ABC reiterated its support in advance of a U.S House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on legislation introduced Sept. 9 designed to help restore the “joint employer” standard under the National Labor Relations Act that has been in place for over 30 years. The standard was overturned by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in its Aug. 27 ruling in the Browning-Ferris Industries of California case.

The hearing was held to address concerns that the decision will lead to higher costs for consumers, fewer jobs for workers, and less opportunity for individuals to own a small business and to provide an opportunity to examine the Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act (S. 2015/ H.R. 3459) and hear directly from individuals affected by the board’s decision.

Kevin R. Cole, Ennis Electric Company, Manassas, Va., testified on behalf of the Independent Electrical Contractors and the construction industry on how the new standard will negatively impact the electrical contracting industry.

In letter submitted in advance of the hearing and to the House in support of the Protecting Local Business Opportunity Act, ABC cited the dissenting opinion written by the two Republican members of the NLRB, stating that the NLRB’s ruling will “subject countless entities to unprecedented new joint-bargaining obligations that most do not even know they have, to potential liability for unfair labor practices and breaches of collective bargaining agreements, and to economic protest activity, including what have heretofore been unlawful secondary strikes, boycotts and picketing.”