Associated Builders and Contractors responds to Biden

Associated Builders and Contractors President and CEO Michael Bellaman has responded to several aspects of President Joe Biden’s Feb. 7 State of the Union address.

In his address, Biden announced new standards that “require all construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects to be made in America … lumber, glass, drywall, fiber optic cable.”

Bellaman says those types of regulations hamstring construction companies.

“President Biden enters the second half of his term facing a divided Congress and a choice,” Bellaman says. “He can either continue with his anti-competitive executive orders and anti-growth regulatory actions that burden small businesses and hinder our economic potential or work with Republicans in Congress to find a better path forward through bipartisan solutions.”

In his address, Biden said he wants Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen the ability of workers to unionize while making it more difficult for companies to prevent it.

“I’m so sick and tired of companies breaking the law by preventing workers from organizing,” said Biden. “Pass the PRO Act because … workers have a right to form a union. And let’s guarantee all workers have a living wage. Let’s make sure working parents can afford to raise a family with sick days, paid family medical leave [and] affordable childcare.”

The PRO Act would permit workers to participate in secondary strikes, which are those initiated by a different labor group, and would expand unfair labor practices to prevent companies from discriminating against employees who participate in strikes, according to a bill summary.

The PRO Act also would permit collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the unit to pay union fees, “notwithstanding a state law to the contrary,” a response to so-called Right to Work laws which some states have passed that enable employees not to pay those fees.

“A record 88.3 percent of construction workers have already chosen not to join a union,” says Bellaman. “Worker choice allows everyone who has different desires to pursue their career dreams in their unique way. This choice is the bedrock of what America is all about and creates immense value for the taxpayer. Yet the Biden administration’s policies promoting government-mandated project labor agreements on taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects and support of the PRO Act undermine these principles.”

Bellaman applauded Biden’s focus on mental health in his speech.  Biden called for more support for children and veterans coping with mental health issues.

“ABC is addressing this important issue through partnerships with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention and prioritizing total human health, which is physical, mental, emotional, social, mental, intellectual, financial, occupational and spiritual wellness,” Bellaman says. “Employers can build a resilient workforce by providing access to the appropriate resources. ABC is grateful that mental health was addressed during President Biden’s speech and stands ready to work with this administration to prioritize total human health.”