The federal government recently released a list detailing “critical infrastructure industries” whose workers are “essential” and should continue normal work schedules. Although the document lists industries for which construction is absolutely critical, the construction industry was not explicitly included.
Even though the list “is not, nor should it be considered to be, a federal directive or standard in and of itself,” some states have and are considering it for determining which industries can go to work amid state and local COVID-19 responses to shelter in place, among other policies.
- Associated General Contractors of America has continually sought to make clear that our industry is essential to responding to and recovering from this virus in the following ways:
- AGC received broad media coverage of its release detailing how counter intuitive it is to shut down construction projects and the industry itself during a pandemic.
- Partnered with the buildings trades unions in a joint release—showing that management and labor agree—that construction must be included as an essential service able to operate during COVID-19-related shutdowns.
- Partnered with construction business organizations in a letter to the White House in underscoring the essential need for the construction industry to work during this crisis.
- Communicated to the Republican and Democratic Governors’ Associations these same messages.
Please join AGC in telling President Trump and Congress to treat the construction industry and the work it performs as vital and essential to the critical industries that must remain in operation to respond to this pandemic and crises to come.
To ensure this is the case, the federal government must issue guidance classifying construction as a critical infrastructure industry whose workers are essential. You can click here if you’d like to submit the pre-written message as is to President Trump and your members of Congress, or you can customize it with personal information on how this issue impacts you and your employer.
You can view the real-time activity on this action alert here.
