Employee Free Choice Act  

Our representatives in Washington D.C. need to hear from you regarding the Employee Free Choice Act. The vote is going to be happening in the near future. The vote is going to be very close. Please write your representative and senators with your thoughts today.  No excuses!  It is easy to do via the AGCA Legislative Action Center. Click here.

Senator Nelson is one of the “swing” votes in this tight vote. However, it is important that you write Senator Johanns and your Representative also.

AGCA’s Advocacy Team is also working to repeal excessive 3% withholdings on Government contracts. Again, you need to voice your opinion with the Nebraska delegation in Washington D.C. Click here.

If you have time to write a personal letter to the senators and your representatives click here for the addresses. A couple of points to keep in mind: write to both Senators and your Representative; and address the key point in this legislation. The key point is that it removes the right to a secret ballot in union elections. Private voting is one of the hallmarks of our democratic system.

Remember, there is a webinar tomorrow sponsored by AGCA. Information and registration details were included in the 1-5-09 E-Update. 

On December 5, 2008 the IRS published the rules for implementing the 3% withholding on government contracts. To read more on this click here.

New Bills Introduced by Legislature

Contractor Data Base and Contractor Registration

Contractor data base and contractor registration is now required. Just in case some of you are spending time assisting (or educating) your subs and vendors with this we have located three links together in the bottom left hand corner of www.agcnebuilders.com There is the link to the Department of Revenue’s Contractor Data Base; a link to the application form to register and pay the $40.00 to the Department of Labor and a reprint of the FAQ on both.  Hopefully, this will help you in helping your subs/vendors.

Ron Petsch, Program Chairperson, Construction Technology has requested your help to update and validate the curriculum included in the associate degree program.  He is asking experienced construction industry personnel to help verify the validity of the curriculum.  For the details click here. 

For the Building Chapter Calendar of Events, click here. There are 28 people registered for the Commercial Blueprint Reading class in Kearney starting on Friday. The LEED-AP Test Prep Course is scheduled to start on January 28th in Lincoln. There are 17 registered as of today. There is room for 4-5 more. Email Jean if you are interested in more information.

The last STP Course of the season will start February 2nd. Deadline to register is this Friday. The registration form is on the Calendar of Events.

The Information/Registration information will be out next week for the Chuck VanderKooi Seminars in Scottsbluff on February 26th & 27th.

Fall Protection Seminar, January 23rd in Omaha, is sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers. Click here for registration information.

Green Advantage Practitioner Certification Training, February 6th in Omaha, is sponsored by the Flatwater Chapter, the Green Initiative and AGC Building Chapter is a co-sponsor. For registration information click here.

A Few Reminders

1.  National AGC Safety Award information must be returned to the Chapter Office by Friday, January 16, 2009.

2.  Make sure you have returned the Member Directory Update sheets to the office as soon as possible.  This info will be used to update the Member Directory which will be available in print and electronically on website.

1.  2009 Member Stickers will be mailed out at the end of January.

2.  Printed Member Directories will be out in March.

3.  The Design and Construction Industry Council (AGC, AIA-NE, ACEC-NE) met last week and made the decision to continue a discussion and dialogue on the AIA-A201 (07) Document.