ABC Advocacy

 

 

ABC of Western Washington is a member-driven organization, deriving its political advocacy efforts from the needs of the members themselves.

How do we do this?

Advocacy Efforts

ABC of Western Washington, in partnership with our National Chapter, advocates for and with our members.

Advocating for Merit Shop Values at Every Level of Government:

ABC of Western Washington is the only true merit shop advocate representing the construction industry in Olympia. We ensure our members’ voices are heard and respected.

Our Government Affairs team provides support at the local level—working with county and city jurisdictions to represent your interests. We help members at the state, county, and city/town levels:

  • Craft and elevate impactful testimony,
  • Stay informed on local legislation that may affect their business, and
  • Ensure the merit shop philosophy is well represented across all levels of government.

In addition to our state and local advocacy, ABC’s National Chapter represents our members at the federal level, engaging with Congress and federal agencies on issues that impact the merit shop. Together in Olympia and our National Chapter in Washington, D.C., ABC of Western Washington delivers a coordinated, three-tiered advocacy strategy that defends and promotes free enterprise and merit shop values across all levels of government.

Rulemaking Efforts:

ABC of Western Washington also advocates for the merit shop at the regulatory level, engaging directly with agencies like the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). We respond to proposed rules and policy changes with real-time, member-driven input, ensuring that our feedback reflects the diverse perspectives of the construction industry.

Recognizing the industry's wide range of specialties, we tailor our advocacy to represent all contractors, from large firms to small businesses, on how agency rule interpretations may impact their operations.

Examples of ABC of Western Washington’s Advocacy Efforts

HB 1777 - Concerning the requirements and process for approving and registering apprenticeship programs.

  • This legislation would require the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (WSATC) to approve apprenticeship programs that meet established standards, with a 12-month provisional period that may be extended for objections or performance issues. It also limits competitor objections particularly for federally approved programs and introduces penalties such as attorney fees and fines for frivolous or unjustified objections.
    • This is a high-priority issue for ABC of Western Washington. Member feedback from across all sectors of the construction industry has highlighted the need for reform to ensure fair access for merit-shop apprenticeship programs. While the bill did not pass this year, it remains active for consideration in the second half of the biennial Legislative Session.

HB 1723/ SB 5572 - Promoting the efficient administration of school construction assistance program projects.

  • Proposed legislation would have required school districts to mandate project labor agreements (PLAs) on School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) projects with an estimated construction cost of $35 million or more. This would have obligated all contractors and subcontractors on these projects to either negotiate or become parties to a PLA with relevant labor organizations.
  • Recently, the Departments of Labor in Oregon, Montana, and Washington proposed changes to the Tri-State Apprenticeship Agreement. This agreement currently allows apprentices in state-certified programs to work across all three states and count those hours toward their apprenticeship requirements. The proposed revision would restrict this flexibility to only bordering counties, significantly limiting regional mobility for both contractors and apprentices.
    • ABC of Western Washington submitted formal comments to the Department of Labor and Industries opposing the change, highlighting the negative impact on cross-state contractors and their apprentices. Given the importance of this issue to our members, we also elevated our concerns to the Governor of Washington, who directly oversees the Department.

Regulatory Rulemaking – Tri-State Apprenticeship Agreement.

  • Recently, the Departments of Labor in Oregon, Montana, and Washington proposed changes to the Tri-State Apprenticeship Agreement. This agreement currently allows apprentices in state-certified programs to work across all three states and count those hours toward their apprenticeship requirements. The proposed revision would restrict this flexibility to only bordering counties, significantly limiting regional mobility for both contractors and apprentices.
    • ABC of Western Washington submitted formal comments to the Department of Labor and Industries opposing the change, highlighting the negative impact on cross-state contractors and their apprentices.