News

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

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.  

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 below to see how we did.

2025 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:

Watch Webinar Recording HERE

AB 5 Construction Trucking Exemption to Expire Soon 

WHAT: Guidance for contractors on a major shift in compliance for trucking services 

WHO: Operations, Project Managers, Contract Administrators, Payroll 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) invites you to participate in the public online webinar covering Exemptions and Extensions for the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation. November 1, 1:30-3:30pm

Register for this important webinar.

In early November, thirty (30) contractors and staff from UCON, AGC, AGCSD, and other associations will attend our second annual multi-association negotiations training. The purpose of the training is to gather experienced and next-gen negotiators to (1) practice their skills in live simulations, (2) develop a common negotiations template, and (3) create the architecture for future coordinated bargaining as we ramp up into the 2025-2026 bargaining season.

In 2018, UCON was instrumental in securing PAGA waivers for construction companies. In 2024, we helped do it again. In early 2024, UCON took the lead to help advance legislation extending the PAGA waiver sunset from 2025 to 2038. Just last week, the Governor signed the bill, AB 1034, securing contractors legal protections against often predatory lawsuits for more than a decade.  

The DIR’s failed rollout of a new website and eCPR submission system has left hundreds of contractors unable to submit CPRs, upload relevant data, and meet legal and contractual compliance requirements associated with work on public projects.

The impact of this issue is widespread, including, in the worst cases, certain agencies and entities withholding progress payments to contractors for failure to submit eCPRs, even though the DIR’s system dysfunction is often to blame.

40 years ago, I walked into a little office in Dublin, California, to interview for a job. 105 people applied. All wanting to be the association’s Field Rep. A fancy name for an entry-level position. The 6 contractors interviewing me wore jeans, boots, and Rolexes. They also had no bullshit looks on their faces. I wore a burgundy Pierre Cardin 3-piece suit. I drove a 1981 yellow Toyota. I wanted it bad. At the end, I didn’t care about the pay, terms, or benefits. I knew right then I wanted to work for those guys—no matter what. And those people turned out to be all of you.

Learn about recent discussions with DIR on system challenges, and next steps for support.

Yesterday, several union contractor associations met with senior management at DIR concerning well-documented problems with the new eCPR system.  Since the system was adopted, there have been countless glitches and licensees have had difficulty submitting eCPR. 

DIR noted the following: