ICE Virtual Annual Meeting Replay On Demand
For those who missed it, a replay of ICE's 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting is available on demand for a reduced registration fee. On demand recordings available:
Market Analysis
Michael Mangum, FMI Consultants
Collective Bargaining Data
Matt Minarik, CLRC
COVID Vaccine Mandate Update
John Adams, The John Adams Law Firm
BAC
Tim Driscoll, President
IMI
Caryn Halifax, Roy Ingraffia, Anthony DiPerna, Jonas Elmore, Elizabeth Kekeris
IPF
David Stupar, Executive Director
Legislative Update
Colin Keohan, Center Hill Solutions
IHF
Amber Brailer, Executive Director
Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA)
Todd Kimmel, Chair
New Technology
Federal Appeals Court Halts COVID-19 Vaccine Rule for Large Businesses
On Friday, Nov. 12, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit continued its stay on the implementation of the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on vaccine mandates and testing pending a full review on the request for a permanent injunction.
The decision is a major blow to the Biden Administration's efforts to impose the standard on employers of 100 or more employees. ICE will continue to monitor these developments. Read Full Decision Here
DOL Extends Comment Period for COVID-19 ETS
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has extended the comment period for the COVID-19 vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard (ETS) to Jan. 19, 2022. OSHA extended the comment period by 45 days to allow stakeholders additional time to review the ETS and collect information and data necessary for comment.
LEAP Act
U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) commemorated National Apprenticeship Week by introducing the bipartisan "Leveraging and Energizing America’s Apprenticeship Programs (LEAP) Act". The LEAP Act would encourage employers to hire apprentices by offering a federal tax credit for hiring new apprentices that are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency. Additional information about HR 5972 can be found here.
Construction Employers Of America (CEA) Statement On Proposed Reversal Of IRAPs
On November 15, 2021, the Biden Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on a proposal to eliminate the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAPs) created under the previous administration. The Construction Employers of America (CEA) applauds the Biden Administration, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and the U.S. Department of Labor for moving to end IRAPs. Read the whole statement.
PBGC Releases 2021 Annual Report
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Annual Report. The Multiemployer Insurance Program’s positive net position of $481 million at the end of FY 2021 is in sharp contrast to the agency’s deep deficit of $63.7 billion at the end of FY 2020, a dramatic improvement of $64.2 billion. The agency’s Multiemployer Insurance Program — which was expected to run out of money in FY 2026 — is now likely to remain solvent for more than thirty years, due to the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Read more.
International Pension Fund Zone Status Stabilized, Projected Solvency Continues for 30 Years
The Fund's Pension Protection Act zone status has continued to remain "Yellow" or "Endangered Status." This positive development can be attributed to changes the Plan has made under the Funding Improvement Plan enacted in 2010, and the subsequent Rehabilitation Plan enacted in 2016. In addition, the Fund's actuary has confirmed that IPF is able to pay expected benefits and meet expected expenditures over a thirty-year period commencing January 1, 2020 and running through December 31, 2050. The actuary made the 30-year projections using plan provisions, participant data, IPF financial information and expectations of industry performance to project plan solvency.
CMU Checkoff Referendum Voting Results Delayed
As of November 15, the 30-day referendum period is officially closed. According to this November 16, 2021 federal register notice, "...the effective date of the final rule published September 15, 2021 is delayed until December 18, 2021. There have been longer-than-expected delays in delivery of timely completed ballots, and the Department wants to ensure it has time to adequately review and process all ballots received."
If the Checkoff referendum succeeds, producers are expected to contribute roughly $10 million dollars a year towards marketing, research and promotion of CMU products. More information.
CPWR Adds New Data Dashboards
