REMINDER – EXCELLENCE IN CONSTRUCTION “HOW TO” SESSION
A special “HOW TO” session will be held on September 23rd in Lincoln at Valentino’s Restaurant
at 1:00 and on September 24th in Omaha at Anthony’s Restaurant at 1:00
to assist you or your staff in preparing your entries.
DO NOT CALL LIST FOR CELL PHONES: REMEMBER – Cell Phone Numbers Go Public Today. REMINDER: All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. Help others by passing this on to all your friends. It takes about 20 seconds or go to www.donotcall.gov.
DOL LOOKS AT HEALT RISK ASSESSMENT RULE: The Department of Labor (DOL) Aug. 29 issued a proposed rule that would require DOL agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to solicit information about worker exposure to potentially harmful substances before proposing a new rule regarding health standards.
According to the proposed rule, when creating written guidelines that regulate occupational exposure to toxins and hazardous chemicals, agencies must issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to gather data regarding frequency, intensity and duration of worker exposure to potentially harmful substances. Documents and relevant studies can be viewed by visiting www.regulations.gov. The proposed rule would implement recommendations by the 1997 Presidential/Congressional Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management Report.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE UPDATED BY ENDO F 2008:In late 2004, Congress passed legislation adding a new Section 409A to the Internal Revenue Code. This new statute represents a significant change in the tax rules governing executive compensation plans, employment agreements and severance agreements. Now a deadline has been set and all existing plans and agreements must undergo a review, and many must be revised by that date, to avoid severe tax penalties.
Section 409A will become fully effective on January 1, 2009. Under the final regulations, December 31, 2008 marks the end of the “good-faith” compliance period, and the end of certain transition rules.
Section 409A applies to any plan, agreement or arrangement that defers compensation beyond the year in which it is earned and vested. This includes compensation paid to employees, service providers and certain independent contractors. Section 409A primarily governs the timing of deferral elections and the timing of distributions under these arrangements. Employers need to be working with their accountants/attorneys before yearend.
NONRESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION GAINS MORE JOBS IN AUGUST:The nonresidential construction sector gained 2,900 jobs in August on a seasonally-adjusted basis, according to a Sept. 5 report released by the U.S. Labor Department.
“While there has been small growth in July and August, we anticipate that there will see nonresidential construction job losses in the remaining months of 2008 and into 2009, said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “One of the construction industry’s key leading indicators, the architectural billings index, though up slightly last month, still remains below levels achieved earlier in the decade indicating a substantial slowing in nonresidential construction starts. The good news is that recent declines in the prices of a number of key commodities could help foment more construction starts going forward.”
To view the entire report, click here.
UNION ORGANIZING UPDATE:On August 6, 2008, the AFL-CIO Executive Council extended its Solidarity Charter program. The program applies to locals of unions which left the AFL-CIO to form the Change To Win federation. Under the program, such local unions may affiliate with the AFL-CIO at the state and local level to work with AFL-CIO unions on union organizing and affiliated issues. The program was scheduled to expire at the end of 2008 and it has now been extended until November, 2009. The AFL-CIO established the program in order to avoid having CTW locals compete with AFL-CIO locals on union organizing issues. Since the CTW locals are not subject to the “no raiding” provisions of the AFL-CIO constitution, the Solidarity Charter program was intended to avoid such competition and allow CTW locals and AFL-CIO locals to be more successful in union organizing efforts. This extension of the program serves as a notice to all construction industry employers that CTW and AFL-CIO local unions will continue to work together on union organizing efforts in the construction industry for not only the balance of this year but also during calendar year 2009. Construction companies which operate on a merit shop basis should be sure that job site superintendents and other management personnel are aware of their rights and responsibilities during a union organizing drive. By Bill Harding, Chapter Attorney
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Training Classes
Management & Safety Class Schedule
First Aid/CPR Classes
$50.00 each attendee – Member Price/$55.00 each attendee – Non-Member
Recertification only - $35.00 each attendee – Member Price/$45.00 each attendee – Non-Member Price
¨ September 23, 2008 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m.. – LINCOLN
¨ September 25, 2008 – 7:00 – 11:00 a.m. – OMAHA
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
¨ September 17, 2008 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – OMAHA
¨ September 18, 2008 – 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – LINCOLN
CONTINUING EDUCATION:
HVAC/MECH Code Lincoln $125.00
Oct. 22 through January 7, 2009 . Call 477-4451 for more details
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Construction Blueprint Reading Lincoln $250 member/$350 non-member
Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20 & Dec. 4, 2008 Call 477-4451 for more information
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
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Omaha Classes are held at the Education Center, 2602 Harney Street, Omaha
Lincoln Classes are held at the Training Center, 830 Westgate Blvd., Lincoln
PLEASE DUPLICATE THIS FORM FOR MULTIPLE CLASSES
Company: Address: Phone: Fax:
Names (please print): Class/Date: Cost:
Class/Date: Cost:
Class/Date: Cost:
Return Registration Form and Check Payable to Associated Builders & Contractors
830 Westgate Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68528 402-477-4522