Washington, DC; June 21, 2016 – The Construction Employers of America asked the Chairs of the Democratic National Convention’s Platform Committee and Republican National Convention’s Platform Committee to include in their parties’ official platforms strong policies that honor the vital role that highly skilled union building trade shops play in creating and maintaining the country’s infrastructure, supporting small business, and strengthening the middle class. 

“Both Convention Platform Committees should include policies that will ensure that the country continues to support and nurture a vibrant, high-quality domestic construction industry,” said Jack Jacobson, spokesperson for the Construction Employers of America. “Highly skilled union building trade shops strengthen the middle class and are good for the country. Our member companies are family-owned businesses that follow the rules and provide superior wages and benefits--including health insurance, pensions, and worker safety investments--to their employees.”

CEA and its member associations look forward to working with the Platform Committees to promote national policies that move America forward. From investing in infrastructure to training the next generation of high-quality construction workers, there are several important policies that CEA urges the Platform Committees to incorporate into their official Convention Platforms:

• Promote Sound Infrastructure Policies and invest in our nation’s aging infrastructure
• Modernize Retirement Plan Options through federal authorization of composite plans
• Prepare the Next Generation of Skilled Workers by supporting apprenticeship training programs
• Invest in Energy Efficient Buildings and set and enforce strong and attainable building codes
• Enhance Manufacturing Efficiency and support policies that advance the deployment of combined heat and power and waste heat to power technologies
• Support Responsible Employers Through Bid Listing and require prime contractor project winners to use the listed subcontractor at the price listed
• Close Employee Misclassification Loophole through reform of existing tax law to identify bad actors so the government can recoup lost tax revenue

“When our next President takes office, swift action on these key policy initiatives will strengthen our economy and create good paying jobs here at home,” said Jacobson. “We look forward to working with both presidential nominees and the parties’ Platform Committees to advance common sense policies that reflect the importance of a strong union building trade construction industry.”

CEA’s five employer associations include the International Council of Employers of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Mechanical Contractors Association of America, National Electrical Contractors Association, Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, and The Association of Union Contractors. Our impact on the American economy is significant. We represent over 15,000 employers and 1.4 million employees nationwide. CEA’s letters to the Platform Committees can be found online at www.constructionemployersofamerica.com.

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