This month, the market research firm Harris Interactive surveyed 2450 adult Americans and determined that Americans have a conflicted opinion about labor unions. As explained in today’s press release, the latest Harris Poll reveals several interesting contrasting results from the survey. Even people from households with union workers are critical of some union conduct, although they are less critical than those from nonunion households.Survey results include:Most Americans (including both union and nonunion) agree that unions improve wages and working conditions of workers.Even among union households most people believe that unions are too involved in politics:
As Hurricane Irene approaches New York and other cities on the east coast of the US, construction sites everywhere are halting work and securing work sites in preparation for the...
August 26, 2011
Agents of the government of northern California’s Butte County have taken steps to deter contractors working in the swimming pool and roofing industries from cheating the workers’ compensation system and to level the playing field for those who abide by the law. Pool permits will now have to include proof of workers’ compensation coverage for all who are to work on the projects, and the California State License Board (CSLB) will now be notified when anyone claims exemption from workers’ compensation coverage in all reroofing permits, which may result in more site visits by CSLB to see if the exemption claims are legitimate.According to the news distribution website PR Newswire (registration required), the California Professional
August 25, 2011
CBS News’ What’s Trending recently spotlighted Gary Russo, a construction foreman working in New York on the second avenue subway project. Russo has attracted much attention and has generated several YouTube posts which have gone viral since he brought his karaoke machine to work and began singing Frank Sinatra songs for his fellow workers and passersby during his lunch breaks.In the video interview by Michelle Castillo of What’s Trending, Russo offers this advice:“Find out what you love to do, and do it. Don’t worry about getting paid, don’t worry about is it hard or not, just do it.”The 50-year-old claims to be a normal guy who has gone through many of the same problems as others,
August 17, 2011
An eye-opening article in Britain’s Construction Enquirer this week reported on the looming predicament the construction industry is facing: the aging workforce and the resulting imminent shortage of skilled craftsmen. Editor Aaron Morby interviewed Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of CITB-ConstructionSkills about the latest statistics reported by that company.The numbers paint an ominous picture of an impending skilled workforce shortage. The article reports:“The number of workers aged 55 years and over in the industry has increased by 65% since 1990, while those aged 24 and under has fallen
August 05, 2011
According to Chris Ward, executive director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey, construction of the memorial at the site of the 9/11 attacks to the World Trade Center...
August 04, 2011
Following the June passing of Alabama’s new illegal immigration law, HB56, many Hispanics have left the state to seek work elsewhere, causing a potential shortage of construction...
July 18, 2011
WFAA News 8 TV in Dallas/Fort Worth aired an investigative report last night by David Schecter about the plight of worker misclassification in the Texas construction industry, and...
July 13, 2011
Home builder and general contractor Reynaldo Orozco has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to repay $504,047 in unpaid employment tax for filing a false tax return for his Miami business, Rock Construction Builders Inc.According to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, court documents state that from 2004 through 2007, Orozco issued corporate checks from his business to nonexistent subcontractors, then cashed those checks himself at local check cashing stores to generate large amounts of cash which he then used to pay his employees without reporting those wages on quarterly employment tax returns and without withholding taxes
July 11, 2011
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) have issued a plea for action against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed revision to their Construction General...
July 07, 2011
