News
Learn more about DOE’s new Solid-Waste Handling Standards, effective Sept. 1
The Department of Ecology recently adopted long-in-the-making rule Solid-Waste Handling Standards. AGC, WACA and other groups worked to secure many improvements to earlier drafts of the rule. However, AGC members are encouraged to review the new rule and info provided by DOE.
Posted on 08/13/2018
New law requires electronic child-support payments from most employers
Effective January 1, 2019 as part of Substitute Senate Bill 6334, an employer or other business that receives an Income Withholding Order (IWO) from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Child Support (DSHS-DCS), must send payments electronically.
Posted on 08/13/2018
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"Persuader Rule" revision is rescinded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
Sign the petition to support transparency in government negotiations
AGC supports Initiative 1608 and urges you and others within your company to sign the petition to support transparency in government.
Posted on 06/05/2018
AGC opposes carbon-tax plan
AGC’s Board of Trustees voted to oppose Initiative 1631, which would enact a new carbon tax. Proponents are currently gathering signatures in hopes of getting the measure on the November ballot.
Posted on 06/04/2018
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 signs-on to amicus brief aiming to protect insurer’s duty to defend
Last month, AGC of Washington, with other trade associations such as the National Utility Contractors Association, signed on to an amicus curiae (“friend of the Court”) brief to the Washington Supreme Court supporting a Petition for Review aimed at protecting the duty to defend in Washington.
Posted on 05/22/2018
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
Heads up: New paid family/medical leave taxes begin Jan. 1, 2019
Taxes to fund the paid family- and medical-leave program passed by the Legislature last year will be collected starting Jan. 1, 2019 -- but the benefits won’t be available to be taken until Jan. 1, 2020.
Posted on 04/23/2018
State of Washington requests participants in disparity study
The State is requesting the participation of business owners to discuss their experiences with doing business with the State of Washington.
Posted on 04/23/2018
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
Bullet train between Vancouver and Portland?
The prospect of the Pacific Northwest’s largest cities being connected by a train capable of traveling 250 mph or faster received a nudge from the State Legislature as the recently enacted supplemental transportation budget included up to $1.2 million toward a business-case analysis for a high-speed rail line between Vancouver, BC, Seattle and Portland.
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
Comments to share about the steel, aluminum tariffs?
On March 19, the Department of Commerce published its exclusion process procedures (interim final rule) for steel and aluminum tariffs...
Posted on 03/28/2018
AGC of America opposes tariffs, offers recommendations for contractors
On March 8, President Trump signed proclamations to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports, with limited exceptions.
Posted on 03/13/2018
House Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn among high-profile retirements
Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-41), long-time chair of the House Transportation Committee and a key architect of the $16 billion transportation package passed in 2015, announced her retirement from the Washington State Legislature.
Posted on 03/12/2018
Legislative session recap: Billions in construction spending; no new taxes
The 2018 Legislative session ended right on time last week – the first time since 2014 that a special session wasn’t required.
Posted on 03/12/2018
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
President unveils $200 billion infrastructure plan
On Monday, President Trump unveiled his $200 billion “Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America.”
Posted on 02/12/2018
Contact President, Congress to oppose government-mandated project labor agreements
By way of background, AGC of America has again urged President Trump to rescind President Obama’s project labor agreement (PLA) executive order and replace it with a new order.