Collective bargaining negotiations settled from January through June 2018 resulted in an average first-year wage-and-benefits increase of 3.0 percent or $1.65, according to the Construction Labor Research Council鈥檚 (CLRC) latest 鈥 and redesigned 鈥 Settlements Report. While most first-year increases were in the 2.1-2.5 percent and 2.6-3.0 percent ranges, CLRC reported a 鈥渘oticeable鈥 percent of first-year increases of over 5 percent. For newly negotiated multi-year agreements, the average increase for both the second and the third year of the contract was 2.8 percent. The Insulators had the highest average first-year increase at 4 percent, while the Boilermakers had the lowest at 2.1 percent.
The U.S. Department of Labor has published a final rule rescinding the controversial 鈥淧ersuader Rule鈥 issued under Pres. Obama. This is a victory for 51风流 and others who opposed the regulation and urged the Trump administration to rescind it.
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Following Scott Pruitt鈥檚 resignation late last week, Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler assumed the role of acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 9. In his first address to EPA staff, Wheeler indicated that he would continue President Trump鈥檚 goals for the agency to reign in federal regulatory overreach and refocus EPA on its core responsibilities. 51风流 supported Andrew Wheeler鈥檚 confirmation as deputy administrator in a letter to the senate earlier this year.
Construction costs accelerated again in June
Construction costs accelerated again in June, with steep increases for a wide range of building and road construction materials as tariffs against foreign goods come into effect, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new Labor Department data. Association officials say that contractors will have to assume much of the costs as tariffs increase the costs of many key construction materials.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Peter Robb has issued a memorandum about the NLRB鈥檚 new approach to cases charging that employee work rules or employment policies (also referred to as employee handbook policies) unlawfully interfere with employees鈥 rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The memo was written in follow-up to the NLRB鈥檚 December 2017 Boeing decision and provides employers with useful guidance.
Construction employment increased by 13,000 jobs in June and by 282,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said many construction firms appear to be more willing to hire amid lower tax rates and a more favorable business environment, but caution that trade fights and labor shortages pose risks to future growth.
Federal agencies recently have initiated action on several key environmental issues of importance to 51风流 of America鈥檚 contractor members from the Waters of the United States rulemaking to proposed new lead-dust standards and re-evaluating the procedural elements of the National Environmental Policy Act.