After months of failed negotiations, a strike by members of the International Longshoremen’s Association began Oct. 1. As ILA members walked off the job without a new contract from the United States Maritime Alliance, more than 35 ports shut down along the East and Gulf coasts. In their first strike since 1977, the ILA has pledged to strike ‘as long as necessary’ seeking higher wages and a new language on automation in a six-year contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently launched a new website, epa.gov/permits, with the goal of providing a centralized source of information about federal environmental permitting programs under the EPA’s jurisdiction.

On April 1, ABC submitted comments opposing the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council’s proposed rule, Pay Equity and Transparency in Federal Contracting.

On March 29, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process final rule, which allows employees to choose a third-party representative, such as an outside union representative or community organizer, to accompany an OSHA safety inspector into nonunion workplaces during site inspections. This final rule is effective on May 31, 2024. ABC will offer a webinar on Tuesday, April 9 at 2 p.m. ET about the final rule. Register now!

On March 1, 2024, a federal judge ruled that the Corporate Transparency Act is unconstitutional, marking a milestone in the 16-month ongoing legal battle led by the National Small Business Association and supported by the S-Corporation Associates of America and the members of the Main Street Employers Coalition, including ABC.

UPDATE: The DOL webinar has been postponed to a later date. On Jan. 30, 2024, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. ET, ABC is offering an ABC members-only webinar on the proposed rule where you will learn about the problematic and beneficial provisions of the rule and hear how you can best participate in regulatory and advocacy efforts to help improve this extensive regulation. Encourage ABC member and chapter education professionals, human resources, management professionals and other stakeholders to register to attend the webinar. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration is sponsoring a webinar on Jan. 11, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET.

On Dec. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor announced its final rule on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contractors, which will implement Executive Order 14055.

On Nov. 15, Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., introduced a resolution (H.J. Res.103) under the Congressional Review Act providing for congressional disapproval of the U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule, Updating Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations. This controversial final rule largely disregards the feedback of ABC, construction industry stakeholders and thousands of small businesses urging the withdrawal of––and/or improvements to––this unnecessary, costly and burdensome regulation.

On Nov. 13, Associated Builders and Contractors filed comments urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to withdraw the Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process proposed rule, which would allow employees to choose a third-party representative, such as an outside union representative or community organizer, to accompany an OSHA safety inspector into nonunion workplaces during site inspections. ABC also signed on to comments submitted by the Coalition for Workplace Safety and Construction Industry Safety Coalition.

States across the country held legislative, gubernatorial, local and judicial elections yesterday, as well as considered a variety of hot-button issues on ballot initiatives. In almost every instance, Democrats carried the night, delivering a resounding blow to GOP optimism as focus shifts toward the 2024 elections.