Construction unions threaten to withhold support from data-center opponents
Steamfitters UA Local 602 said it will not support politicians who oppose data-center facilities in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., citing resistance to project approvals ahead of midterms.
Construction unions are threatening to withhold political support from candidates opposing data centers as project approvals face growing resistance ahead of the midterm elections- WSJ The Details: · Union stance: Steamfitters UA Local 602 said it will not support politicians who oppose data-center facilities in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. · Political shift: A Kansas union backed Republican state Sen.
Ty Masterson for governor, partly because the Democratic candidate opposes data-center construction. · Job growth: IBEW Local 26 reported members worked 28 million hours last year, versus 14 million hours a decade earlier. · Industry response: Meta, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft have invested in skilled-worker training or union partnerships amid construction labor shortages.