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Ohio Bricklayers Praise New Silica Limits

Mar 25, 2016 | Construction News, Industries, Industry Regulations, Issues, Members, Resources, Safety, Workforce Training, Workplace Safety | 0 |

The following press release was sent out on Friday, March 25, 2016 from the Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers of Ohio and Kentucky. The long awaited, dramatically reduced exposure regulations by the Department of Labor was made public by Secretary Perez at the BAC Training Center in Bowie, Maryland.

AMHERST, OH. March 25, 2016 – Wednesday, U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez announced the promulgation of the long-overdue final silica rule. The new rule dramatically reduces the allowed exposure limits for workers in a slew of industries. Secretary Perez made the announcement in Bowie, Md. at the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Training Center.

Home Builders Sentiments: January, February, March

Mar 15, 2016 | Construction News, Industries, Members | 0 |

The month of February marked a nine month low for homebuilders. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo builder sentiment index decreased to 58 in February from a revised reading of 61 in January. The index remains unchanged this month, remaining at 58.

‘Right to Work is Wrong’ Village Ordinance Challenged in Illinois

Mar 1, 2016 | Construction News, Issues, Members, So-Called "Right to Work" | 0 |

Three building trades unions have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Village of Lincolnshire, Ill., after the village implemented a ‘Right to Work is Wrong,’ initiative.
The ‘Right-to-Work is Wrong,’ ordinance enacted in December, made Lincolnshire the only right-to-work municipality in Illinois. The Village Board voted to approve the proposal, after trustees listened to 15 right-to-work opponents and four who spoke in its favor. They approved the measure 5-1.

Indiana Repealed Prevailing Wage, Cost of Public Works Projects Increase as a Result

Feb 26, 2016 | Construction News, Member News, Members, Prevailing Wage | 0 |

On July 1, 2015 the state of Indiana repealed its Common Construction Wage (CCW), which has resulted in devastating effects. The CCW is the term for prevailing wage in Indiana.
Prevailing wage laws require construction workers be paid a wage and benefit packages based on the majority of what the workers in the region earn on public construction projects. Prevailing wage ensures fair competition by not allowing unscrupulous contractors to undercut their competition. Prevailing wages also ensure that contractors can provide robust training programs for its workforce.

Forbes.com Highlights the Need for the “Other Four-Year Degree”

Feb 23, 2016 | Apprenticeship, Benefits, Construction Professionals, Education, Resources | 0 |

A January Forbes.com article discusses the advantages of apprenticeships and other vocational and technical education options.

The article, written by Nicholas Wyman, points out that roughly 13 million Americans with college degrees are unemployed and countless more are either underemployed or have given up trying to find a job.

City of Cincinnati Passes Wage Theft Ordinance, First of Its Kind in Ohio

Feb 19, 2016 | Construction News, Industries, Issues, Member News, Ohio Construction Legislation, Prevailing Wage | 0 |

Cincinnati is taking measures to ensure workers receive a fair wage. Earlier this month, Cincinnati became the first Ohio city to pass a wage theft ordinance. The ordinance imposes penalties on employers who do business in the city of Cincinnati and who do not pay their employees the wages they have earned. These wages often take the form of tips, overtime, and simply withholding pay. This ordinance would also apply to prevailing wage that was not properly paid to workers.

ACT Ohio Attends OETC 2016

Feb 18, 2016 | Apprenticeship, Benefits, Conferences, Education, Member News, Technology | 0 |

For three days in early February, ACT Ohio met with teachers and administrators at the 2016 Ohio Educational Technology Conference.
On behalf of all of their affiliated construction trades, ACT Ohio engaged conference attendees about the opportunities building trades apprenticeship can offer individuals and discussed many of the positive aspects of building trade apprentices.

Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2015 Union Membership Report Released

Feb 16, 2016 | Apprenticeship, Benefits, Construction Professionals, Member News, Members, Resources | 0 |

The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its 2015 Union Membership Report. The report details trends and statistics within the organized labor community. The public sector led in unionized membership, with 35.2%, representing more than five times that of private-sector workers at 6.7%. New York had the highest union membership rate at 24.7%, while South Carolina had the lowest at 2.1%.

Honda of America Signs PLA for Marysville Project

Feb 8, 2016 | Construction News, Issues, Manufacturing, Project Labor Agreements | 0 |

Honda of America has entered into a Project Labor Agreement with a local building trades council for a major project at one of their Ohio facilities. The Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council and Honda of America signed a PLA for a $210 million project that will make the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) Honda’s most energy efficient facility.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Local So-Called Right to Work Laws in Kentucky

Feb 8, 2016 | Construction News, Issues, Member News, So-Called "Right to Work" | 0 |

A Kentucky District Court judge ruled that local governments in Kentucky cannot enact right to work laws. Right-to-work policies ban mandatory union dues or fees, as a condition of employment. Since 2014, eleven counties in Kentucky (including Hardin County) enacted these right to work laws. The first county did so directly after Louisville became the first city in Kentucky to raise its minimum wage.