information about local bargaining, jurisdictional disputes, and other matters, as well as any questions about labor concerns.

The Associated General Contractors of America announced today that it is joining the national Hiring Our Heroes program as part of the construction industry’s effort to add 100,000 veterans over the next five years.  The new partnership will make it easier for construction contractors to find, recruit and hire veterans, association officials added.

AGC has scheduled a webinar for Monday, June 30th from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM for the latest updates on Multiemployer Pension Plan reform. For nearly two years the National Coordinating Committee of Multiemployer Plans, Retirement Review Security Commission developed draft recommendations for legislative and other changes to the current multiemployer pension plan system.

The Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) has updated its model notices that inform workers of their eligibility to continue healthcare coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (“COBRA”). The updates, announced May 2, are intended to clarify to workers that, if they are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage when leaving a job, they may instead choose to purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.  Click here for the revised Model COBRA Continuation Coverage General Notice and instructions.  Click here for the revised Model COBRA Continuation Coverage Election Notice and instructions.

If your firm is already experiencing challenges in finding craft workers or is anticipating challenges in the future, join AGC of America’s Open Shop Committee, HR Forum, and Training, Education & Development Forum for a web meeting on June 16 at 2:00 p.m. EDT featuring a presentation on “Best Practices in Recruiting Craft Workers.”  Ron Kubitz, Recruiting Manager for Brayman Construction, will share strategies he has found effective in meeting his company’s immediate needs for craft workers as well as those useful for developing a pipeline of workers for future needs.  Kubitz will address how to best use mobile technology, website language, employee referral incentives, job fairs, mentoring, and more.  A roundtable discussion will follow, offering you and your fellow AGC members a chance to share your own experiences and questions.  The program will also include an update on labor and employment legal developments from AGC staff.

The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) have entered into a program together for the referral of untimely whistleblower claims, according to a May 21 memo from NLRB Associate General Counsel Anne Purcell to NLRB regional directors and officers.

There’s no question that compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be multifaceted and cumbersome, and U.S. Department of Labor continues to issue regulations that will govern the complex law.  These regulations will likely impact the bottom line of every covered construction company.  AGC’s webinar, Affordable Care Act Update for Construction Employers, will provide employers with the latest and greatest information regarding the ACA, how it will impact construction companies, and how construction companies should prepare. The webinar will be held on June 24 from 2:00-3:30 PM EDT and is just $79 for AGC members and $99 for non-members.

On May 19, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) filed a consent judgment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to collect $556,000 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for at least 445 current and former employees of Paul Johnson Drywall (PJD). PJD also agreed to pay $44,000 in civil monetary penalties – all for violations associated with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently announced that the annual national percentage of veterans in the civilian labor force for 2014 is 7.2 percent.