On March 26, ABC, ABC’s Southeast Texas Chapter and the Coalition for Workforce Innovation filed suit against the U.S. Department of Labor regarding its delay and proposed withdrawal of the Trump DOL independent contractor final rule. The complaint alleges the Biden administration arbitrarily and without authority delayed the final rule from going into effect, depriving many contractors of clear and uniform guidance on the proper standard for compliance with the

ABC has added Massachusetts Chapter member Mark Roberts of A & M Construction Co., Inc. to the Beam Club Presidential Level.

On March 23, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was sworn in as secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor by Vice President Kamala Harris, becoming the first union member to serve in the role of secretary in nearly half a century. The Senate confirmed Walsh to serve as secretary in a 68-29 vote on March 22.

ABC members are invited to provide input on Group A Codes at the International Code Council’s 2021 Committee Action Hearings, which will be held virtually from April 11 through May 5.

On March 16, the Michigan State Senate passed  Senate Concurrent Resolution 8, which opposes the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, federal legislation that would strengthen union organizing rights and restrict the autonomy of workers and employers.

ABC of California applauded the California State Assembly for the unanimous and bipartisan passage of Assembly Concurrent Resolution 23, which proclaims March 18, 2021 as Construction Suicide Prevention Awareness Day in California—raising awareness of an important health problem affecting the state’s construction industry. ABC of California supports ACR 23 and is currently working alongside its author, Assembly member Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton), to help change the conversation around suicide and suicide prevention.

ABC has added Pelican Chapter member Wesley Littleton of 24Hr Safety, LLC to the Beam Club Presidential Level.

The 2021 Roadmap to World-class Safety is ready and our facilitators are prepared to present to your chapter, both in person and virtually. 

Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., Kaukauna, Wisconsin, took the reins as the 2021 ABC national chair at ABC’s March board of directors meeting in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

On March 9, the U.S. House passed H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, by a vote of 225-206. Five Republicans joined Democrats in pushing this bill forward, while only one Democrat, Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), opposed the bill.