On Jan. 5, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission released the text of a soon-to-be-published proposed rule banning non-compete clauses in employment contracts that is expected to impact one in five U.S. workers—or 30 million Americans. The proposal makes it an unfair method of competition under the Federal Trade Commission Act for an employer to enter into or attempt to enter into a non-compete clause with a worker, to maintain a non-compete clause with a worker or to represent to a worker that he or she is subject to a non-compete clause.

In Dec. 23’s Federal Register, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council announced an extension – from Jan. 13 to Feb. 13 – of the comment period for its proposed rule to require certain federal contractors to disclose information regarding their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risk and set science-based targets to reduce their GHG emissions. The rule implements elements of President Biden’s May 20, 2021, Executive Order 14030, “Climate-Related Financial Risk.”

On Nov. 3, the Signatory Wall and Ceiling Contractors Alliance submitted comments in support of the Department of Labor’s proposed independent contractor rule that would rescind the prior Administration’s rule that made it easier to classify employees in the construction industry and across the economy as independent contractors. The proposed rule replaces this regulation with a well-understood standard ground in 60 years of judicial precedents that SWACCA urged the Labor Department to adopt because it is easier to apply and will make it harder for employers to claim their workers are independent contractors.

The National Labor Relations Board released a proposed rule to rescind and replace the Trump-era Board’s April 1, 2020, final rule revising election procedures under the NLRA. Specifically, Nov. 3’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has three parts, each rescinding a corresponding portion of the NLRB’s April 2020 final rule.

This week, SWACCA concluded weeks of work to ensure the submission of three distinct comment letters in support of the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council’s proposed rule entitled, “Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects” to implement President Biden’s February Executive Order creating a presumption that PLAs are to be used by federal agencies for large-scale construction projects for which the cost is estimated to be $35 million or more, subject to specified exemptions.

On Oct. 17, the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation filed comments opposing a Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council proposed rule to block non-union workers from working on federal contracts. The rule requires federal agencies to impose Project Labor Agreements on contractors and employees who work on federal construction projects that will cost $35 million or more.

The American Iron and Steel Institute Standards Council is seeking research proposals for its 2023 Small Project/Fellowship Program. Launched in 2014, AISI’s Small Project/Fellowship Program identifies and provides funding for research projects that will significantly impact the reliability, performance and cost-competitiveness of cold-formed steel products.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a call for proposals to solicit feedback and concepts for the next version of LEED.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in response to the release of the Department of Labor new proposal on apprenticeship expansion.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in response to the release of the President's new proposal to allow more immigrations into the country based on merit.