News for Labor Issues
Legislature reinstates affirmative action with the passing of I-1000
During the final hours of the past legislative session, the Legislature passed I-1000, an initiative amending the previously enacted I-200, which banned affirmative action efforts in Washington.
Posted on: 05/20/2019
Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds office available to help
The Office of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds recently launched its new website with information about services and resources for workers and employers who need help resolving issues with the Employment Security Department and the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.
Posted on: 04/04/2019
Action needed now on SHB 1395
Substitute House Bill 1395 was added to the floor calendar on March 5 and will likely be heard very soon.
Posted on: 03/06/2019
AGC charges 17 local unions with unfair labor practices
AGC of Washington (AGCW) has filed an unfair labor-practice charge against 17 building and construction unions with the Region 19 National Labor Relations Board in Seattle, Washington.
Posted on: 01/02/2019
AGC seeks changes to burdensome overtime draft rule
The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is changing employment rules that determine which salaried employees in Washington are required by law to receive overtime pay, minimum wage and paid sick leave.
Posted on: 12/18/2018
L&I hosts webinars on Equal-Pay Opportunity Act
On June 7, 2018, the Equal-Pay Opportunity Act (EPOA) went into effect, making updates to the Washngton State Equal Pay Act of 1943.
Posted on: 12/04/2018
Workers’ comp rates will fall by average of five percent in January
The price of workers’ compensation insurance in Washington will take the largest drop in more than 10 years on January 1, as the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) finalized its proposed 5 percent decrease in the average amount employers pay for the coverage.
Posted on: 12/04/2018
L&I proposes new overtime rules
The Department of Labor and Industries is in the process of updating rules regarding exemptions to the minimum-wage act (MWA) which exempts executive, administrative and professional (EAP) workers.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
"Hours-of-service" rules don’t work for construction
AGC of America organized a meeting with the administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the agency’s top management team to discuss the need for a construction-industry exemption from hours-of-service (HOS) restrictions.
Posted on: 11/06/2018
Difficulty finding qualified craft workers is a near universal problem for the industry
Almost all of you are having a hard time filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce, according to the results of an industry-wide survey released by Autodesk and AGC of America.
Posted on: 09/11/2018
Changes in prevailing wage rates to take effect Aug. 31
As it is required to do every February and August, the Department of Labor and Industries has posted new prevailing wages, and among them are some significant changes.
Posted on: 08/29/2018
L&I working on new overtime rules; comments welcome
The Department of Labor and Industries has announced its intention to conduct rulemaking on the executive, administrative, professional (EAP), and outside sales person exemption to Minimum Wage Act rules under WAC 296-128.
Posted on: 08/13/2018
"Persuader Rule" revision is rescinded
On Tuesday, July 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule rescinding a proposed Obama-era change to the so-called “persuader” requirements of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.
Posted on: 07/24/2018
Comment on L&I’s upcoming rulemaking on overtime, minimum-wage exemptions
The Department of Labor and Industries is in the process of updating rules regarding exemptions to the minimum-wage act (MWA) which exempts executive, administrative and professional (EAP) workers.
Posted on: 07/02/2018
New Washington workplace laws now in effect
The Washington legislature closed out its 2017-2018 legislative session by passing several new employment-related bills that Governor Inslee signed into law....
Posted on: 07/02/2018
Labor-negotiation update
AGC of Washington remains in labor negotiations with three of the five basic construction crafts in advance of the May 31, 2018 expiration of the current master labor agreements.
Posted on: 05/30/2018
AGC protests Seattle’s head tax proposal
Telling the Seattle City Council and Mayor Jenny Durkan that hurting construction jobs is not the way to combat homelessness, AGC is strongly opposed to the city’s proposed $500 per employee “head tax” – a controversial measure that caused Amazon to pause its ongoing construction in Seattle.
Posted on: 05/08/2018
Take note of prevailing wage, apprenticeship changes
Among the bills passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor during the recently concluded legislative session were these measures:
Posted on: 03/28/2018
Pay equity, sexual harassment and other HR bills signed into law
In the legislative session that concluded earlier this month, the Legislature passed these measures that have since been signed into law by the Governor.
Posted on: 03/28/2018
King County Passes Priority Hire Ordinance
On Monday, March 5, 2018, the King County Council passed the Priority Hire Ordinance with unanimous support. The ordinance paves the way for the County to negotiate with Labor a Master Community-Workforce Agreement which will direct unions to prioritize workers from designated disadvantaged zip codes for dispatch to covered projects.
Posted on: 03/08/2018
AGC ACTION ALERT: Ask your Senator to help defeat anti-contracting-out legislation (HB 1851)
Help defeat an anti-contracting out piece of legislation by contacting your State Senator today!
Posted on: 02/28/2018
AGC ACTION ALERT: Support the King Amendment to remove CWA/PLA from carbon-tax bill
Urge your State Senator to SUPPORT the King Amendment to remove CWA/PLA from the carbon-tax bill (SB 6203)
Posted on: 02/28/2018
Numerous union labor contracts expire on May 31, 2018.
AGC's Labor Committee is hosting meetings in February in all four districts of the Chapter.
Posted on: 01/16/2018
Cost of workers’ comp insurance dropping for many in Washington next year
The price of workers’-compensation insurance will go down for many businesses in Washington next year.
Posted on: 12/04/2017
AGC forms Acceptable Worksites taskforce
To support the City of Seattle's Priority Hire program and its community workforce goals, Acceptable Worksites contract provisions were included in city-issued contracts to improve apprenticeship graduation rates among women and people of color and ensure appropriate behavior on all city project sites.