Through Project Virtual, a collaborative effort between ABC and Synergis Engineering Design Solutions to deliver affordable and effective BIM training and solutions, ABC members have access to two free webinars covering new services offered by Autodesk and tips on increasing productivity with AutoCAD. 

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) filed a lawsuit Jan. 5 seeking to overturn the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) controversial ambush election rule. The changes are scheduled to take effect April 14 unless a court or Congress blocks enforcement of the new rule. The suit was filed in the D.C. Federal District Court and follows CDW’s successful 2012 lawsuit that overturned the NLRB’s previous ambush election rule. 

The 2015 National Craft Championships is approaching its Jan. 9 Intent to Compete deadline. Don’t miss out on being a part of the big event and reserve a spot for your most talented employees by the Jan. 9 deadline. The event will be held March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in conjunction with ABC’s Workforce Conference.

ABC announced Jan. 6 that Fringe Benefit Group (FBG) has become ABC's fourth strategic partner and will be supporting ABC’s core value of ethics and compliance through their success of keeping clients in compliance with complex government regulations.

The United States Senate passed a one-year “extenders” bill Dec. 16, retroactively renewing 55 previously expired tax credits and other key policies for the 2014 tax year. The 76-16 Senate vote echoes the overwhelming 378-46 House approval earlier in the month and sends the bill to the President’s desk where the White House signaled he will sign it into law. ABC recently joinedmore than 500 industry groups in urging the swift passage of such legislation.

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear ABC’s appeal in a case that could lead to the invalidation of local prevailing wage ordinances throughout the state. The lawsuit seeks to overturn a May 2014 Michigan Court of Appeals ruling, which overturned a previous Ingham County Circuit Court decision that ruled in ABC’s favor. 

The 113th congress concluded its final session Dec. 16 without reauthorizing the Terrorism Risk Insurance (TRIA) program. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support, and over four hundred Representatives voting to reauthorize the program for six years, the democratically controlled Senate was unable to vote on the bill before leaving town for the last time until the new year. 

Beginning Jan. 1, contractors will face new deadlines and requirements for reporting severe injuries on the jobsite. The rule will go into effect Jan. 1, 2015, for all employers covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act - even those who are exempt from maintaining injury and illness records.

The DOL’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a final rule Dec. 9 implementing Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees and prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in federal employment.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a 3-2 split decision along party lines Dec. 11, stating that employees are permitted, except in very limited circumstances, to use corporate email systems during non-work time for union organizing (Section 7 activities). The Board’s decision overturns the 2007 decision in Register Guard.