News

In a well-reasoned and compelling decision, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted a limited preliminary injunction against USDOT’s DBE program in the case Mid-America Milling Co., LLC v. U.S. Department of Transportation, et al. The court found that the race and gender-based rebuttable presumptions used in the DBE program violate the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. 

UCON is taking action to fix a broken system—and we need your help.

Across California, too many public agencies are withholding 100% of progress payments over minor paperwork issues. It's unfair, unnecessary, and harmful to your business. We're pushing back.

Recognizing Excellence, Awareness & Leadership in Safety

This prestigious program Recognizes Excellence, Awareness, and Leadership in Safety within the construction industry.

United Contractors (UCON), representing nearly 800 union-signatory construction and associated firms across California, is proud to announce the selection of Emily Cohen as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. She will officially assume the role on January 1, 2026. The leadership transition begins immediately to ensure a seamless and thoughtful handoff. 

Visible immigration enforcement by the federal government has been on the rise, and we know that contractors are concerned about workplace raids by Immigration Compliance & Enforcement (ICE).

We want to make sure that our members know about available resources to help prepare for and manage these potential enforcement actions in a rapidly shifting environment. Some key points to keep in mind: 

The United Contractors (UCON) Scholarship Committee is proud to award $70,000 in scholarships this year to 15 exceptional students pursuing higher education and careers in construction and related fields. These awards reflect UCON’s ongoing commitment to education, industry support, and workforce development.

Scholarships are made possible through our annual Throw Down Cornhole tournament, annual sponsorships, and special memorial funds honoring industry leaders..

UCON has received most union allocations over the past two months. Separate notices were sent to all contractors who are signatory to the applicable union with UCON. 

Access the new rates on the Union Agreements & Rates page. Northern CA agreements and rates are listed on top and Southern CA agreements and rates are listed on the bottom. 

At the end of 2025, several key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire. This landmark legislation, enacted in 2017, brought significant changes to the tax code, many of which were designed to be temporary. Here’s a brief overview of some of the most impactful provisions that will sunset:

1. Standard Deduction

United Contractors Scholarship Awards Program is now open and accepting applications. This is a great opportunity to win money towards future educational expenses. 

In the wake of recent wildfires, many contractors have been asking how they can get involved in debris removal efforts. This bulletin provides key details on the cleanup process, who is spearheading the effort, and how interested contractors can participate. 

Key takeaway: Pre-registration is essential to be considered for subcontracting opportunities. 

Q: What does the wildfire debris removal process entail?

The wildfire debris removal process in Los Angeles County is structured into two phases:

What you need to know:

Except for recordkeeping requirements, the COVID-19 Prevention Regulations, Title 8, California Code of Regulations (8 CCR) sections 3205, 3205.1, 3205.2, and 3205.3, will be sunset on February 3, 2025. This means that, as of February 3, 2025, there will no longer be a specific set of regulatory requirements relating to COVID-19 prevention in the workplace. Employers must still maintain a safe and healthy workplace as required by their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and 8 CCR section 3203.

We know that our members are concerned about the Executive Orders coming out of the new administration, especially the possibility of workplace raids by Immigration Compliance & Enforcement (ICE). The current focus is on targeting non-citizens with serious criminal convictions and those who have failed to depart the U.S. after being ordered to do so by an Immigration Judge. However, the scope could widen.  

This month, UCON sponsored two critical pieces of legislation: One aims to enhance the safety of our workers, and the second will improve vital cash flow for our members performing work in the private sector. 
 

Senate Bill 61 (Cortese)

As fires continue to affect the Los Angeles area, we want to ensure that you have the necessary resources to protect your teams and operations. We know worker safety remains a top priority, especially when dealing with wildfire smoke and unhealthy air conditions. Below are essential resources to support you during this challenging time:

United Contractors recently sent this letter to all individual members of the LA County Board of Supervisors regarding the LA County fire emergency.
 

For any questions, please contact Ray Baca, UCON Director of Agency Relations.

On December 3, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that prohibits the federal government from enforcing the CTA. As a result, until a final decision is made, the CTA may not be enforced, and companies need not comply with the upcoming December 31, 2024 deadline for filing BOI reports.

Thank you to all of our members who responded to our annual membership survey. Your input helps us to continue exceeding your expectations and delivering the highest level of service in the industry.

We are happy to report our results. Click the images below to see how we did.

2024 CONTRACTOR MEMBER SATISFACTION SURVEY:

Cal/OSHA recently released the following:

• Lead Exposure Prevention Guidance and Resources page, which includes a Lead Need to Know for Employers, and

If you subcontract trucking services, your liabilities and responsibilities are changing on January 1, 2025, when the construction trucking exemption in AB 5 expires.

If you haven’t started already, you need to take steps NOW to review your operations and make necessary changes.
UCON has the following resources available for you now – you can click on the links below (member log-in needed) and also find them in the Contractor Resources Library.

ESG:

California has passed two new laws requiring businesses to disclose their carbon emissions and climate-related financial risks. The Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (Senate Bill 253) requires large businesses operating in California to publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate-Related Financial Risk Act (Senate Bill 261) mandates that companies disclose the threats they face as a result of climate change.

SB 253: Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act: