Category Archives: News

Nov 18 2019
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First Stop Work Orders Issued by NJDOL

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 NJ Labor Department Issues First Stop Work Orders at Two NJ Construction Sites

Department Takes Action Against Employer Using Expanded Enforcement

Authorities Signed into Law by Gov. Murphy in July

As released by NJDOL.gov on September 17, 2019

 TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) issued work stoppage orders at two construction sites, managed by Three Sons Restoration, LLC. of Union, for wage violations – a first-of-its-kind action taken by the department after Governor Murphy expanded its enforcement authorities in July.

 In accordance with N.J.S.A 34:20-7.1, NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour Compliance shut down …

Aug 07 2019
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We said NO to IRAPs for the Construction Industry

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MASONRY CONTRACTORS OF NEW JERSEY, ICE, IMI and OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS SAID NO TO IRAPs for the CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY!

The U.S. DOL is revising title 29 CFR part 29, Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs, and proposed a new rule to expand apprenticeships in America to establish guidelines for third parties to certify IRAPs, Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs.  IRAPs would allow industry organizations rather than the DOL to oversee these programs and take over much of the standard-setting that is currently done by the DOL and its state agencies.

IRAPS can pose a serious threat to the construction …

Jul 16 2019
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Hayward Man Sentenced to More Than 8 1/2 Years in Prison on Forced Labor and Illegal Harboring Charges

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OAKLAND – A federal jury convicted Job Torres Hernandez of charges that he obtained forced labor from victims and harbored illegal aliens for commercial advantage or private financial gain, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan L. Spradlin.  The conviction follows a ten day trial before the Honorable Jeffrey S. White, U.S. District Judge.

The evidence at trial demonstrated that since at least May 2015, Torres, 38, of Hayward, Calif., owned construction companies in Northern California at which he employed workers to whom he paid little to …

Jul 16 2019
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Bill No. A3666 Signed by Governor Murphy is Now in Effect – New Apprenticehip and Training Requirements for Public Works Contractors

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Bill No. A3666 was signed by Governor Murphy on January 3, 2019 and went into effect on  May 1, 2019.   The bill requires workers who are subject to “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act” to have completed or be actively participating in a registered apprenticeship program; an apprenticeship program that is registered with and approved by the United States Department of Labor and provides the trainee with combined classroom and on-the–job training in an occupation recognized as a trade and meets the program standards of enrolment and graduation under the Code of Federal Regulations.  

Many of the states’ 10,000 plus …

Jul 10 2019
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Bill No. S2577: Stop-Work Order — Signed into Law

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Bill No. S2557, which concerns stop-work orders related to prevailing wage and construction worker employment, was passed in both houses with a vote of 37-1 and on July 9, 2019, was signed by the Governor to take effect immediately.

Contractors that are violating prevailing wage or any wage & hour laws are cheating their workers, law abiding contractors, and the State of New Jersey.

Bill No. S2557 provides the Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development the ability to investigate unfair business practices and issue stop-work orders.

Noted are some of the Bill’s regulations:

The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development…
Jul 10 2019
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Joint Membership Meeting on Misclassification & the Underground Construction Economy

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On April 17, 2019 Masonry Contractors of New Jersey and the South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association held a joint member    meeting.  John Connors of SJMCA spoke briefly and introduced the evening’s guest speakers on the topic of Misclassification and the Underground Construction Economy, Carol Ciesielski of Masonry Contractors of NJ and Kevin Triplett of the NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development.   Over 50 Members from the two Associations joined the discussion and were given the opportunity to ask questions.   Misclassification and the Underground Construction Economy are ongoing problems in the state of New Jersey.   Other states have been fighting …

Jun 18 2019
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Worker and Taxpayer Protection Campaign

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The Association supported a media campaign spearheaded by the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers of NJ Local Nos. 4 & 5.  MLV Strategies is a political affairs media strategy and communications firm who created the campaign in efforts to elevate awareness of Misclassification and the Underground Construction Economy in New Jersey.

The first step of the campaign was to poll NJ voters.  The key findings of the poll that took place from June 5th – 13th, 2019 stated that “An overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters support new regulations and enforcement measures to protect construction workers from mistreatment at the hands …

May 30 2019
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Building for Fire Safety: Public Forum – IMI’s Dan Siteman Sits on Panel

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On March 6, 2019 NJ Senator Loretta Weinberg hosted a panel of fire safety, material and building professionals, and citizen activists to discuss how NJ can improve resident and firefighter safety with regards to light frame multifamily (Type V) construction.

Legislation under consideration; S854 sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner, Senator Kip Bateman and Senator Weinberg and S1261 sponsored by Senator Brian Stack; which include:

Limiting the size of large-scale wood housing by requiring open space between wood apartment/condo buildings Requiring masonry firewalls between buildings Requiring upgraded commercial NFPA 13 fire suppression, including sprinklers in the attic spaces Requiring a fire-watch…
May 28 2019
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2019 BAC ADC of NJ Statewide Apprentice Contest

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On May 4, 2019, the BAC ADC of NJ Statewide Apprentice Contest was held at the IMI/BAC Bordentown Training Center.   Apprentices from Local Nos. 4 & 5 competed against each other within their level of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year.  After the contest, lunch was provided by Masonry Contractors of New Jersey.  This year’s FIRST PLACE winners were 1st year Apprentice Darren Darby of Local 4, 2nd year Apprentice Daniel Wall of Local 4, 3rd year Apprentice Brian Faggiano of Local 5 and 4th year Apprentice Michael Fasulo of Local 4.  Thank you to all who attended to show …

May 07 2019
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We support the CMU Check-Off Resolution

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In October 2018, the US Senate passed the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Act, providing authorization for the concrete masonry products industry to develop its own commodity Check-Off program to support industry initiatives.   The CMU Check-Off will fund programs to promote our industry to regain and grow market share. The Masonry Contractors of New Jersey Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the CMU Check-Off Resolution.  Contact NCMA President Robert Thomas (rthomas@ncma.org) directly to support the Resolution.

 

THE VISION of the CMU Check-Off :

Create the future path where concrete masonry is the product of …