WASHINGTON, DC – President Biden’s infrastructure plan aims to create millions of jobs for construction workers across America. It must be applauded for its bold vision that is broad in scope, robust in funding, and meets the infrastructure challenges that have plagued our nation for decades. This is also perhaps our last best chance to remain the world’s leading superpower and counter China’s emergence in the global economy. With this level of investment, it will further enable NABTU to train women, communities of color, veterans, and the formerly incarcerated for construction careers through pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship training programs.
Not only will this mean securing a pathway to the middle class for hundreds of thousands of Americans, but also ensure the next generation of construction workers remains the best trained, equipped, and safest workforce in the world. However, none of this would be possible without the Biden-Harris administration’s already strong commitment for labor standards on any infrastructure project receiving federal financial support, including ones in the clean energy industry. Labor standards are the key to easing the financial insecurity that is such a heavy burden on working families, especially those that are directly impacted by the transition to clean energy.
“Finally, we applaud that this administration continues to prioritize the rights of all workers through collective bargaining. Time and again, the president has said it best: “The middle class built this country and unions built the middle class.” Collective bargaining is the cornerstone by which this country will truly Build Back Better.
Calling for big, broad, and bold infrastructure investment is an important first step in creating union jobs that will expand the middle class and promote family-sustaining careers in industries such as ours. We look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to finally get an infrastructure bill worthy of all of America’s working families to the president’s desk.
