Thank you for visiting the website of the Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. The Massachusetts Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors is the largest construction trade association in the Commonwealth, representing companies that employ more than 20,000 workers throughout Massachusetts.

Our association exists to advocate for and promote the work of merit shop contractors and their employees who represent the majority of the construction workforce in Massachusetts. We believe that the Commonwealth and its residents are best served through an open and competitive bidding process that allows all contractors an equal opportunity to work. I encourage you to explore our website and learn more about our membership and all that our chapter has to offer.


Sincerely,

KYLE REAGAN
ABCMA BOARD CHAIRMAN





** CHAPTER NEWS BRIEFS ** 

NEW: ABC General Counsel Releases Advisory Opinion on 'Prompt Pay' Law

ABC General Counsel Jim Rudolph, a partner at the Boston law firm Rudolph Friedmann, recently released his advisory opinion to the ABC membership that will bring them up to speed on the new 'prompt pay' law that took effect just several weeks ago. Click HEREto read the opinion.

ABC Announces Hiring of New Membership Director

ABC Massachusetts is pleased to announce the hiring of Mary Gilgallon as the association's new Membership Director, effective July 6, 2010. 

Ms. Gilgallon has extensive experience working with successful associations throughout Massachusetts, an attribute that ABCMA President Greg Beeman says separated her from the rest of the pack.

"Mary has a proven track record of success working with high-caliber organizations like ABC. She understands the importance of delivering quality service to our membership. I am confident that Mary's talents will be a benefit to our members and further the mission of our association," Beeman said. 

For the past twenty years, Mary has worked in the event planning and association management business. Through her association management company, Mary has led associations such as National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), and Enterprise Networking Association.

Her involvement with ACCA allowed her to establish a relationship with ABC through the Coalition for Fair Licensing, a group that arose out of a joint effort between ABC and ACCA to fight for fairness in the newly regulated sheet metal industry. This experience was an integral part in attracting her to the position of Membership Director.

"The past two years working with ABC as a member of the Coalition for Fair Licensing was a rewarding opportunity. ABC is a strong organization dedicated to serving their membership and I was attracted to the idea of joining a team and using my skills to grow and enhance an already strong organization," Gilgallon said. Ms. Gilgallon makes her home in Grafton, MA. She is a graduate of Westfield State College. She can be reached via email at Mary@abcma.org.

 

ABC Joins With Charlie Baker to Denounce UMASS PLA


ABCMA President Greg Beeman addressing the media at a press conference held in Dorchester on Tuesday, 6/22


Governor Patrick, UMASS Shut Out Nonunion Contractors

In what is becoming a common theme in the Patrick Administration, nonunion contractors are again being shut out from working on public construction projects. On Monday, the UMASS School Building Authority voted 9-2 to require union only workers on $750 million worth of construction at UMASS Boston. Please see ABC's press release for further information. Click HEREto read it.

ABC Buys into "Baker's Dozen" Reforms for Beacon Hill

Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker unveiled this week a package of policy proposals known as "Baker's Dozen Reforms to Save a Billion Dollars." According to the campaign news release, these 13 reforms would be a top priority in a potential Baker Administration and would deliver to Massachusetts citizens the reform that Governor Deval Patrick has failed to deliver on.

Merit shop contractors across the state we encouraged by many of Baker's proposals, however one of them stood out from the rest. Number one on this "Baker's Dozen" list appears as follows:

1. Reduce construction costs by increasing competition – Between $75M to $100M in savings

Public construction projects should be open to all bidders. Competition is important to ensure the best deal for the taxpayers. Only 20 percent of the construction industry is comprised of union workers, therefore project labor agreements exclude 80 percent of the market from bidding on projects. Several studies estimate that PLAs add at least 12 percent to overall project costs. This is significant considering that the state spends nearly $1 billion per year on capital construction projects plus another $600 million in municipal aid for the School Building Assistance program.

ABCMA President Greg Beeman believes that this reform in particular is right on the money. "This is a common-sense reform that is a win-win for both the construction industry as well as Massachusetts taxpayers," Beeman stated. "Taxpayers benefit by getting a true market driven price for construction while ensuring that all construction companies can compete on a level playing field for the right to work, regardless of labor affiliation."
 
Charlie Baker's advocacy for a level playing field in the construction industry marks a stark contrast to that of Governor Deval Patrick who in a speech made before the building trades over a month ago stated "I have directed that, going forward, Project Labor Agreements be used when necessary ..."

The merit shop community hearily applauds the initiative taken by candidate Baker and hopes that all candidates seeking office in November will stand on the side of free enterprise and open competition.

New ABC Program Certifies Compliance with Independent Contractor, tax and workers’ compensation laws

First Certified Companies Announced

ABC’s Massachusetts Chapter has announced the first group of contractors to be approved in the association’s new Contractor Employee Certification Program.

This program recognizes those contractors who operate in full accordance with the law and to high standards of professionalism and responsibility.   In order to achieve certification, companies are subject to an independent review by a licensed certified public accountant.  The review examines their business practices and verifies their compliance with key federal and state employment and tax laws. 

The certified contractors are: ASAP Drywall System Trust, Commercial Drywall and Construction Co., Inc., Drywall Services, Inc., Gyptech, LLC, Legacy Wall Systems, Inc., Matrix Interior Construction, Inc., Tenant Systems, Inc., W. T. Kenney Company, Inc.

Click HEREto read our press release!

In a poll conducted by the nonpartisan Suffolk University Research Center in conjunction with the university's Beacon Hill Institute between February 21 - 24, nearly 70% of Massachusetts residents said they oppose requiring private contractors to use union only labor on public construction projects, otherwise known as Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). This poll follows a recent victory in the Town of Rockland where a PLA was resoundingly rejected by the School Building Committee.

ABCMA President Greg Beeman believes the message being sent by voters is loud and clear. "Massachusetts voters believe in fairness, transparency, and accountability. The results of this poll show that not only does more than two-thirds of the state support open and competitive bidding but they also recognize that, in these difficult times, shutting out the open shop companies who make up the large majority of the construction industry is simply poor public policy," Beeman stated.

For a full summary of the Beacon Hill Institute report, please click here.