March 11th, 2011 by admin
Large Bi-partisan Majorities in Congress Agree: Community Standards Matter in the U.S. Construction Industry
February 22, 2011
Dear State and Local Building Trades Leaders:
In early morning hours of February 19, as the U.S. House of Representatives engaged in a marathon session to enact FY 2011 appropriations legislation that would keep the federal government operating this year, America’s Building Trades Unions secured two tremendous victories. Two separate amendments, one designed to repeal the Davis-Bacon Act and the other designed to deny funds for any federal PLA projects, were defeated with significant bipartisan support.
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March 11th, 2011 by admin
Obama joins Wisconsin’s budget battle, opposing Republican anti-union bill
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“Some of what I’ve heard coming out of Wisconsin, where they’re just making it harder for public employees to collectively bargain generally, seems like more of an assault on unions,” Obama told a Milwaukee television reporter on Thursday, taking the unusual step of inviting a local TV station into the White House for a sit-down interview. “I think everybody’s got to make some adjustments, but I think it’s also important to recognize that public employees make enormous contributions to our states and our citizens.”
January 12th, 2011 by admin
Brothers and Sisters,
Recent public opinion polls shows that more people trust President Obama that then Republicans, showing that the last election was not a mandate for the GOP but a vote against the economy. Recognizing this and that the American people want government to solve problems and not just listen to one party blame the other, President Obama and the Democratic leadership just passed major new legislation to again extend unemployment benefits and continue tax cuts for virtually all Americans to stimulate the economy and create jobs.
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March 28th, 2011 by admin
Wisconsin Governor Repeals Apprenticeship Requirements For Contractors on State Building Projects
In another example of the radical right’s agenda to eviscerate unions from America, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has rescinded all building trades apprenticeship utilization requirements for contractors seeking to participate in state road and infrastructure projects.
At least one member of the Wisconsin legislature expressed concerns that the loss of the apprenticeship requirement would prevent women and minorities from entering the building trades.
On March 9, at the behest of the Wisconsin chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Walker issued Executive Order 18, which has the effect of repealing the six-year-old apprenticeship requirements created by former Gov. Jim Doyle (D) under EO 108. Walker’s order relieves contractors of any apprenticeship standards required for bidding and contracting jobs with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Administration, and any other state agency. The order also halts any pending compliance investigations or determinations by the Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards.
Wisconsin has recognized various types of apprenticeship standards in state contracting since 1911. In 1971, an executive order was created to encourage the employment of apprentices on state projects. Then in 2005, Doyle’s EO 108 created specific requirements for hiring apprentices on state projects. In many respects, the requirements were articulated as ratios of apprentices versus skilled journeymen. Contractors were also required to maintain various types of records to demonstrate compliance.
State Rep. Barbara Toles (D) said she was “deeply disturbed’’ by EO 18 and added that Walker was undermining one of the few paths into the construction trades for minorities and women.
“This is a victory for Walker’s campaign supporters and a crushing defeat for the thousands of minorities and women who have long been excluded from the family-sustaining jobs found in the construction trades,’’ Toles said in a statement issued March 22.
March 15th, 2011 by admin
Call your Senators! Ask them to support the creation of 13,000 construction jobs! Ask them to sign the letter supporting the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline!
March 9, 2011
Brothers and Sisters,
As you know, General President Hite has made constructing the TransCanada Keystone pipeline a top priority for the United Association. Through this project, the U.S. will receive oil from our ally neighbor, Canada, rather than increasing dependency on adversary Middle Eastern countries. What’s more, TransCanada has already signed a Project Labor Agreement for all aspects of construction. Our membership will directly benefit from the projected 13,000 high-wage and good-benefit jobs, needed to construct this pipeline.
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February 11th, 2011 by admin
March 11th, 2011 by admin
Attached please find a letter to Congressman Rodney Alexander thanking him for his support in defeating the anti-DB and anti-PLA amendments last week.
2.24.11 Alexander
Kelly Ahl
PAC Director / Government Affairs Representative
Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO
815 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 756-4650
