TWO WEBINARS AVAILABLE FOR ABC MEMBERS IN NOVEMBER: ABC is offering two webinars in November to help contractors get a glimpse into the economic future of the construction industry and to comply with the Buy American provisions contained in the stimulus package.
The “2010 Construction Economic Forecast” webinar, to be held on Nov. 18, will feature ABC’s Chief Economist Anirban Basu giving attendees information about the economic climate in the coming year and what contractors can do stay ahead of the game. Participants will find out what industry sectors will perform the best in 2010, what building materials are expected to cost in the coming year and will learn about the impact of construction employment.
“Complying with Buy American Provisions: Requirements, Certification and Implications,” taking place on Nov. 19, will teach attendees about the new federal procurement regulations that implement the Buy American
requirement at a federal level. In addition, contractors will learn how to complete the certification process to comply with the Buy American provisions contained in the stimulus package.
For more information about the “2010 Construction Economic Forecast” webinar, click here.
For more information about the “Complying with Buy American Provisions: Requirements, Certification and Implications” webinar, click here.
SUPREME COURT WILL RULE ON LEGALITY OF TWO-MEMBER NLRB RULINGS: The Supreme Court Nov. 2 announced that it will consider whether only two members of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) can legally resolve labor-management disputes in the workplace. The NLRB handles cases related to unfair labor practices and disputes over union representation. In 2007, Congress refused to confirm President George W. Bush’s nominees for three vacant positions on the NLRB, forcing the board to operate with only two members beginning Jan. 1, 2008. The two-member board has handed down more than 400 decisions in the past 16 months.
At least 60 challenges to the two-member rulings have been filed, but federal appeals courts cannot agree on whether the decisions are legal. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has decided the rulings are illegal while several other courts including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago have taken the opposing position. In the case New Process Steel v. NLRB, the Supreme Court has agreed to resolve the conflict among the circuit courts. The Court will likely issue its decision in the first half of 2010.
FIFTH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE NATION BANS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS:In a victory for merit shop construction, the Orange County Board of Supervisors in California Nov. 3 unanimously approved an ordinance to ban the use of project labor agreements (PLAs) and other anti-competitive bidding requirements on county-funded projects, unless required by state and federal law.
“Bidding projects without a PLA affords the merit shop contractor the ability to put his employees to work in these hard pressed times without any strings attached,” said Jim Kerr, president of Kerco, Inc. and president of ABC Southern California Chapter board of directors.
ABC PRESIDENT OPPOSES DEMOCRATIC HOUSE VERSION OF HEALTH CARE REFORM: ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel Nov. 4 sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives outlining the association’s opposition to a proposed Democratic bill to reform the nation’s health care system. “ABC strongly opposes legislative proposals that seek to impose health care coverage mandates,” said Pickerel. “A mandated level of coverage would directly result in premium increases making insurance more expensive for both employers and employees. “To truly reform the health care system, Congress must explore every means available to help reduce the cost on the American public, including medical malpractice tort reform and the inclusion of Small Business Health Plans to allow workers in small businesses and the self-employed to join together to obtain the same economies of scale, purchasing clout, and administrative efficiencies from which employees of large employers and union-sponsored plans currently benefit,” said Pickerel.
“ABC believes that health care is best administered on free-market principles and cannot support a government takeover of our health care system,” said Pickerel.
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You are invited to attend free of charge:
The Campaign for Responsible Health Reform; Nebraska Small Business Forum
National Health Reform Legislation, what does it mean for you, your family and your business?
You are invited to an important free public forum brought to you by the “Campaign for Responsible Health Reform” sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce. Along with the Campaign for Responsible Health Reform, the forum is jointly sponsored by the Associated Builders and Contractors; Cornhuskers Chapter, Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Association of Health Underwriters, and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is intended for members of the business community.
These forums will provide valuable insight on ideas contained in proposed US Senate and US House of Representatives legislation, such as:
· The public option.
· Proposed taxes, fees and regulations
What reform ideas make the most sense?
What does this legislation mean for your family and your business?
What input should you share with Nebraska’s members of Congress?
These topics will be addressed during two 90 minute forums being held Thursday, November 12. The first forum will be held at 9 a.m. at the Heartland Event Center in Grand Island, and the second forum will be at 3 p.m. at the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland (I-80 exit #426). You will leave with a better understanding of the current issues being debated and how to make your voices heard during this critical stage of the debate.
Thursday, November 12th
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Heartland Event center
Bosselman Conference Room
700 East Stolley Park Rd.
Grand Island, NE 68801
OR
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Strategic Air and Space Museum
I-80 Exit #426
28210 West Park Highway
Ashland, Nebraska 6800
Please RSVP if you would like to attend one of these free forums. Please indicate Grand Island or Ashland when you send in your RSVP NEforresponsiblehealthreform@gmail.com~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Training Classes
Management & Safety Class Schedule
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2009
OSHA 10 Hour Class
OSHA requires a competent person on all job sites. This course ensures that your people have the necessary training to comply with OSHA standards CFR 1926.32(f) for a competent person. Training includes OSHA Construction Standards CFR 29 1926, Scaffolds, Ladders and Stairways, Housekeeping, Personal Tools, Electrical Hazards, Fall Protection, Materials Handling, Hazardous Communications and much more!
**CFR 192 OSHA Regulations Book for the Construction Industry with new steel erection standards will be available for $25.00** each for class participants.
$135.00 each attendee – Member Price/$240.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ November 10, 2009 - 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – OMAHA
¨ November 19, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – NORFOLK
¨ December 3, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – KEARNEY
¨ December 10, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – OMAHA
¨ December 11, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – LINCOLN
30 Hour OSHA Class
Federal Law requires each company have a designated trained safety coordinator. This will give your foremen, supervisors, safety directors or safety coordinators the expertise to comply with all OSHA and State requirements. This is an in-depth look at CFR 1926 and 1920 and NE 757 as they affect construction. Price includes study materials
$395.00 each attendee – Member Price / $595.00 each attendee –Non-Member price.
¨ November 24, December 1, 8, 2009 – 7:00 – 5:30 p.m. - LINCOLN
First Aid/CPR Classes
$50.00 each attendee – Member Price/$60.00 each attendee – Non-Member
Recertification only - $40.00 each attendee – Member Price/$50.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ November 17, 2009 - 7:00 – 1100 a.m. – OMAHA
¨ November 18, 2009 - 7:00 – 1100 a.m. – NORFOLK
¨ November 20, 2009 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. – LINCOLN
¨ December 2, 2009 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. – KEARNEY
¨ December 8, 2009 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. – LINCOLN
¨ December 9, 2009 - 7:00 – 1100 a.m. – OMAHA
Forklift Training
The OSHA standard 29CFR1926.602(d)requires employees who operate forklifts be trained in both the classroom and through a practical exercise on the type of equipment that they will be running in the field.
$125.00 each attendee – Member Price/$200.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ November 11 & 12, 2009 - 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – OMAHA