News
AGC Protests PLA Use on Bates Project
AGC has responded to a request for comment from the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) concerning the possible use of a government mandated project labor agreement (PLA) on the new Communications Tech Center at Bates Technical College in Tacoma.
“It is our view that a PLA is unwarranted for...
Posted on 03/18/2013
Interview with New L&I Director Joel Sacks
Editor’s note: We asked the Department of Labor & Industry’s new director Joel Sacks to answer a few questions for this newsletter so that you could get to know him and his goals for the department. We thank him for taking the time to meet with a group of AGC leaders in January and to help AG...
Posted on 03/18/2013
Reverse Prevailing Wage Mission Creep
Prevailing wage laws are receiving more scrutiny in this legislative session than they have for years due in large measure to the State Senate’s “Majority Coaltion” that elevated Sen. Janéa Holmquist-Newbry (R-13) to Commerce and Labor Committee Chair.
The sheer number of prevailing wage bills –...
Posted on 03/04/2013
Bill Radically Changes Definitions of 'Employer' and 'Employee'
AGC is strongly opposed to a bill that has been sold as rooting out fraud and abuse associated with the “underground economy” and leveling the playing field for honest employers yet actually creates major new risks and liabilities for honest employers and independent contractors alike.
The bill ...
Posted on 03/04/2013
Discuss STEM Education with Seattle Superintendent Banda
AGC members are invited to visit with Seattle Schools Superintendent José Banda and talk about STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) in schools at a March 7 reception at McKinstry Innovation Center.
AGC Education Foundation and AGC have teamed with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center the...
Posted on 03/01/2013
Valuable Federal Contracting Documents
Northwest construction opportunities presentation the Army Corps gave to AGC this week. Thanks to the large group who attended. Click to view a list of contractors doing renovations and repairs at JBLM currently. Or click to view AGC of Americas analysis of how sequestration may touch federal co...
Posted on 02/27/2013
In Memory of Dr. Nielsen
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Kris Nielsen President and Chairman of Pegasus Global Holdings Inc. (AGC member-firm in Cle Elum). Dr. Nielsen made significant contributions to the construction industry in the area of risk management and best practices spending his entire career wo...
Posted on 02/22/2013
Tacoma Permitting Task Force
AGC serves on a task force charged with reviewing permitting policies at the City of Tacoma. A more in-depth update on the task force’s work can be found here.
Posted on 02/20/2013
New Plan Offers Comprehensive Solutions to Protect Multiemployer Retirement Security
A unique partnership of labor and business groups -- including AGC of America -- today moved to take proactive action to shore up the nation’s multiemployer pension plans releasing a report offering private sector solutions for solvency opportunities for growth for employers and retirement secu...
Posted on 02/19/2013
GCCM, DB, JOC Legislation Passes Senate Committee
Legislation to reauthorize and revise the State’s alternative public works contracting procedures has been passed out of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee with the support of AGC. The law authorizing the use of GCCM Design-Build (DB) and Job Order Contracting (JOC) on certain public p...
Posted on 02/19/2013
Why Are New Transportation Investments Needed?
One of AGCs top policy goals this year is passage of a transportation investment package. With coalition partners from business labor and the environmental community AGC has urged Governor Inslee and the Legislature to develop and pass during the 2013 legislative session a comprehensive statewide...
Posted on 02/15/2013
Senate Passes Workers' Comp Bills; More in the Works
A trio of workers comp reform bills backed by AGC were passed by the State Senate yesterday after scores of AGC members sent messages in support to legislators. Three others may be voted on soon so please contact your Senators about them by visiting this AGC Action Alert.
The bills that passed ...
Posted on 02/05/2013
Don't Forget to Do Your OSHA Log
From Mandi Kime AGC Safety Manager:
This is a friendly reminder from the Safety Department at AGC to get your OSHA logs complete for 2012 and get the summary sheets (the 300A form) posted as they are required to be posted on Feb 1 through April 30 each year.
Remember that there is a difference ...
Posted on 02/04/2013
A Path to Achieving Higher Performance Building
by Kirsten Barnes McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge
(Editors Note: Kirsten Barnes is Strategic Account Manager for McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge and is the contact for AGC of Washingtons alliance with Dodge that gives AGC members the lowest prices for bidding tools and market intelligence. Emai...
Posted on 02/04/2013
Members Helping Members: The PPI Group Offers Discounts
(Editors note: Members Helping Members is a new feature promoted within AGC! Were shining the light on AGC member companies that provide great deals for fellow AGC members. If you would like to participate in Members Helping Members contact Stacy Mullane 206-284-0061.)
The PPI Group is pleased t...
Posted on 02/04/2013
Bills Expand Apprentice Quotas, Prevailing Wage to Some Private Projects
AGC opposes both HB 1023 which extends apprenticeship utilization quotas to certain private projects and HB 1025 which extends prevailing wage laws to some private projects.
Basically the bills redefine as public works those projects for which:
a party to the contract for the public work rece...
Posted on 02/04/2013
Act Now: Senate Voting on Workers' Comp Bills Early Next Week
The State Senate will be voting on a package of workers compensation reform bills strongly supported by AGC. Please take a moment to urge your Senator to vote YES on all of these bills:
SB 5127 - Allows any worker regardless of age (currently only those 55 and older may do so) to accept structu...
Posted on 01/30/2013
Support Senate Bill 5112: Granting Scheduling Authority for Qualified Retro Plans
Please ACT NOW! The Washington State Senate is expected to vote on Senate Bill 5112 early next week. Please send your Senator a message urging him to support 5112.
Bottom line: SB 5112 is a common sense bill that allows experienced Retro claims managers to schedule Independent Medical Examinati...
Posted on 01/30/2013
Bill Dickson, Jim Crutcher Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
AGC of Washington presented James Crutcher Chairman Emeritus for Lease Crutcher Lewis and William Dickson President of Dickson Company with its Lifetime Achievement Award during the association’s Annual Convention on January 25.
The awards were announced by Steve Isenhart 2012 AGC of Washington ...
Posted on 01/30/2013
AGC Names Sean Woerman Contractor of the Year
AGC of Washington honored Sean Woerman Senior Account Manager for Lydig Construction as Contractor of the Year; John Huntley President of Mills Electric Co. as Subcontractor of the Year; and Michael Grace Partner with Groff Murphy PLLC as Affiliate of the Year. The awards were presented during A...
Posted on 01/30/2013
AGC Elects New Officers and Board Members
At its Jan. 25 annual meeting AGC of Washington elected its 2013 slate of officers and board members. The officers are:
Butch Brooks
President
Butch Brooks is the owner of Brooks Construction Management which specializes in construction management services preconstruction and value engineeri...
Posted on 01/30/2013
AGC Efforts with Tacoma's HUB Program
AGC members have experienced problems with the City’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program over the years. As a result AGC members and staff have turned-up the temperature on our oversight of the program and are meeting with the City’s new HUB Manager.
Some notes from these meetings...
Posted on 01/23/2013
AGC Opposes Covered Loads Bill
AGC is opposing covered loads legislation. House Bill 1007:
Requires that from August 1 2013 through June 30 2014 any vehicles operating on a paved public highway hauling dirt sand rocks or gravel susceptible to escaping must use a cover if the vehicle is equipped with a load cover.
Requires...
Posted on 01/22/2013
AGC of America Honors Lydig
During the first six months of 2012 Lydig employees spent over 6600 hours training and fund raising for The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Climb to Fight Breast Cancer. The company raised over $110000 toward life-saving research and was recognized for setting a new standard in corporate...
Posted on 01/22/2013
Global Harmonization...Say What?
Many AGC members are being solicited to purchase Hazard Communication Management Programs and Training Materials from marketing groups claiming that the members are out of compliance with the new Global Harmonization Standard. This is absolutely not true and not necessary.
Federal OSHA did prom...