LABOR LAW ISSUES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

1. National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 141, et seq. ("NLRA") 1
   1. Statutory Purpose 1
   2. Application 1
   3. General Requirements and Prohibitions 1
   4. Employees Engaged in Protected Concerted Activities 2
   5. Enforcement 2
   6. Collective Bargaining Agreements in the Construction Industry 3
      1. The Collective Bargaining Relationship and the Duty to Bargain in Good Faith 3
      2. Section 9 Relationships 3
         1. Selection of Bargaining Representative 3
         2. Consequences of Selection of Bargaining Representative 3
         3. Termination of Duty to Bargain 4
         4. Multiemployer Bargaining 4
      3. Prehire Agreements 5
         1. Statutory Exception 5
         2. Prior Law 5
         3. Deklewa 5
         4. Post-Deklewa Decisions 6
         5. Pending Legislation — The Construction Industry Labor Amendments of 1987 9
   7. Union Security and Hiring Halls in the Construction Industry 10
      1. Union Security Agreements 10
      2. Right to Work Laws 10
      3. Hiring Halls 10
   8. "Double-breasting" 11
      1. Current Law — Basic Principles 11
      2. Recent Developments 11
      3. Pending Legislation 12
         1. Purpose 12
         2. Proposed Changes 12
         3. Effect of Proposed Changes 13
   9. Common Situs Picketing 13
      1. Common situs 13
      2. Section 8(b)(4) 13
      3. Moore Dry Dock Standards 13
      4. Separate Gate Doctrine 14
      5. Contractors and Subcontractors in the Construction Industry 14
   10. Refusal to Cross Picket Lines 16
   11. Hot Cargo Agreements 16
2. Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, 29 U.S.C. § 201, et seq. ("FLSA") 16
   1. Statutory Purpose 16
   2. Application 17
   3. Requirements and Prohibitions 17
      1. Minimum Wage 17
      2. Overtime 17
      3. Compensatory Time Off 17
      4. Child Labor 18
      5. Retaliation 18
   4. Statutory Exemptions - The White Collar Exemptions 18
      1. Administrative 18
      2. Professional 18
      3. Executive 19
   5. Record-keeping and Notice-posting 20
   6. Enforcement 20
   7. Particular Issues 20
      1. Fixed Pay for Fluctuating Hours 20
      2. Inclusion of Bonuses in the Regular Rate of Pay 20
      3. Authorization of Overtime Work 20
3. Equal Pay Act, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d) 21
   1. General Prohibition 21
   2. Applicability - No White Collar Exemptions 21
   3. Statutory Exemptions 21
4. Federal and State Antidiscrimination Laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII"); the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C § 621, et seq. ("ADEA"); and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 5221k, § 1.01, et seq. ("TCHRA") 21
   1. Title VII 21
      1. Statutory Purpose 21
      2. Applicability 21
      3. Requirements and Prohibitions 21
      4. Theories of Discrimination 22
         1. Disparate Treatment 22
         2. Disparate Impact 22
      5. Defenses 22
         1. BFOQ 22
         2. Business Necessity 23
      6. Record-keeping and Notice-posting 23
      7. Enforcement 23
      8. Particular Issues 23
         1. Customer Preference 23
         2. Sexual Harassment 23
         3. Pregnancy and Leave Policies 24
         4. Religious Accommodation 24
   2. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 25
      1. Statutory Purpose 25
      2. Applicability 25
      3. Requirements and Prohibitions 25
      4. Theories of Discrimination 25
         1. Disparate Treatment 25
         2. Disparate Impact 25
      5. Statutory Exemptions - High Level Executives 26
      6. Statutory Defenses — § 4(f) — Any Reasonable Factors Other Than Age 26
      7. Record-keeping and Notice-posting 26
      8. Enforcement 26
      9. ADEA Releases 27
   3. The Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5221k, § 1.01, et seq. ("TCHRA"). 27
5. Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 5 651, et seq. ("OSHA") 27
   1. Statutory Purpose 27
   2. Applicability 27
   3. Requirements and Prohibitions 27
   4. Record-keeping and Notice-posting 28
   5. Enforcement 28
6. Handicap Discrimination 28
   1. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 701 28
      1. General Prohibition 28
      2. Requirements 28
   2. The Texas Commission on Human Rights Act 29
7. AIDS in the Workplace 29
   1. State and Local Legislation 29
   2. Contagious Diseases 29
8. Alcoholism and Drug Addiction 29
   1. Handicapped Individual: Former vs. Current Addiction 29
   2. Rehabilitation Programs 29
   3. Employee Assistance Programs 29
9. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 ("IRCA") 30
   1. Applicability 30
   2. Prohibitions 30
   3. Verification Requirements 30
10. Common Law 30
    1. Employment At Will and Wrongful Discharge 30
       1. Contract Limitations - Express 30
       2. Implied Contracts 31
          1. Personnel Manuals 31
          2. Disclaimers 31
          3. Oral Statements 32
       3. Public Policy 32
       4. Employee Refusal to Violate Law 32
       5. Tort Theory 32
          1. Good Faith and Fair Dealing 32
          2. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress 32
       6. Just Cause 33
    2. Defamation 33
       1. Stated Grounds for Termination 33
       2. References 33

Abstract

Developments under the National Labor Relations Act of particular concern to construction industry employers, including prehire agreements, common situs picketing, and pending legislation to prohibit dual shops ("doublebreasting"); an overview of statutory and common law requirements regarding employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, and drug and alcohol testing.

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