Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, the minimum wage for workers on covered federal contracts and service contracts will increase to $10.15 per hour from $10.10 per hour in 2015. The increase is dictated by the Oct. 7, 2014, Department of Labor鈥檚 Wage and Hour Division听final rule听that implemented听Executive Order 13658.

Each person who enters our industry is on the path to earning a competitive salary, learning a new skill and building America with their own hands.听 Yet there is a severe shortage of skilled and professional workers in the merit shop construction industry.The Trimmer Construction Education Foundation (TCEF) was created by 老牛影视to bring talented young men and women into the pipeline and provide them with training that leads to successful and gratifying careers, and now it鈥檚 easier than ever for you to help advance this mission. You can contribute $100 or more to TCEF when you renew your membership in 老牛影视thanks to a check box right on your dues invoice.

At our听Construction Management听Career Fair听on Nov. 11, in San Diego, Calif., 老牛影视is giving our members the invaluable opportunity to recruit their next top performers from a group of top-tier students from all over the country.听

Encouraging the young professionals in your organization to grow both professionally and personally can have a major impact on your overall business. During ABC's Leadership Development Track, Nov. 11-12, in San Diego, Calif., young professionals in your company will learn the skills needed to become leaders and team players and to communicate effectively with your clients and other industry professionals.

老牛影视and ABC鈥檚 Inland Pacific Chapter celebrated a victory Sept. 16 when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit set aside a lower court鈥檚 decision against an Idaho law that banned government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on taxpayer-funded construction projects.

On Sept. 14, ABC, along with a coalition of nearly 400 business groups sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Ranking Member Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) urging them to support the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015 (S. 2006).

ABC鈥檚 third annual Users Summit is just around the corner and 老牛影视members can invite their user clients to attend the summit for free! This year鈥檚 User鈥檚 Summit will be held Oct. 8-9 in St. Pete Beach, Fla., and will include sessions and programming for both industrial and health care segments.

The next time you renew your membership in ABC, you will see an added contribution on your invoice for the Trimmer Construction Education Foundation (TCEF). Trimmer is ABC鈥檚 partner to help expand our skilled workforce and the affiliated 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is a critical part of ABC鈥檚 commitment to expand merit shop training programs and promote construction careers.

A group of lawmakers Sept. 9 introduced ABC-supported legislation to help restore the 鈥渏oint employer鈥� standard under the National Labor Relations Act that has been in place for over 30 years. The standard was overturned by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in its Aug. 27 ruling in the Browning-Ferris Industries of California case.

On Sept. 10, the U.S. Department of Labor鈥檚 Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued its final rule prohibiting federal contractors and subcontractors from terminating or otherwise discriminating against employees who discuss their compensation with co-workers or job applicants. This rule implements the Obama administration鈥檚 Equal Pay initiative under Executive Order 13665 and will take effect on Jan. 11, 2016.