With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Scott Walker gave his approval to legislation preventing more than one journeyman from ever being needed to oversee the work of an apprentice entering the trades.

Tagged with: apprenticeship Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker John Mielke

Americans are ready to rebuild our neglected infrastructure – schools, highways, bridges, dams, public transit – but we also can’t neglect the biggest need ahead of us.

Tagged with: Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin Inc. John Mielke Labor Shortage

Remember the infamous scene in the movie “Jaws” when Roy Scheider’s character, Martin Brody, catches his first glimpse of the size of the great white shark? He shockingly utters one of the film’s best lines to the grizzled captain played by Robert Shaw: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Tagged with: ABC Foxconn John Mielke Labor Shortage

A proposal to let the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and local governments use project-delivery methods other than design-bid-build has given rise to an unusual alignment between two groups that are otherwise usually at odds with each other.

Tagged with: Associated Builders & Contractors of Wisconsin design-build International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 John Mielke Terry McGowan Wisconsin Department of Transportation

In a recent opinion piece by the labor official Dave Branson supporting the use of PLAs, Mr. Branson incorrectly described the legislation being offered by state Rep. Rob Hutton, R-Brookfield, as “prohibiting the use of project labor agreements on taxpayer funded projects.”

Tagged with: John Mielke letter to the editor

Laid-off construction workers could find themselves under greater pressure to leave the industry following a new law that further defines what sorts of jobs they must take to keep receiving unemployment benefits.

Tagged with: ABC jobs John Mielke unemployment

Responding to complaints about new work-search rules, a state advisory panel is considering increasing the amount of time laid-off workers can continue to receive unemployment benefits without having to look for new jobs.

Tagged with: ABC Janet Bewley John Mielke unemployment Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters

New work-search requirements have various construction executives worried that they could lose some of their most valued employees to other companies when winter weather makes outdoor work next to impossible.

Tagged with: ABC Haas Sons John Mielke unemployment

Negotiations over a proposed $500 million arena for the Milwaukee Bucks have stalled like a car stuck on the side of the road. And even when those in the vehicle find a way to get going again, a dispute over what workers should be paid on the project will greet them like a deer in their headlights.

Tagged with: ABC Bucks Building Advantage John Mielke Ken Kraemer prevailing wage project labor agreements

While some warn that eliminating the state's prevailing wage laws would undermine worker safety and training, an ad broadcast this month is seeking to link repeal with illegal immigration.

Tagged with: ABC John Mielke prevailing wage