In a victory for taxpayers and merit shop contractors, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to reach the three-fifths majority required to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s (R-Ill.) veto of S.B. 2964. The bill would have tied prevailing wage rates for public projects to local union rates.

ABC announced new resources made available to its members through its membership in the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. ABC joined the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)-led alliance in October 2016 to help provide resources and disseminate information on suicide prevention and mental health awareness in the construction industry, with a goal of building a zero-suicide industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 23– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) welcomed news that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) burdensome and costly overtime final rule. Prior to the injunction, the rule was scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1 and would have doubled the current minimum salary threshold for employees that are exempt from overtime pay and automatically increased it every three years.

ABC has added Massachusetts Chapter member Barry Belcastro of Belcastro Brothers, Inc. to the Beam Club Presidential level. The Beam Club was established in 1966 to recognize ABC’s top membership recruiters for their commitment to growing the association. By recruiting five new members, ABC members are automatically enrolled in the Beam Club by their chapter.

SDV Construction of Albuquerque, N.M., a member of ABC’s New Mexico Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 21– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today released its annual update to “Building America: The Merit Shop Scorecard,” which reviews and grades state-specific policies and information significant to the success of the commercial and industrial construction industry. The scorecard highlights states that have created a free enterprise-based environment where merit shop contractors are well positioned to succeed and calls attention to states where strategic improvements need to b

ABC's Regulatory Alert, released Nov. 22, provides an overview of federally mandated rules, regulations and enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other federal agencies. 

Shapiro & Duncan Inc. of Rockville, Md, a member of ABC’s Metro Washington Chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations.  

On Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. EST, Ilyse Schuman of Littler Mendelson P.C . will present a webinar on Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) requirements for employers and their potential impact on your company in 2017 and beyond. Ms. Schuman also will discuss how the recent elections could impact the ACA.  

Upon his election as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump has promised to unify our country and work to rebuild our nation and renew the American Dream. He emphasized his background recognizing the untapped potential in projects and people, and expressed the desire to do the same for the nation at large. As the construction industry braces for a critical shortage of skilled craft employees during the next decade, ABC appreciates President-elect Trump’s commitment to developing people to leverage their talent fo