AGC Northern District Report: Labor initiatives on fall ballot | Virtual Safety Forum, Sept. 22

Bellingham labor initiatives on the November ballot
Contractors who work in Bellingham should be aware of four initiatives that will be on that city’s November ballot.
A coalition of Bellingham community activist groups, People First Bellingham, submitted four social-justice initiatives that will appear on Bellingham’s November ballot. Of particular interest to AGC and its members are Initiative #3: Protect the Right to Organize and Initiative #4: Fair Treatment of Hourly-Wage Employees and Gig Workers.
AGC’s Local Government Affairs Committee (GAC) for Whatcom County met August 25 to discuss the initiatives below which would impact employers doing work in the boundaries of the City of Bellingham. Whatcom County's AGC GAC voted to oppose Initiatives #3 and #4 but went on to oppose Initiative #1 Renter Protections and Initiative #2 No Invasive Police Technology. The committee discussed and determined all four initiatives do not create positive outcomes for our workers, industry, and the community as a whole. AGC is working with a coalition of business associations which includes the Bellingham/Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce, Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Retail Association, and other business associations specifically opposing Initiative #4.

Below are the details and links for the two labor related initiatives filed with the Whatcom County Auditor’s office for the November voters’ pamphlet.

Initiative #3: Protect the Right to Organize - Concerns recipients using City funds to discourage unionization efforts
This measure would prohibit any person who receives City funds from using those funds to discourage unionization efforts by that person’s employees or any other employees, require recipients of City funds to segregate those funds, provide a safe harbor for non-managerial staff to engage in union protected activities, provide for administrative investigations of complaints, establish private enforcement actions, change the City’s contracting process, and allow the City to terminate contracts for violations of the prohibition.

Initiative #4: Worker's Rights: Fair Treatment of Hourly-Wage Employees and Gig Workers - Concerns employee rights for hourly-wage employees and gig workers
This measure would require certain employers including construction to pay their employees a hazard pay supplement of $4 per hour during a declared State of Emergency; require employers to provide good faith estimates of weekly hours to new employees upon hire, require employers to provide work schedules to hourly-wage employees two-weeks in advance, require advance notice of any schedule changes, require employers to compensate employees for changing their work schedules without sufficient notice, and prohibit adverse actions by employers.

People First Bellingham is a coalition of partners including Whatcom Democratic Socialists of America, Jobs With Justice, Imagine No Kages, Riveters Collective, the Whatcom Human-Rights Task Force and the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center. The group collected approximately a third more than the required 6,188 signatures from registered Bellingham voters. The Bellingham City Council had an option to consider whether the measures should be enacted into law or be placed on the November general election ballot to be decided by the voters, which is what they decided to do.
If you have questions on these initiatives or would like to know how to make a contribution to the No on 4 campaign, contact Northern District Manager Lance Calloway.

Northern District member meeting
Utilizing lean management
to control costs and supply
September 16, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. / virtual meeting
Is you firm impacted by the current materials shortages leading to increases in your costs as well as lead times? If this is the case, you need to join Jeff Gray, member of AGC of America’s Lean-Construction Steering Committee board and CEO of Lean Revisions, as he discusses how contractors mitigate high prices and supply-chain delays with lean-construction management tactics. Gain insight into how industry leaders apply methods to improve productivity, reduce cost and stay competitive in today’s challenging market by engaging all stakeholders on projects. In this informative and interactive session, Jeff will share how these proven approaches will help you best manage costs and ensure materials inventory while increasing productivity which have been successfully implemented on projects large and small. Register today…

CLC's WSU golf tournament & fundraiser
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
The AGC's Construction Leadership Council is reintroducing the WSU Golf Tournament & Fundraiser on the eastern side of the state. All net proceeds will go to benefit Washington State University's Construction Management Program, a student chapter of the Inland Northwest AGC. For this scramble, each team registration (three players) will be paired up with a student from the WSU Construction Management program. Open to everyone!
Join us at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman; registration at 8:00 a.m., shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.
Visit the tournament event page for registration, sponsorship and other event information.

After 18 months, it's high time we get back together and see one another! The Northern District and 1st Security Bank are excited to welcome you back to one of our first in-person events. Please plan to join fellow Northern District members at Diamond Knot Brewpub in Mountlake Terrace on their patio for a great beverage and a few appetizers. Be sure to bring your business cards, as you don't know who you may connect with. We look forward to seeing you outside of a video box! Register today…

New best-practices
guide for mental health
in construction
Written as a Master’s Degree thesis by AGCW safety director Mandi Kime (CHST, B.S. & B.A., Central Washington University), this new Mental-Health Best-Practice Guide is backed by member input to a construction-focused survey. Detailing eight practices that construction employers should consider, this is the first time, to our knowledge, that new data has been developed for mental health in construction that is completely accessible publicly.

Improve your hiring process
with these simple tips
Finding qualified construction employees is becoming increasingly difficult. The 2020 Construction Outlook Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America found that 81% of construction firms are struggling to fill hourly and salaried craft positions. What’s more, 72% of the firms surveyed said they expected labor shortage to be their biggest challenge the remainder of the year.
Now that summer is here and construction projects are picking up, many hiring managers are under intense pressure to find talent … fast. While you might be tempted to hire the first able-bodied individual who applies, it isn’t always the best plan of attack. To find candidates who will make your business better, it’s important to do your due diligence. There are tweaks you can make throughout the hiring process to improve your chances of finding the ideal team member(s). Read more…

Contractors caught between vaccine hesitancy and owner mandates
(Construction Dive) Vaccines became widely available in the U.S. In some areas, lockdowns and masking ordinances were lifted, and schools were reopening. Many employers, too, had plans in place to reopen their doors to employees.
And yet, as has happened many times in the era of COVID-19, the winds are shifting.
Localized outbreaks have led to increases in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in states across the country, and those outbreaks have been fueled by the Delta variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency's website notes that the highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates, and even vaccinated individuals could experience "breakthrough cases." Read more…

Washington Construction Law seminar,
Sept. 9-10
If you practice, desire to practice or are confronted with matters involving construction law, you cannot afford to miss this conference. Learn recent developments in Washington State and federal case law, statutes and regulations. Learn how to protect the rights of your clients when dealing with public contracts, cutting edge contracting delivery methods, insurance, and bankruptcy. Find out from the mediator what strategies and tactics can help you settle your disputes through Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADRs).
The construction-law legal terrain is ever changing. Protect your company’s rights to receive payment for its work, and preserve defenses against unmeritorious demands. What you don’t know will hurt you!
AGC members receive 50% off their registration using discount code SPP50P. Click here for more information and to register.

The AGC Education Foundation continues to offer virtual continuing-education classes in a live, interactive, remote environment. They're working closely with instructors to maintain high-quality training programs and are finding great success in the virtual environment.
Visit the AGC Education Foundation website for more information on upcoming classes and programs.

Supervisory Training Program Unit 1: Leadership & Motivation

September 7–September 16 (5:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
Hybrid Class (in-person/remote) | Register here

Fall 2021 Construction Leadership Series
Class starts Sept. 8
Developed by industry experts for tomorrow’s leaders.
Partnering with industry leaders, the AGC Education Foundation is launching Construction Leadership. This comprehensive leadership skills training series is created for select individuals with 10-plus years of industry experience who have been identified by their companies as one of tomorrow’s leaders. More information…

Washington State Traffic-Control Supervisor Certification
September 15–17, 2021 (7:30 am – 4:00 pm)
Seattle | Register here

GC/CM: General Contractor/Construction Manager Workshop
October 7–8 (8:30 am – 3:00 pm)
Remote class | Register here

Online classes start September 13th.
Visit our website for a complete list.