b'soughtaninjunctionrequiringtenederalagenciestocoordinate enforcementofemploymentdiscriminationlaws.Thecomplaintalso \'-\'soughttoenjoinenforcementofthelawspendingissuanceofuniform governmentguidelines. JudgeJuneL.Green,afederaldistrictjudgeinWashington,has grantedtheJusticeDepartment\'smotiontodismissthel awsuitfort he reasonthattheSearscomplaintfailedtomeetthe"caseorcontroversy" requirementof ArticleIIIoftheConstitution.JudgeGreenfoundthat theallegationsofthecompany\'scomplaintwere"notsufficientlyconcrete"tobedecidedbythecourtontheirmerits,addingthat Article IIIoftheConstitution"embodiesalong-recognizedpolicythatcourts donotrenderadvisoryopinions,inordertodecidehypotheticalquestionsthatarebestresolved 11bythelegislativeorexecutivebranches ofthefederalgovernment. It isnot_knownatthistimewhetherSearswillappealJudgeGreen\'s decision. Inanearlierdevelopment,Searsannouncedthat"foranindefinite time,beginningimmediately"it wouldnolongeracceptfederalcontracts, explainingthatharassmentonthepartofthegovernmentagenciesafter itssuit wasfiledleftthecompany"noalternative 11WOMENINCONSTRUCTION Lastyear,weadvisedyouofregulationspublishedbytheDepartment ofLaborestablishingspecificaffirmativeactionstandardsforwomen inconstruction.TheregulationswereeffectiveMay8,1978. TheLaborDepartment\'sBureauofApprenticeshipandTrainingreports thattheregulationshaveproducedasmallincreaseinthenumberofwomen apprenticesintheskilledconstructiontrades.Intheeight months followingtheeffectivedateoftheregulations,registeredconstruction apprenticeshipprogramsincreasedfemaleenrollmentfromapproximately 1.2%toslightlymorethan4%. AGEANDSEXDISCRIMINATIONINEMPLOYEEBENEFITPLANS 1.AgeDiscrimination.Priortoamendmentsadoptedin1978,the AgeDiscriminationinEmploymentActof1967protectedindividuals betweenages40and65fromdiscriminationwithrespecttocompensation, terms,conditionsorprivilegesofemploymentbecauseofage.TheAct containedanexceptiontosuchgeneralprohibitionwithrespectto employeebenefitplansprovidedtheplansarenotusedasjustification forrefusaltohireanindividualbecauseofage.The1 978amendments totheActmadevariouschanges,includingincreasingthemaximumage ofthoseindividualsprotectedbytheActfrom65to70and,with respecttotheemployeebenefitplanexception,addinganadditional provisototheeffectthatnoemployeebenefitplancanrequireorpermittheinvoluntaryretirementofaprotectedindividualbecauseofage. TheDepartmentofLaborhasjustpublishedinfinalformanamendmenttoitsInterpretiveBulletinontheAgeDiscriminationinEmploymentActof1967whichreflectsthe1978amendmentswithrespectto employeebenefitplans.'