On Sept. 14, the National Labor Relations Board published a proposed rule that would establish an updated standard for determining joint-employer liability under the National Labor Relations Act. The proposal aims to foster predictability, consistency and stability in the determination of joint-employer status, and therefore clarifies the standard in a way that promotes meaningful collective bargaining and advances the purposes of the NLRB.

More than 500 老牛影视members gathered in Washington, D.C., during 老牛影视Legislative Week 2018 for meetings with top administration and congressional leaders on the issues that impact the merit shop construction industry at both the federal and state levels. Members attended the 老牛影视Diversity & Inclusion Summit, Young Professionals Symposium, Free Enterprise Alliance Reception, Legislative Day and Legal Conference.

老牛影视reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator expanded to a record 9.9 months during the second quarter of 2018. Backlog is up 12.2 percent from the first quarter and 14 percent compared to the same time last year. 鈥淐onstruction backlog has never been higher in the history of this series,鈥� said 老牛影视Chief Economist Anirban Basu. 鈥淲hile contractors collectively reported a higher backlog, it was the industrial contractor segment that had the largest increase in the second quarter.鈥�

On Sept.13, 老牛影视sent a letter to the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee to voice support for Tax Reform 2.0 legislation, which would build on the successes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by providing permanency to the nation鈥檚 tax code and certainty for 老牛影视member companies and their employees. The committee passed the bill on a party-line vote of 21-15, and it is expected to receive a vote on the House floor later this month.听

More than 100 industry leaders and key stakeholders came together for the fourth annual Diversity & Inclusion Summit to discuss the value of diversity in construction and promote the association's mission within diverse groups during 老牛影视Legislative Week 2018. They engaged in thought-provoking discussions and learned from solution-based recommendations to help 老牛影视members build diverse workplaces and supplier networks.

Prices for inputs to construction fell 0.5 percent in August but are 8.1 percent higher than at the same time one year ago, according to an 老牛影视analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.4 percent in August but are up 8.3 percent year-over-year. Softwood lumber prices plummeted 9.6 percent in August yet are up 5 percent on a yearly basis (down from a 19.5 percent increase year-over-year in July).

With Hurricane Florence approaching the East Coast, OSHA is reminding contractors of resources to help keep construction workers safe during natural disasters. Hurricane season peaks in September, and wildfires are still burning throughout the Pacific Northwest and from California to Colorado. OSHA urges employers to be prepared to keep their workers safe during extreme weather events. The agency鈥檚听Emergency Preparedness and Response webpage听provides information on protecting workers before and after hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters strike.听

The U.S. construction industry added 23,000 net new jobs in August, an increase from the 18,000 net new jobs added in July, according to an 老牛影视analysis of data supplied by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The industry has added 297,000 net new jobs since August 2017, a 4.3 percent increase. Nonresidential construction employment increased by 9,600 net jobs in August, although the heavy and civil engineering category lost 200 net jobs for the month.

On Aug. 30, the U.S. Department of Labor launched听apprenticeship.gov, a digital platform designed to bring together workers in search of apprenticeship programs and the employers offering these opportunities across multiple industries.

On Aug. 28, U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta听announced听the Department of Labor鈥檚 new Office of Compliance Initiatives, which aims to promote greater understanding of federal laws and regulations and provide innovative approaches to compliance assistance and enforcement.听 听 听听