Schenectady, N.Y. — IUE-CWA and GE have reached a labor agreement regarding two facilities that GE is proposing to build as part of New York’s ongoing investments in offshore wind generation.
GE’s proposed factories would create approximately 870 direct jobs and over 3,000 total jobs, including construction and other indirect jobs.
The agreement establishes a process for employees at the two proposed facilities to decide on whether or not to join IUE-CWA, while the employer remains neutral during the organizing process.
Approximately 825 of GE Vernova’s U.S. employees – including about 700 in New York – are represented by contracts with IUE-CWA. The agreement will help ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations of the manufacturing facilities.
“This forward-looking, historic agreement reflects the commitment of both IUE-CWA members and GE to addressing climate change and ensuring that green jobs are good jobs. It will strengthen communities throughout the Capital region in New York and, through establishing an apprenticeship program, we will provide real opportunity for workers who have too often been left behind to benefit from investments in offshore wind,” said Carl Kennebrew, IUE-CWA President
In January, GE submitted a plan to New York State to construct two new manufacturing facilities in New York if it wins a sufficient volume of orders from customers in the state’s ongoing solicitation for up to 4.6 GW of offshore wind. Together, the two facilities would create approximately 870 direct jobs, with the goal of approximately 35% of those jobs coming from disadvantaged communities, as well as around 1,000 construction jobs and 1,400 other indirect jobs.
GE’s proposal includes a program called Pathways to Wind that will give historically under-served communities across the Capitol region exposure, education, and training in the emerging offshore wind industry.
