UCON's Scholarship Program is closed for the 2023-2024 school year. Winners will be announced in late June.

Given the recent SVB failure, UCON’s Associate Members from F&M Bank and Heritage Bank of Commerce provided talking points for you and your banker.

Contact your banker – If they have not already reached out to you.

Questions to ask your financial institution:

United Contractors (UCON) and Engineering Contractors Association (ECA) have finalized a merger-acquisition that will result in ECA joining UCON. The merger will enhance the voice of union-signatory heavy-civil construction contractors across the state while expanding services, advocacy, and support for all UCON members. 

In a win for CA employers, on February 15, 2023, the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion regarding California's Assembly Bill 51, legislation which prevented employers from conditioning employment on an employee's acceptance of an arbitration agreement.  

The permanent COVID-19 prevention regulations approved by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board on December 15, 2022, became effective as of February 3, 2023. This new regulation will remain in effect through February 3, 2025. The recordkeeping requirements will remain in effect until February 3, 2026.

We were excited to help kick off Sue Dyer's Bringing Women into Construction series on her Lead With Trust podcast. During the episode, UCON's EVP, Emily Cohen and Sue discuss the reasons why the number of women in construction, percentage-wise, is abysmal. They discuss the workforce and talent shortage currently being experienced by the industry and the conversations and solutions that they hope will arise from this series. 

The Governor's January budget was released on January 10, and is just the beginning of a month-long budget process. The following from Kiana Valentine of Transportation California and Politico Group is an analysis of the Governor’s January Budget for 2023-24, and how it relates specifically to transportation and infrastructure related programs and our industry.

As we roll into 2023, we continue to receive questions on what, if any, impact AB 1851 has on the industry and day-to-day operations. The detailed explanation below serves as a primer of what happened and what, if anything, your company needs to do. 

September 30 marked the official end of the 2022 Legislative Year. Throughout the year, UCON's Advocacy Team -- guided by our Legislative Committee and Board of Directors -- tracked hundreds of bills and worked to actively oppose or support dozens of bills that impact California's union-signatory contractors.  

United Contractors welcomes Mike Buckantz and Drew Delaney of Associates Environmental to our Regulatory consultants' team. They are available to help contractor members with questions related to CARB, fleet compliance, or stormwater regulatory issues. 

The 2023 schedules of recognized union holidays are now available - you can download them by clicking on the links below and also from the UCON Contractor Resources Library. The 2022 schedules are also still available.

After significant advocacy from United Contractors, Governor Newsom has signed (AB 152) a budget trailer bill which implements the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program.  

Opportunities & Updates for UCON’s Southern California Contractors

Meet Clay O'Neal, UCON's Regional VP - Southern California, and learn more about our bargaining and advocacy efforts, educational programs, and networking events. Read more...

Thirteen exceptional students have been selected by UCON's Scholarship Committee to receive awards totaling $50,000.

URGE Owner Agencies to Provide Financial Relief to Contractors for Extraordinary Material Cost Escalations.

Construction materials cost escalations is the number one issue facing our industry. UCON members have seen prices rise by as much as 50% in the last six months, with prices only continuing to increase. This is not sustainable for contractors who operate in a low-bid and fixed-price contract environment. It is especially risky for small businesses and DBE firms who cannot withstand working for low or no profit margins.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE: Welcome UCON's 2022 President, Joe Sostaric of The Conco Companies

Your Voice Needed

Tell CA Governor & Legislature to Provide a Dollar-for-Dollar Tax Credit to CA Union-Signatory Contractors

Submit your application for UCON's 2022 R.E.A.L. Safety Awards Program. The deadline for all submissions is April 7, 2023.

New Laws to Watch Out for in 2022

On February 9, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 114 into law, which requires businesses with 26 or more employees to provide workers with up to 80 hours of COVID paid leave.

UCON Up Front: February 2022, by Joe Sostaric, the Conco Companies, UCON President

I’m writing this article as one of my first acts since being elected as the new President of UCON. First, let me say to all that I am deeply honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this great organization.

COVID-19 Compliance Update

UCON Upfront: October 2021, by Kurt Kniffin, Stacy and Witbeck Inc., UCON 2021 President

The UCON PAC is the one vehicle available to support candidates that support our industry.

Submit your application for UCON's 2022 R.E.A.L. Safety Awards Program. The deadline for all submissions is April 7, 2023.

UCON's Scholarship Program is closed for the 2023-2024 school year. Winners will be announced in late June.

Given the recent SVB failure, UCON’s Associate Members from F&M Bank and Heritage Bank of Commerce provided talking points for you and your banker.

Contact your banker – If they have not already reached out to you.

Questions to ask your financial institution:

United Contractors (UCON) and Engineering Contractors Association (ECA) have finalized a merger-acquisition that will result in ECA joining UCON. The merger will enhance the voice of union-signatory heavy-civil construction contractors across the state while expanding services, advocacy, and support for all UCON members. 

In a win for CA employers, on February 15, 2023, the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion regarding California's Assembly Bill 51, legislation which prevented employers from conditioning employment on an employee's acceptance of an arbitration agreement.  

The permanent COVID-19 prevention regulations approved by the Cal/OSHA Standards Board on December 15, 2022, became effective as of February 3, 2023. This new regulation will remain in effect through February 3, 2025. The recordkeeping requirements will remain in effect until February 3, 2026.

We were excited to help kick off Sue Dyer's Bringing Women into Construction series on her Lead With Trust podcast. During the episode, UCON's EVP, Emily Cohen and Sue discuss the reasons why the number of women in construction, percentage-wise, is abysmal. They discuss the workforce and talent shortage currently being experienced by the industry and the conversations and solutions that they hope will arise from this series. 

The Governor's January budget was released on January 10, and is just the beginning of a month-long budget process. The following from Kiana Valentine of Transportation California and Politico Group is an analysis of the Governor’s January Budget for 2023-24, and how it relates specifically to transportation and infrastructure related programs and our industry.

As we roll into 2023, we continue to receive questions on what, if any, impact AB 1851 has on the industry and day-to-day operations. The detailed explanation below serves as a primer of what happened and what, if anything, your company needs to do. 

September 30 marked the official end of the 2022 Legislative Year. Throughout the year, UCON's Advocacy Team -- guided by our Legislative Committee and Board of Directors -- tracked hundreds of bills and worked to actively oppose or support dozens of bills that impact California's union-signatory contractors.  

United Contractors welcomes Mike Buckantz and Drew Delaney of Associates Environmental to our Regulatory consultants' team. They are available to help contractor members with questions related to CARB, fleet compliance, or stormwater regulatory issues. 

The 2023 schedules of recognized union holidays are now available - you can download them by clicking on the links below and also from the UCON Contractor Resources Library. The 2022 schedules are also still available.

After significant advocacy from United Contractors, Governor Newsom has signed (AB 152) a budget trailer bill which implements the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Relief Grant Program.  

Opportunities & Updates for UCON’s Southern California Contractors

Meet Clay O'Neal, UCON's Regional VP - Southern California, and learn more about our bargaining and advocacy efforts, educational programs, and networking events. Read more...

Thirteen exceptional students have been selected by UCON's Scholarship Committee to receive awards totaling $50,000.

URGE Owner Agencies to Provide Financial Relief to Contractors for Extraordinary Material Cost Escalations.

Construction materials cost escalations is the number one issue facing our industry. UCON members have seen prices rise by as much as 50% in the last six months, with prices only continuing to increase. This is not sustainable for contractors who operate in a low-bid and fixed-price contract environment. It is especially risky for small businesses and DBE firms who cannot withstand working for low or no profit margins.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE: Welcome UCON's 2022 President, Joe Sostaric of The Conco Companies

Your Voice Needed

Tell CA Governor & Legislature to Provide a Dollar-for-Dollar Tax Credit to CA Union-Signatory Contractors

UCON is helping members navigate the latest COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave requirements and options. Find all the resources here.

New Laws to Watch Out for in 2022

On February 9, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 114 into law, which requires businesses with 26 or more employees to provide workers with up to 80 hours of COVID paid leave.

UCON Up Front: February 2022, by Joe Sostaric, the Conco Companies, UCON President

I’m writing this article as one of my first acts since being elected as the new President of UCON. First, let me say to all that I am deeply honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this great organization.

COVID-19 Compliance Update

UCON Upfront: October 2021, by Kurt Kniffin, Stacy and Witbeck Inc., UCON 2021 President

The UCON PAC is the one vehicle available to support candidates that support our industry.