In This Issue:

  • THE NUTS & BOLTS

  • ABC Advocates for Scaffold Reform Ahead of Marijuana Legalization
  • SAVE-THE-DATE: 9/30/21 - 50 Years of Excellence in Construction
  • ABC Blasts Federal PRO Act, Holds Electeds Responsible
  • WEBINAR: What to Do When DOB Visits the Job Site
  • WEBINAR: Prepping the Company Handbook for Legalized Marijuana
  • STEP - The Safety Training Evaluation Process: YOU NEED IT

  • IN THE NEWS

  • EMPIRE REPORT: The American Jobs Plan, Or the Union Jobs Plan?
  • ABC Empire State Calls on NYS to Remove PLAs & Prevailing Wage
  • CDC Issues New Guidance on Hygienic Protocals
  • ABC National Responds to Biden's Infrastructure Package
  • Empire State Chapter Comments on Legalized Marijuana

  • GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & ADVOCACY

  • New York State Legislature Votes to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
  • U.S. Senate Passes PPP Extension
  • Mayor Marty Walsh Sworn in as Secretary for the Department of Labor
  • Call to Action: Support The Fair and Open Competition Act

  • MEMBERSHIP

  • ABC NATIONAL SURVEY: COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace
  • ENY Regional Quarterly Meeting
  • L.I. Regional Quarterly Meeting
  • Rochester Regional Quarterly Meeting
  • WNY Regional Quarterly Meeting
  • Rochester Regional Networking Event: Brews with Builders

  • SAFETY

  • How to Prepare for and Defend Against an OSHA Inspection
  • STEP - The Safety Training Evaluation Process: YOU NEED IT

  • EDUCATION

  • Check Back Soon

  • WEBINARS

  • What to Do When DOB Visits the Jobs Site
  • Legalization of Marijuana in NYS: Preparing Your Employee Handbook

  • CHAPTER UPDATES

  • Update on ABC 11-Trade Multi-Employer Apprenticeship Program

  • EMPIRE STATE CHAPTER RESOURCES

  • COVID-19 Resources
  • COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit
  • Paycheck Protection Program

The Nuts & Bolts
ABC ADVOCATES FOR SCAFFOLD REFORM AHEAD OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
As negotiations proceed to legalize adult use cannabis in New York State, the construction industry is gravely concerned about the ramifications of worker safety, worker impairment, drug testing and scaffold law related insurance claims. 

Click image to read full letter. >>>

SAVE THE DATE!
Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence in Construction!
The Empire State Chapter of ABC will celebrates 50 years of excellence in construction this September!



9/30/21
The Otesaga Resort Hotel
Cooperstown, NY
Builders: Katko's vote aiding labor unions reduces...

Rep. John Katko was one of five House Republicans, and 225 total members of the House, to vote in favor of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. While the PRO Act is being praised as a major victory for labor and workers' rights, this...

Read more
www.syracuse.com
A two-part webinar with Cahill Strategies:

  • Part One: 4/8 @ 10 a.m.
  • Part Two: 4/22 @ 10 a.m.

Registration REQUIRED
NYS is about to legalize marijuana! Ensure your employee handbook is prepared to handle it.

Registration REQUIRED
STEP!
The Safety Training Evaluation Process
YOU NEED!


STEP is the safety improvement tool you can't afford to go without!

Application Deadline: August 1st

In the News
The American Jobs Plan, Or The Union Jobs Plan
ABC's Brian Sampson Says Open/Merit Shop Workers Not Eligible for Work Under Biden's Bill
THE AMERICAN JOBS PLAN, OR THE UNION JOBS PLAN?

During President Biden's rollout of the $2 trillion " American Jobs Plan ," he admitted he is a "union guy," and wants to give unions a "piece of the action."

Read more
empirereportnewyork.com
ABC Empire State Calls for NYS to Remove PLA & Prevailing Wage Mandates on Renewable Energy Work
CDC Issues New Guidance on Hygienic Protocals
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Science Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface (Fomite) Transmission for Indoor Community Environments The principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is through exposure to respiratory droplets carrying...

Read more
www.cdc.gov
ABC National Responds to Biden's Infrastructure Package
President and CEO Call for Fair and Open Competition
ABC Responds to Biden's Infrastructure Plan That Is Rife ...

ABC Responds to Biden's Infrastructure Plan That Is Rife With ABC-opposed Labor Policies: On March 31, the Biden administration released a more than $2 trillion infrastructure outline titled the "American Jobs Plan."

Read more
www.abcnys.org
ABC Empire State Chapter Comments on Legalized Marijuana
This Policy, Combined with Scaffold is a Disaster
Government Affairs & Advocacy
New York State Legislature Passes Measure to Legalize Recreational Use Marijuana
Yesterday, the state Legislature passed the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act. Now, pending the governor's signature, adults 21 years and older can buy and consume cannabis sold at state-approved dispensaries.

Key things to know:

  • Employer protections that exist in your handbook regarding marijuana use can continue to be enforced (register for our webinar on how to set up your handbook in response to the legalization of marijuana by clicking HERE);

  • Employers may continue current drug testing policies

  • A new Office of Cannabis Management will be created as a regulatory authority and run by a board comprised of members chosen by the Legislature and the governor;

  • Local governments will have the ability to opt-out of allowing dispensaries in their locality but cannot opt-out of the consumption of marijuana; and

  • It will be taxed at 13%. 9% to the State and 4% going to the local governments.

ABC Empire State fought for the State to reform the Scaffold Law before passing this legislation by submitting a letter to state officials. We will continue to push for changes to the Scaffold Law now that adult use recreational marijuana is legal in our state.  

For more information on how to protect your company & set up your handbook to be prepared for the Legalization of adult recreational use marijuana, sign up for our webinar below:
LISTEN: NYS Sen. Liz Krueger answers a question about whether or not employers will be able to ban the use of marijuana company-wide.
LISTEN: Sen. Krueger answers a question on an employer's ability to test employees for marijunana
U.S. Senate Passes PPP Extension
The U.S. Senate passed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 by a vote of 92-7 to extend the Paycheck Protection Program before it expires at the end of this month.

The bill now heads to President Biden's desk for signature as the House previously passed the bill that will extend the program until May 31.

Earlier this month, ABC joined a coalition of small business organizations in support of the bipartisan PPP Extension Act of 2021. According to the SBA more than $90 billion in funding remains available through the program.   
Mayor Marty Walsh Sworn in as
Head of U.S. Department of Labor
On March 23, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was sworn in as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor by V.P. Kamala Harris, becoming the first union member to serve in the role of secretary in nearly half a century. The Senate confirmed Walsh to serve as secretary in a 68-29 vote.
Call to Action: Support The Fair and Open Competition Act
The Fair and Open Competition Act has been reintroduced in Congress. This legislation protects federal and federally assisted construction contracts from government-mandated project labor agreements and will allow merit shop contractors to have a fair chance at competing to rebuild America.

After the bill was introduced, an ABC-led coalition of 17 construction industry and business associations sent a letter to congress in support of the bill, urging them to immediately pass this common-sense legislation.

ABC Chapters and members can take action to urge their representatives to sign on as a cosponsor by clicking the button below:
Membership
ABC National Survey:
Regional Membership Updates
Safety
OSHA Inspections:
Preparing for and Defending Against

Need a refresher on how to prepare for an OSHA inspection? Follow the link below to watch the video from last week's webinar.

  • Proactive measures any employer can take (before OSHA ever shows up) to mitigate if not eliminate future OSHA exposure

  • The most important rights employers have during an OSHA inspection, and strategies for asserting those rights during an inspection

  • What OSHA must do to prove a violation against a construction company, and why employers should consider contesting OSHA citations

  • How to establish commonly-asserted defenses to OSHA citations

STEP: DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS?
Don't wait to find out until it's too late!
~ YOU NEED IT ~
Education
Check Back Soon!
Webinars
Chapter Updates
ABC EMPIRE STATE CHAPTER'S
11-Trade Multi-Employer Apprenticeship Program
An EXCITING UPDATE on our pending Apprenticeship Program:

  • Largest Multi-Employer Merit Shop Application ever submitted to NYSDOL;

  • Exclusive benefits for Empire State Chapter members only:

  • Ability to bid any public or private work with any Apprenticeship program requirement;

  • Ability to develop, train & retain a qualified workforce and future leaders;

  • Ability to be “signatory” to multiple trades without waiting for probationary period under individually sponsored programs;

  • Ability to expedite graduation rate compliance - graduates of group program count as graduates for every signatory contractor in that specific trade;

  • Ability to offset certain prevailing wage fringe costs via a trust component, thereby reducing overhead costs such as payroll, workers comp, and general liability insurance exposure;

  • Classes are taught by certified instructors with Journey-level experience or higher;

  • Curriculums are NYSED approved & include hands-on performance metrics in addition to textbook instruction; and

  • 5 Training Centers across NYS are NYSED approved.

For More Information, Contact Jeff Albert
(315) 246-7233
ABC Empire State Chapter Resources
Your Source for Essential Resources