North America's Building Trades Unions' President Sean McGarvey issued the following statement marking the end of the formal comment period on the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) proposed rule to dramatically alter the nation's apprenticeship system with a new proposal known as Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs):
Skanska has merged its Polish and Czech/Slovak construction operations into one business unit—Skanska Central Europe. Michal Jurka, the business unit president (BUP) of Czech and Slovak construction operations, becomes BUP of the unit, effective September 1, 2019. Details here.
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Among professional construction contractors who rented equipment in the past year, a majority expects to increase reliance on rental in the year ahead, according to a comprehensive survey of contractors released by the American Rental Association (ARA). Details here.
Brickworks Property Restoration will pay $130,788 in back wages to 58 employees after the United States Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) overtime and record-keeping provisions.
The Nebraska Public Service Commission has approved the Keystone XL Pipeline route through the state—one of three proposed routes included in the application filed by TransCanada. Details about the decision and the pipeline here.
Why the industry needs to think creatively & leverage new benefits to overcome the labor shortage
The SOGR Program provides funding to repair, replace or rehabilitate publicly or Amtrak owned or controlled railroad equipment, infrastructure and facilities. The SOGR Program is intended to improve intercity passenger rail performance. Eligible projects include upgrading infrastructure, such as track, switches, bridges and highway-rail grade crossings; stations; and equipment, including passenger cars.
The Department of Energy aims to use quantum dots and other novel technologies, advancing bioenergy research through an effort to reengineer plants and microbes for bioenergy conversion and production.