The California Apprenticeship Council recently presented Certificate of Merit recognition to the ABC So-Cal Leadership and Administrative staff. The certificates were “In recognition and appreciation of the meritorious service in the promotion, development and maintenance of apprenticeship training, the California Apprenticeship Council by this award acknowledges this valuable service to the community and the State.” ABC So-Cal has built a great working relationship with the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, Department of Industrial Relations, and members of the California Apprenticeship Council and we are truly honored and appreciate this prestigious recognition given to us by the California Apprenticeship Council.
Recently unemployed Americans and their families who have lost health insurance can maintain access to their prescription medications produced by Pfizer, Inc., under a new program, Medicines Assistance for Those who Are in Need (MAINTAIN). The program will allow qualifying patients to receive their Pfizer prescription free for one year or until they become reinsured. Read more.
In order to qualify, the primary wage earner has to have become unemployed since Jan. 1; must have been taking a Pfizer medicine for at least three months prior to becoming unemployed and enrolling in the program; must have no prescription drug coverage; and must be able to attest to financial hardship
The program applies regardless of prior family income and will be open for enrollment through Dec. 31. For more information about the program or to apply, call 1-866-706-2400 or visit www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com.
ABC member Tom Lenz of Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Romo was recently named to the Labor Relations Institute’s Top 100 Labor Attorneys for 2009. The Top 100 Labor Attorneys are determined each year based on the prior 5-year record of the number of National Labor Relations Board election cases in which the attorney represented clients (as determined by notices of appearance filed with the NLRB) and the successful outcome of those cases (as determined by either an election win by a company or union withdrawal as reported by the NLRB).
The Division of Apprenticeship Standards is currently conducting job site visits on all State Public Works projects. They are then reporting their findings to the Department of Industrial Relations. The focus is on the employment of apprentices on all State Public works area required by Title 8, section 230.1. - In short, Contractors, including the General; Prime; Specialty; or Subcontractor, SHALL employ “State Registered” apprentice(s) during the performance of public work projects. To view the entire memo.
News Release
For Immediate Release
April 21, 2009
Washington, D.C. - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) today sent a letter to members of the U.S. Congress, and President Barack Obama, signed by more than 3,000 ABC member companies and construction-related firms that oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R.1409 and S.560), or "card check" bill. The signatures were gathered during a two-week period in April. The letter states that "...there is no room for compromise on this piece of legislation. Our firms stand together in stating that there is nothing that can be done to make this legislation more palatable and that Congress should vote down this bill in all forms."
"For ABC's members, this bill is a non-starter because it would rob workers of the fundamental American right to a secret-ballot election and force both workers and employers into a federal government imposed, two-year binding contract with terms they may not agree with," said 2009 ABC National Chairman Jerry Gorski, president of Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa. "ABC is committed to fighting this deceptively titled bill with all its resources in order to protect the rights of the nation's merit shop construction workers."
ABC's letter to Congress highlights a recent, nonpartisan study that concludes if the Employee Free Choice Act were signed into law it would cost the U.S. economy 600,000 lost jobs in the year 2010. Over the past year, more than 26,000 jobs have been lost in the construction industry, and over 1.3 million jobs lost since January 2007.
"All workers, in every industry, deserve the fundamental American right to a federally supervised secret-ballot election and the right to vote on a contract of their choice," added Gorski. "Without the freedom to do both, democracy in the workplace will be nothing more than a footnote in history."
E-Verify Rule Suspended Until May 21
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to suspend implementation of a new rule that mandates that federal contractors must utilize the Employment Eligibility Verification (E-Verify) system for verification of all new and many existing employees.
DOJ’s agreement came as a result of a legal challenge to the new requirements that was brought by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), together with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Human Resource Management and several other employer associations. The rule had been scheduled to go into effect January 15, 2009.
As a result of DOJ’s agreement, federal contracts awarded prior to May 21, 2009, will not require contractors to use the E-Verify clause. For more information, visit abc.org.
David Placencia Realizes his Dreams as Business Owner
Starting out as a one-man operation based in his home, former ABC So-Cal apprentice David Placencia builds his business into a successful operation in just 3 years, growing to 15 employees and working on million dollar projects. Read his inspirational story...
Nothing "Free" about the Employee Free Choice Act
Organized labor, along with the vast majority of Democrats in Congress, have made the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), or “card check” bill, a top priority and are persuading candidates to pledge their support. EFCA would give organized labor an unfair advantage in union organizing at the expense of both employees and employers. Under the so-called Employee Free Choice Act or "card check" legislation, your workers would lose their right to a private ballot in a union election, inviting coercion and abuse. To learn more and take action, go to abc.org/cardcheck ...
Approves $5 Billion to Rebuild State’s Aging Courts
It is estimated by the Judicial Council that the bond money approved in this bill will generate tens of thousands of jobs statewide and billions of dollars in construction-related goods and services. Click here to read the entire press release.
CURE Loses at Energy Commission!
For the past year, the ABC Southern California Chapter - under the direction of Government Affairs Director Jackie Nutting - has fought a greenmail campaign of California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE) to force the Victorville City Council to sign a PLA for a massive 563 megawatt solar hybrid power plant. Today CURE took a huge blow when the California Energy Commission voted 5-0 to approve a license for the power plant despite CURE's objections. View the entire press release...
ABC of California has played a crucial role in leading a coalition of business groups that filed a "friend of the court" brief that resulted in a landmark decision for the Merit Shop contractor. The Supreme Court has reversed an earlier decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, finding that California law violated the "free speech" provision of Section 8(c) of the National Labor Relations Act.
"Today's ruling clearly signals that employers have an equal opportunity to educate their employees on the impact of joining a labor union." Said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. View the entire press release...
ABC So-Cal has been awarded one of the association's highest honors as it is recognized for demonstrating an "outstanding track record in the areas of chapter management, financial managment, leadership development, membership recruitment and retention and excellence in providing programs and services to ABC members". View the entire press release...