News
ACTION ALERT: Don't Raise Workers' Comp Rates in 2012
As scheduled Workers’ Comp rate hearings approach AGC members are encouraged to contact the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries (L&I) and offer your comments on the proposed 2012 rates. The key points here will be made in an official communication from the AGC but is very helpful...
Posted on 10/24/2011
Gas Compact with Tribes Means Less Transportation Funding
In 2007 the Legislature passed a bill authorizing the Governor to enter into new fuel tax compacts with federally-recognized Tribes that operated fuel stations in Washington State. Since then these compacts have allowed tribes to undercut private fuel station operators give away needed revenue fo...
Posted on 10/18/2011
The “Wade Perrow Plan†Solves Gig Harbor Planning Dilemma
The legendary Gordian Knot is a metaphor for an intractable problem solved by a bold stroke. For years the city of Gig Harbor had been dealing with its own version of the Gordian Knot: How could they restore Donkey Creek to its natural state when significant parts of it had been covered by a ro...
Posted on 10/17/2011
Teens Get Something to Think About at Construction Career Days
Nearly 1000 high school students operated heavy equipment explored construction technology learned about training programs and otherwise pondered a future in construction during King County Construction Career Days held Oct. 4 and 5.
AGC and the AGC Education Foundation spearhead the annual even...
Posted on 10/17/2011
One Year, Three New Facilities: Greenberry Industrial is Booming
In the couple of years after the economic downturn of 2008 Corporate America didn’t spend much on facilities. But now the pent up demand for newer safer and larger facilities is causing many companies to address industrial maintenance and expansion needs notes Greenberry Industrial’s President a...
Posted on 10/17/2011
Ballots in the Mail; Check Out These Endorsements
Believe it or not ballots for the November elections will be appearing in voters’ mailboxes any day now. Be sure to vote and before you do consider these ballot positions by AGC and/or BUILD PAC:
Initiative 1125 – AGC Opposes
Among other things I-1125 would prohibit tolling to pay for ongoing ...
Posted on 10/17/2011
AGC Opposes I-1125 as a Hit to Transportation Financing
AGC’s Board of Trustees voted to oppose Initiative 1125 a proposal to limit the use of toll and gas tax revenues in Washington State. AGC encourages a “no” vote because I-1125 will further constrict already tight transportation financing.
I-1125 is opposed by a broad coalition of business labor ...
Posted on 10/17/2011
ASSE Puget Sound Chapter Newsletter
Attached you will find the latest issue of the ASSE Puget Sound Chapter Newsletter.
We sincerely hope you can join us for the upcoming membership meeting on October 19. This is a breakfast meeting at the Best Western Executive Inn. Cost is $20 per person and includes a delicious breakfast! Ou...
Posted on 10/10/2011
Sailing in Circles in the Nation's Capital
By Pat McGarry President AGC of Washington
It’s not that we didn’t have positive interaction with members of our congressional delegation because we did.
And it’s not that progress isn’t being made on some things because it is.
It’s just that after visiting Washington DC recently with AGC memb...
Posted on 10/03/2011
AGC Opposes I-1125 as a Hit to Transportation Project Financing
AGC’s Board of Trustees voted to oppose Initiative 1125 a proposal to limit the use of toll and gas tax revenues in Washington State.
AGC encourages a “no” vote because I-1125 will severely limit the use of toll revenues. It will require that toll revenues only be used on the project for which t...
Posted on 10/03/2011
What's Your EMR Rate for 2012? How Will Reforms Work?
Both members and non-members of AGC Group Retro are invited: Come to one of AGC Group Retro’s EMR workshops and get your proposed experience rate (EMR) for 2012. Plus hear the latest on L&I implementation of workers’ compensation reforms passed in the last legislative session! (See dates an...
Posted on 10/03/2011
L&I Reduces Proposed Rate Increase; Hearings Set
After initially floating the idea of raising average workers’ comp rates 5-9 percent in 2012 L&I officially proposed an average rate increase of 2.5 percent. AGC continues to urge Labor and Industries to not raise rates at all next year given economic conditions and the fact that the system ...
Posted on 10/03/2011
Agencies Teaming-Up to Crack-Down on \Wage Theft\
by Paige Spratt and John Ahlers Ahlers & Cressman
The U.S. Labor Department nine states (including Washington) and the IRS have agreed to share labor and wage information in order to decrease improper classification of workers as reported by the Washington Post on September 20 2011. Accordin...
Posted on 10/03/2011
Demand for Construction Workers in WA
The attached presentation covers the forecast for state construction employment over the next 30 years unemployment insurance claims for the top construction occupations and trends in construction sub-sectors in Washington State.
Posted on 09/20/2011
McKenna for Governor, Says AGC
AGC of Washington’s Board of Trustees voted to endorse Attorney General Rob McKenna for Governor in the 2012 election. The Board vote followed a process to gather the input of AGC members and interviews with McKenna and the other leading candidate Congressman Jay Inslee.
“Rob McKenna is the bes...
Posted on 09/20/2011
AGC Opposes Workers' Comp Premium Increases for 2012
AGC of Washington calls on the Department of Labor and Industries to keep 2012 workers’ compensation premiums at their current levels.
AGC and partner organizations worked hard to enact workers’ comp reforms in the last legislative session. That labor is now bearing fruit: L&I announced th...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Victory for Contractors in Supreme Court's Lien Decision
The Washington State Supreme Court voted unanimously to overturn a lower court decision that would have endangered mechanics lien claims filed by contractors.
In Williams v. Athletic Field Inc. a lower court invalidated a lien filed by a lien service on behalf of the contractor. The contractor’s...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Seattle Seeks to Boost C&D Recycling with New Requirements
(NOTE: AGC Education Foundation is hosting a Stakeholders’ Forum on Sept. 29. At the forum Seattle Public Utilities will present the proposed construction and demolition recycling requirements and receive feedback. For more information and registration click Seattle’s Solid Waste Plan Forum.)
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Posted on 09/20/2011
AGC Welcomes New Members!
The following firms have been approved for membership: Pacific Building Envelope (Multi-family remodels and repairs.); Pacific Coast General LLC (Heavy highway and utilities.); Credo Construction (Commercial construction.); Tacoma Plumbing & Heating Inc. (Mechanical contracting and site utili...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Seattle City Council Approves Sick Leave Legislation
The Council voted 8-1 to enact legislation that mandates paid sick leave for employers with five or more employees. Richard Conlin was the sole no vote. AGC opposed the bill emphasizing economic consequences and impacts to contractors’ existing benefit plans.
Posted on 09/20/2011
Is Your Company 100 Years Old or Older? Let Us Know!
At the Jan. 2012 Annual Convention AGC of WA will honor Generals and Subs that have been in business for 100 years or more. We don’t want to miss anybody so let us know if your firm is 100+ years old – even if over the decades it’s been bought merged or otherwise gone through different permutati...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Future Leadership Forum: Project Financing Presentation
On Tue. Sep. 27 Ross Pouley with URS Corporation will be covering issues like project penciling private financing public financing and public-private financing. Join us for food drinks and a great educational and networking opportunity. Register FLF Project Financing. (AGC Future Leadership Forum...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Hayes, Workman on Ed. Foundation Board
The AGC Education Foundation Board of Trustees welcomes Brad Hayes of Sellen Construction and Rick Workman of Lease Crutcher Lewis. Both of these new Trustees are former AGC Education Foundation scholarship recipients.
Posted on 09/20/2011
Louis Olsen of AGC-Member VECA Electric Honored
On Aug. 16 2010 Louis Olsen of VECA Electric and Jesse Micheletz of M.A. Mortensen were doing a job walk around and safety inspection at the Providence Regional Medical Center project in Everett when they heard of a man down. They found a worker with no signs of life and provided resuscitation ef...
Posted on 09/20/2011
Salary Guide Now Available
Moss Adams in conjunction with Northwest AGC chapters presents the 2011 Construction Industry Salary Survey. The guide details compensation metrics and trends in WA OR ID and across 25 different job functions. Click Salary Guide for more info and to order.