President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Sept. 6 calling on federal agencies to adopt a series of “high employment standards.” according to an advertisement from the White House, continuing the administration’s push to expand the federal workforce while pushing certain standards.
The announcement says the measure is “the first in history to specify a clear list of labor standards that all federal agencies should look to prioritize.”
The federal government is considered a “model entrepreneur”, in this private sector employers tend to follow suit when moving to change standards. The “Good Job Executive Order” calls on agencies to adopt a series of rules on wages, union organizing, workforce development and workplace safety.
Among those standards, the agencies aim to prioritize project labor agreements, community benefit agreements, voluntary union recognition and union neutrality when it occurs, according to the announcement. The EO also directs agencies to “consider incentivizing specific high wage standards for manufacturing subsidies,” similar to The Davis-Bacon rules for construction work, which requires contractors to pay workers “no less than the local prevailing wage,” according to the US Department of Labor.
Associated Builders and Contractors opposed the order, calling it exclusive and saying it eliminated competition and favored union builders.
“The executive order undermines the efficient and cost-effective delivery of taxpayer-funded infrastructure, clean energy and manufacturing projects and is consistent with the politically motivated political agendas of the Biden-Harris administration,” said Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulation, work and status of ABC. affairs, in a statement.
He added that he hoped to review the official text to see if it would be challenged in court.
In fact, the unions feel that the order favors them and their workers, but also other American workers who want to stay.
Mark McManus, general president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, praised the executive order, which Biden signed at his union’s chapter, Local 190, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Sept. 6. McManus said Biden was “the most favorable.” – worker and union president”, a title he wears with pride.
“With incentives to strengthen our gold-registered apprenticeship programs, to guarantee the rights of all workers to bargain collectively for a better future, and to expand family living wages for all, this order executive will help ensure that all Americans have a fair chance at success,” McManus said in a statement.
Rule of learning
Developing the workforce through registered learning was also mentioned as a priority for federal agencies, a focus of the Biden administration, which has invested in creating training pipelines i tighten registered learning standards to ensure the program maintains its high quality, leaders previously said.
This learning rule has been criticized by Republicanswho say the rule will discourage apprenticeships because of the heavy administrative requirements.
The executive order also states that federal agencies should encourage contractors to focus on equitable and fair hiring, as well as support workplace safety by prioritizing strong reporting structures.
To that end, the administration has pushed for an extreme heat standard. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration proposed this rule earlier this summer and will receive comments until December 30th.
The Investing in Good Jobs task force is responsible for ensuring those standards are implemented, according to the announcement, and will be co-chaired by Labor Secretary Julie Su, who is currently acting secretary.
Construction Dive Editor Zach Phillips contributed to this piece.
