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Senator Niello celebrates Apprenticeship Week by presenting Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 on the Senate floor. With the Senator are two electrical apprentices, Karmin Peterson and John Lipary who both part of ABC's program‬. In 2025, National Apprenticeship Week celebrates its 11th anniversary of raising awareness of the vital role that apprenticeships play in providing opportunities to learn and earn on the pathway to good quality jobs and well-paying careers with the opportunity for career advancement.

Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring April 30, 2025, as “Apprenticeship Day.”

The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found here.

Originally Published on January 20, 2025

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20—Associated Builders and Contractors today celebrated a decision from the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that rules in favor of ABC members that filed bid protests challenging former President Joe Biden’s controversial policy requiring anti-competitive, inflationary, union-favoring project labor agreements on federal construction projects of $35 million or more. 

Judge Ryan T. Holte’s Jan. 19 ruling responds to 12 bid protests filed by experienced ABC member federal contractors against three federal agencies that mandated PLAs in solicitations for construction services as a result of a Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council rule effective Jan. 22, 2024, implementing Biden’s Executive Order 14063.

The Biden policy has been widely criticized by the construction industry, taxpayer watchdogs and lawmakers for needlessly inflating construction costs and effectively steering contracts to unionized firms and union labor at the expense of taxpayers and federal laws requiring fair and open competition.

“ABC and its federal contractor members are ecstatic that the judicial system has delivered justice for American taxpayers and the 90% of the U.S. construction industry workforce that is nonunion,” said ABC Vice President of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs Ben Brubeck. “ABC members were harmed by former President Biden’s costly executive overreach, which violates federal laws and rewards special interests at the expense of fair and open competition.

“Damning evidence procured through market research conducted by several federal agencies was raised in the case’s Jan. 16 oral argument and corroborated plaintiffs’ complaints and ABC’s long-standing concerns,” said Brubeck. “The findings of federal agencies illustrate how Biden’s controversial policy mandating union-favoring project labor agreements stifles competition and raises costs on federal construction contracts nationwide.

“ABC has testified before Congress that, when mandated by government, PLAs increase construction costs by an estimated 12% to 20%, reduce competition from qualified contractors and their employees, steal money from the paychecks of token nonunion workers permitted on PLA projects and exacerbate the construction industry’s worker shortage,” said Brubeck. “Typical PLA mandates discourage competition from some of the best bidders by forcing contractors to sign special union collective bargaining agreements, hire workers from union halls and apprenticeship programs and accept compulsory union representation on behalf of any members of their existing workforces. This exposes those workers to union wage theft of up to 34% of their compensation unless they join a union and vest in union benefits plans.

“ABC will continue to advocate for inclusive solutions that result in cost savings, more jobs and more opportunities for all qualified small, minority- and women-owned businesses and all American workers in the construction industry,” said Brubeck. “This lawsuit did not address additional Biden policies pushing PLAs on federally assisted infrastructure projects procured by local and state governments and private developers, so the fight will go on.”

On Jan. 9, ABC and 24 other construction and business groups in the Build America Local coalition sent a letter to President Donald Trump requesting an executive order that would restore fair and open competition on federal and federally assisted construction projects that would save taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually.

On March 28, 2024, ABC and its Florida First Coast chapter filed suit in federal court to block Biden’s PLA final rule on construction contracts procured by federal agencies, asserting it is beyond the scope of executive authority and violates the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act, among others. The case is fully briefed and plaintiffs are awaiting a decision on the overall case and a ruling on the motion for preliminary injunction filed in April.

ABC members won 54% of the $205.56 billion in federal contracts worth $35 million or more during fiscal years 2009-2023 and built award-winning projects safely, on time and on budget, without unnecessary government-mandated PLAs. Prior to the Biden final rule, when given the option, the federal government decided to mandate PLAs just 12 times out of 3,222 federal construction contracts of $25 million or more.

Learn more at abc.org/bidenplafaqs and BuildAmericaLocal.com.

Dirk Haire with Fox Rothschild LLP and Jake Scott with Smith Currie Oles LLP represented federal contractor bid protestor plaintiffs in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims case, MVL USA Inc., et al., v. United States, Case No. 24-1057. An unsealed decision is expected to be released this week to the public.

On Dec. 2, in a win for ABC and its members, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs published a notice that the U.S. Department of Labor’s flawed final rule overhauling its apprenticeship regulations has been withdrawn.

For more information, read ABC’s press release and visit abc.org/apprenticeship.

“ABC fully supports government-registered apprenticeship programs as a key component of the construction industry’s all-of-the-above solution to upskilling the more than half a million new workers needed in 2024 alone, but the DOL’s proposed apprenticeship overhaul was out of touch with the needs of employers and apprentices, and was a missed opportunity to modernize and expand the apprenticeship system,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “We are pleased that the Biden administration heeded the concerns of ABC and industry GRAP stakeholders and halted this unnecessarily costly and burdensome policy change, which would have restricted GRAP system growth and exacerbated the construction industry’s labor shortage.”

On March 18, ABC submitted more than 40 pages of comments on the DOL’s controversial proposed rule, urging the DOL to withdraw the illegal and misguided provisions of the proposal.

Ben Brubeck will also discuss the apprenticeship issue during ABC’s Virtual Legal Conference in his session, “Learn About Significant Changes to Government-Registered Apprenticeships Programs and New Onerous Mandates on Private Work.” Register today!

We hope this guide helps you navigate the upcoming propositions. As an association, ABC of CA has consistently opposed Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) mandates because:

Taxpayer Fairness through Open Competition: Hardworking taxpayers deserve efficient and effective policies that will encourage all qualified contractors to compete to build long-lasting, quality projects at the best price. Government-mandated PLAs discourage this process and prevents the more than 89% of the U.S. construction workforce who are not members of a union from bidding and working on projects in their own communities funded by their tax dollars.

Higher costs: Anti-competitive and costly PLAs restrict open, fair and competitive bidding on public works projects. By preventing cost efficient local businesses from bidding on contracts to build roads, bridges, schools and other structures, this guarantees that taxpayers pay 12% to 20% more and the local community benefits less.

 

 

Opinion Editorial by Deborah Wilder and Jean Bjork published in Capitol Weekly on July 22, 2022

There are more women in the construction industry today than ever before.

Historically, the industry has been dominated by males, and while that is still true today, we are slowly challenging this reality as the number of women in construction is steadily increasing. In 2021, women made up 10.9% of the United States construction industry which is up from 9.9% in 2018.

This momentum is inspiring and is a motivator to continue the work of our many dedicated organizations, such as the Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) California Chapter and the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of California. As leaders in the industry, WCOE and ABC of California chapters are working tirelessly to recruit, train, and create pathways for women to secure construction careers.

We are striving to increase diversity and inclusion in construction, which means we must advocate for policies that will get us closer to this goal. Therefore, we are proud to support Senate Bill 1115 introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) which will encourage more women to join the industry. The bill will officially establish a ‘Women in Construction Priority Unit’ and help create pathways for women to secure good, high-paying jobs in construction.

As construction professionals ourselves, we know firsthand that women working together is a crucial factor for success. It is imperative to unite and help each other succeed in this industry, and if SB 1115 passes, we will have access to more resources and supportive services that will help women across the state pursue careers in this ever-growing industry.

ABC of California Member Companies Achieve World-Class Safety Performance in Construction Industry

Sacramento, Calif., (May 18, 2022) — Associated Builders and Contractors of California (ABC of California) today announced the California companies that achieved top honors on its national organization’s 2022 Safety Performance Report – an annual study utilizing a safety management system that dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work. 

The report details the dramatic impact of using proactive safety practices to reduce recordable incidents by up to 84%, making the best-performing companies, including 16 companies across the Golden State, 645% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average. 

“ABC of California and our contractor members understand that our people are our greatest asset, and we will continue to advance world-class safety through valuable resources like the Safety Performance Report,” said John Hamo, Chair of the Board of Directors for ABC of California. “It’s the ABC-standard to expect our member companies to be focused on creating a safe and productive work environment for their team members, their families and communities in which they live and work.”

STEP Diamond members are more than six times safer than the industry average, achieving an 84% reduction in Total Recordable Incident Rates. ABC of California commends the following companies in California that achieved Diamond status, meaning they’ve gone above and beyond to achieve world-class safety on and off the jobsite: 

• Sturgeon Services, Bakersfield 

• Agbayani Construction Corporation, Daly City

• Diversified Power Corporation, Dixon 

• Durham Construction Inc., Clovis

• Escon Builders, Union City 

• Hayward Electric Company, Hayward 

• Helix Electric, Sacramento & San Diego 

• ENGIE Services Inc., Oakland 

• Pacific West Controls Inc., Visalia 

• Rampart Enterprises Inc, Sacramento 

• Seal Rite Paving & Grading, Fresno 

• Tao Mechanical LTD, Livermore 

• Telstar Instruments Inc., Concord  

• Facilities Protection Systems, Brea 

• Icenogle Construction Management, Inc, San Francisco

 

ABC’s research on more than a billion hours of work completed by participants in the construction, heavy construction, civil engineering and specialty trades in 2021 identified the following proactive injury and hazard elimination best practices:

• New hire safety orientation: Companies that conduct an in-depth indoctrination of new employees into their safety culture, systems and processes based on a documented orientation process experience reduce TRIR by 70% and their Days Away Restricted or Transferred rate by 72% compared to companies that limit their orientations to basic safety and health compliance topics. 

• Substance abuse prevention programs: Robust substance abuse prevention programs/policies with provisions for drug and alcohol testing where permitted lead to a 70% reduction in TRIR and a 73% reduction in DART rates.

• Toolbox talks: Companies that conduct daily toolbox talks reduce TRIR by 76% and DART rates by 79% compared to companies that hold them monthly.

• Top management engagement: Employer involvement in safety programs at the highest level of company management produces a 71% reduction in TRIR and DART rates. 

ABC has studied how to improve construction jobsite safety through STEP since 1989. Participating ABC member firms measure their safety processes and policies on key components and criteria for best practices through a detailed questionnaire, with the goal of implementing or enhancing safety programs that reduce jobsite incident rates. 

Read the report at abc.org/spr.

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About the ABC Safety Performance Report 

The 2022 ABC Safety Performance Report is based on submissions of unique company data gathered from members that deployed STEP in 2021. ABC collects each company’s trailing indicator data as reported on its annual Occupational Safety and Health Administration Form 300A (“Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses”) and its self-assessment of leading indicator practices from its STEP application. Each data point collected is sorted using statistically valid methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for its annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Survey and then combined to produce analyses of STEP member performance against BLS industry average incident rates. The report demonstrates that applying world-class processes dramatically improves safety performance among participants regardless of company size or type of work. 

The ABC 2022 Safety Performance Report is brought to you by ABC Tech Alliance member KPA, which provides safety management software, training and consulting to the construction industry.

About Associated Builders and Contractors 

Associated Builders and Contractors is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950 that represents more than 21,000 members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 69 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at abc.org.

 

 

Fresno Business Journal, April 27, 2022 

As more women continue to build paths in various industries that have typically been male dominated—tech, manufacturing, trucking, construction—they are also building more opportunities as well as buildings.

In March, The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of California, a state chapter of ABC, a national construction trade association, celebrated “Women in Construction Week”, highlighting the initiatives and work of women within in the industry.

“Women in Construction Week” was introduced in 1960 by the National Association of Women in Construction, which was founded in 1953.

Though more women have entered the construction industry in recent decades, women still only make up 10.9% of the people working in the construction industry, according to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The number shrinks for the number of women working on a job site with only 1 of every 100 employees working in the field, according to multinational human resource consulting firm Randstad NV.

Just under 87% of women working in construction hold office positions.

Even with these figures, there are local women in the industry that are building careers and opportunities in the Central Valley.

Read the full article.

Bakersfield Californian, March 23, 2022

This Women’s History Month we are highlighting women who are making a difference in the community here at 23ABC.

If you spend the day with these women, you’ll learn how to use everything from cranes to lifts. Their goal being to show if they could do it on their first day so could any other woman.

“Most of your training you learn here, you don’t have to have much training just the will to work,” said Bonita Sanchez, Welding Foreman at JTS Modular.

Bo started out at JTS as a welder then became a team lead and is now a foreman.

“I am very proud of myself for my accomplishments and where I am at today. It's been a lot of hard work working in this male dominated field. It's pretty hard looking for a job and I’m just really proud of myself.”

According to Bonita, when women get involved in construction there's no limit to the heights you can reach.

Read the full article here.

Opinion Editorial by Lisa Kelly published in the Bakersfield Californian on March 15, 2022

California’s workforce was weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic and while we are regaining many jobs, we have a long road ahead. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, men have largely recouped their labor force losses, while more than 1 million fewer women were in the labor force in January 2022 compared to February 2020.

This trend is concerning, but not surprising. It was widely reported that working women shouldered a significant burden throughout the pandemic. Yet now as we look forward to a post-pandemic economy, there is a unique opportunity to get more women in the workforce, potentially into fields that are predominantly male, like construction, and now is the ideal time. It’s not only Women’s History Month, but National Women in Construction Week took place March 6 to March 12 – making it the perfect time to highlight the opportunities and benefits of working in construction in California.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked my way up to my current position as the vice president general manager at Lalonde Equipment Rental located here in Bakersfield. Lalonde Equipment has been around for more than 50 years — supplying the heavy machinery needed for projects like leveling the runway at Los Angeles International Airport and clearing debris for new freeways throughout California. I’m proud of the work that we do and that’s why I’ve worked here for more than a decade.

Jobs in the construction industry provide women the chance for a fulfilling career path and high wages. Society relies heavily on the construction industry, which most people associate with a hammer and drill, but there is so much more. Construction professionals are involved in almost every aspect of daily life, from building roads and bridges, to wiring lights and power in local grocery stores and schools. Not to mention, a woman can expect to earn 20 percent to 30 percent more in a skilled trade career opposed to a non-construction related career.

I acknowledge there is still work to be done to achieve a fully inclusive and diverse construction workforce, but we must take a moment to celebrate the amazing progress we’ve made over the last few years in building more opportunities for women to succeed in the industry. According to data gathered in 2021, women make up about 10 percent of construction industry workers. While there is still room to grow, this number has increased substantially since 2017. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of women working in construction trades increased by 17.6 percent.

Read full article here.