June 7, 2024

LABOR NEWS

Cement Masons Settlement 2

AGC and the Cement Masons union reached a new agreement for North Dakota Highway Heavy. Subject to ratification, this agreement will be two years and feature a creative new pilot program to help the Masons better market to contractors the value becoming signatory. Contact Mike for more information.

New Bargaining Authority / To Be Bound Forms

We have updated our BA/TBB forms, now available on our website. These forms enable contractors to become signatory to the industry negotiated agreements and also be included in our lists to learn of developments, amendments, problems, opportunities, deadlines, and negotiation issues.

You should complete the form if: (a) you want to become signatory to a new agreement, have not submitted a BA/TBB form, or want to update your signatory status, (b) you completed a BA/TBB form before 2023 for commercial work, or (c) you elected TBB status for an agreement that expired, e.g. a North Dakota agreement.

LEGAL NEWS

Form Contracts Committee Meeting

The Minnesota Legislature passed new laws that significantly impact how construction business is conducted. Also, a Minnesota Court of Appeals decision impacts how courts may treat the duty of good faith and fair dealing. These developments warrant a mid-year look at adjusting our form contracts to ensure that they clearly explain each party's roles and responsibilities, and address each party's expectations in light of the changes in Minnesota law.

Contact Mike if you have any questions or would like to join the committee meetings.

GENERAL NEWS

NEXT THURSDAY: Communication Credentials: A Mini Professional Development Series

An AGC Minnesota partnership with TruPerception, this series of four sessions will provide the attendee with up-to-the-minute communication techniques everyone can use. If you are an alumnus of the AGC Minnesota Leadership Blueprint, you will find the Communication Credentials an excellent refresher. If you have not experienced the Leadership Blueprint program, attend the Credentials, and learn more! All sessions are highly interactive.

Communication Credentials Session 1

Becoming the CEO of You: Negotiate Like the Pros

Thursday, June 13 | 8 am – 10 am | Mendakota Country Club

You don’t have to serve as an official CEO to become the CEO of You. Since it’s limiting to rely on just one job or one company to fuel your long-term livelihood, it’s necessary to master the art of negotiation and learn how to position yourself like the pros. By learning how to set hyper-specific goals and build an authentic personal brand, you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to build the you that you’ve always aspired to be.

The session will feature:

Simple steps to negotiating without fear or guilt.
Discussion of the role of communication in building positive impressions and getting results.
Best-practice workplace negotiation tips.
How to develop a personalized messaging guide.
Communication strategies that can help position you and your team as credible in all circumstances.

Information on Sessions 2, 3 and 4 coming soon!

The Corporate Transparency Act Is On Appeal! How That Impacts Your Business Plan

The Corporate Transparency Act, which went into effect January 1, 2024, represents a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for small businesses in the United States. As is common with new laws, the CTA is currently being challenged in the courts. This article is intended to summarize what the CTA is, why its being challenged, its current legal status, and what you should do moving forward. Click here to read more.

By Kyle S. Willems, Wynne C. S. Reece, and James C. Kovacs, Bassford Remele

MENTAL HEALTH NEWS

It's Time to Make Mental Health an Industry Priority

Great progress has been made in a short time to increase awareness of the construction industry’s mental health crisis. More recently, the concept of worker wellbeing has emerged, transcending an individualized focus on helping those already in crisis, and instead proactively identifying and working to mitigate the stressors found in our unique industry business model with its inherent demands.

Spearheaded by AGC, the Worker Wellbeing Initiative Strategy Team has embarked on a comprehensive strategy approach that brings together all three industry partner segments (employers, workforce, and project owners) to foster a secure and healthy work environment for all construction industry workers. Engaged and productive dialogue is being focused to identify proactive measures that can reduce industry mental health stressors before they take hold and manifest in crisis outcomes. This holistic approach aims to tackle the mental health crisis that is hindering growth within our industry by prioritizing mental health on parallel with physical safety and wellbeing.

Join this important work today!

LEARN MORE

Thank You to all the following organizations that have dedicated their resources as Worker Wellbeing Initiative Partners!