WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 7– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and its ABC Southeast Texas Chapter announced that they have filed a lawsuit challenging the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces final rule, commonly referred to as the “blacklisting” rule, which was released Aug. 25, 2016. The legal challenge was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division, by the Texas office of Littler Mendelson, P.C., ABC National’s general counsel. The firm will represent ABC, the ABC Southeast Texas Chapter and the National Association of Security Companies (NASCO) in the lawsuit.

Kencor, Inc. Elevator Systems of West Chester, PA., a member of ABC’s Eastern Pennsylvania 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.  A company that meets the criteria set forth in the program, and has earned Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Gold, Platinum or Diamond status, is formally designated an “Accredited Quality Contractor.”      

Messer Construction Co. of Charlotte, NC., a member of ABC’s Carolinas 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.  A company that meets the criteria set forth in the program, and has earned Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Gold, Platinum or Diamond status, is formally designated an “Accredited Quality Contractor.”      

The 2016 ABC Employee Benefits Survey is now open through Oct. 15. This survey looks at benefit practices of ABC member contractors and helps you benchmark your current benefits offerings against your peers. The results are tabulated in the aggregate, as well as by region and company size. Find a link to the survey or view the 2014 survey results.

On Sept. 30, the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division issued a final rule requiring certain federal contractors to offer employees up to seven days (56 hours) of paid sick leave annually, including paid leave for family care.  The paid sick leave required by the final rule is in addition to a contractor’s obligations under the Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act (DBA). 

On Sept. 29, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finalized its revisions to the Employer Information Report or EEO-1 report, which will impact private employers, including federal contractors and subcontractors, with 100 or more employees.  Beginning in March 2018, such employers will be required to report pay data and hours worked on the new EEO-1 form. ABC’s General Counsel, Littler Mendelson P.C., has prepared an analysis for ABC members. 

The U.S. House of Representatives passed ABC-supported legislation to mitigate the impact of certain costly and burdensome regulations on Sept. 21. The Require Evaluation before Implementing Executive Wishlists (REVIEW) Act of 2016 (H.R. 3438) passed by a bipartisan vote of 244-180. The bill was introduced by Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Tom Marino (R-Pa.) and cosponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

David Allen Company Inc. of Raleigh, N.C., a member of ABC’s Carolinas chapter, and Elzinga & Volkers Inc. of Holland, Mich., a member of ABC’s Western Michigan chapter, have been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC.  

In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Beam Club, ABC National Board and Committee members along with all Leadership Week attendees are invited to a celebratory reception following the board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 5-6:30 p.m.  Meet and raise a glass to the members wearing burgundy blazers, who are being honored for their dedication to growing ABC over the years with 50, 100, even 200 members recruited!

On Aug. 5 the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued proposed regulations targeting the valuation practices of family-owned businesses. The proposed rules would lead to dramatically higher estate and gift taxes by eliminating the use of discounts currently permitted to reflect lack of control and marketability, respectively. The Wall Street Journal has referred to it as a "stealth death tax increase" that "rewrites long-standing interpretations of law."