PRIORITY ISSUES 

ABC Priority Issues

One of ABC's priority issues in 2008 is to prevent passage of legislation that robs employees of their right to a private ballot election when deciding upon unionization in the workplace. The right to a private ballot, a cornerstone of our democracy, guarantees workers protection from coercion and intimidation. ABC will oppose any efforts to undermine this through legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act (HR 800/S 1041).

Find the latest information on protecting the private ballot, and other ABC Priority Issues, below.

Davis-Bacon Act/Prevailing Wage

The Davis-Bacon Act is a Depression-era wage subsidy law enacted in 1931. Its time has run out. In the 21st Century, especially in the new competitive global economy, it is essential to allow the free market system to determine wages.
ABC strongly supports legislative and regulatory efforts designed to limit the negative effects of the Davis-Bacon Act.

Immigration
ABC and its member companies face shortages of craft professionals and legal laborers who have extreme difficulty in becoming citizens or obtaining the necessary work permits. While the construction industry has greatly benefited from the extended period of economic growth in the United States, the demand for new hire employees has significantly exceeded the supply. ABC is working to improve these conditions for the benefit of our members and the industry.

Union-only Project Labor Agreements
ABC strongly opposes union-only project labor agreements (PLAs) on construction projects. These agreements not only exclude open shop contractors from bidding on projects paid for by their own tax dollars, but also drive up the cost of construction by reducing competition for the work.

A union-only PLA is a contract that requires that the project be awarded only to contractors and subcontractors who agree to:
  • recognize unions as the representatives of their employees on that job
  • use the union hiring hall to obtain workers
  • pay union wages and benefits
  • obey the union's restrictive work rules, job classifications and arbitration procedures


Right to Secret Ballot Elections
One of ABC's priority issues in 2007 is to prevent passage of legislation that robs employees of their right to a private ballot election when deciding upon unionization in the workplace. The right to a private ballot, a cornerstone of our democracy, guarantees workers protection from coercion and intimidation. ABC will oppose any efforts to undermine this through legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act (HR 800/S 1041).

Salting Abuse
"Salting" abuse is the intentional placing of trained union professional organizers and agents in a merit shop facility to harass or disrupt company operations, apply economic pressure, increase operating and legal costs, and ultimately put the company out of business.

The objectives of the union agents are accomplished through filing frivolous and unfair labor practice complaints or discrimination charges against the employer with:
  • the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
  • the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Salting campaigns have been used successfully to cause economic harm for construction companies and are quickly expanding into other industries across the country.

Three Percent Tax Withholding
On May 17, 2006, President Bush signed into law the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), which extends various tax provisions scheduled to expire, including alternative minimum tax relief and lower capital gains and dividend tax rates. But hidden in the new law was a provision (Section 511) that would require all government entities- federal, state and local- to deduct and withhold from all payments made to any individual or business providing any goods or services an amount equal to 3 percent of the total payment.

Thrown in as a "revenue raiser" at the last hour, Section 511 was not in the original House- or Senate-passed bills. In order to "find" an additional $7 billion to fund the other tax cuts, Senate legislative staff inserted the withholding requirement during conference negotiations despite the fact there had been no hearings on the proposal or even a hint it would be included in TIPRA.


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