WASHINGTON, D.C., July 29—Real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.2 percent (seasonally adjusted annual rate) during 2016’s second quarter according to an analysis of Bureau of Economic Analysis data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). This modest figure follows a 0.8 percent annualized rate of output growth registered during the year’s first quarter.

On July 22, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would have significantly changed the prevailing wage calculation process by tying wage rates to union collective bargaining agreements. In vetoing the bill, Gov. Rauner said Senate Bill 2964 would effectively discount the wage rates of those who have chosen not to join a union and who make up a majority of the construction workforce. 

Date:	Tuesday, July 26, 2016	Watch Now
Time:	2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (MT) / 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Length:	30 minutes
Fee:	Free
Speaker:	John Mielke, ABC of Wisconsin Chapter President
	Nick Novak, Director of Marketing and Communications, ABC of Wisconsin
Category:	Training and Education

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION 
This webinar will provide an overview and best practice tips to help Chapters successfully host a site visit by lawmakers and other elected officials.

ABC has added Iowa Chapter member Jeremy Price of Price Electric Inc. to the Beam Club presidential level. The Beam Club was established in 1966 to recognize ABC’s top membership recruiters for their commitment to growing the association. By recruiting five new members, ABC members are automatically enrolled in the Beam Club by their chapter. Members receive one point for each new member recruited. Beam Club activity is ongoing from year to year, with members’ point totals continually accruing and advancing them to the next Beam Club award level.

Intent to compete forms for the 2017 National Craft Championships are now available for ABC members and chapters who think their apprentices and craft trainees have what it takes to win the title of ABC National Craft Champion. The competition will take place Feb. 28 – March 3 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in conjunction with ABC’s Workforce Conference. Intent to compete forms are due Dec. 1, 2016. 

The Weitz Company of Minneapolis, Minn., a member of ABC’s Minnesota/North Dakota chapter, has been awarded Accredited Quality Contractor (AQC) status by ABC. The AQC program recognizes and honors construction firms that document their commitment to excellence in five key areas of corporate responsibility: quality, safety, employee benefits, training and community relations. A company that meets the criteria set forth in the program, and has earned Safety Training Evaluation Process (STEP) Gold, Platinum or Diamond status, is formally designated an “Accredited Quality Contractor.”      

Due to a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, all agencies with civil monetary penalties covered by the statute have the authority to raise penalties annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Some agencies affected by this increase include DOL, EPA and OSHA. The provision also allows OSHA to have a one-time “catch-up adjustment” in 2016 since the fines have not increased since 1990.

Date:	Monday, July 25, 2016	Watch Now
Time:	2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (MT) / 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Length:	60 minutes
Fee:	Free
Speaker:	Gregg Schoppman, Principal, FMI Corporation
Category:	Training and Education

PRESENTED AND SPONSORED BY ABC'S STRATEGIC PARTNER - VIEWPOINT 



WEBINAR DESCRIPTION 
This webinar looks at the contemporary influences that motivate workforce teams today. Today’s workforce is increasingly made up of millennials, a generation widely known for embracing state-of-the art solutions, making technology a major motivating factor. Results of the 2015 AGC workforce development survey indicated that, 73 percent of respondents will be hiring and replacing professionals in their organization and 55 percent experience challenges filling key project management positions. 

Join us for this free webinar that explores how technology will give you the leg up on recruiting and retaining your project workforce and learn how to benefit from this generation’s strengths of bringing about change and adopting technology into new processes.

On July 11, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its decision in Miller & Anderson. In a 3-1 decision, the NLRB held that “employer consent is not necessary for units that combine jointly employed and solely employed employees of a single user employer. Instead, we will apply the traditional community of interest factors to decide if such units are appropriate.” Philip A. Miscimarra, the only Republican Board Member, dissented. The NLRB’s decision can be read here.