US EditionBuilding trades unions emerge as a key ally of tech giants in push for AI data centers
Unions are winning major data center work, expanding apprenticeship programs and training centers as tech companies spend tens of millions on labor partnerships.
- Building Trades Unions hit record membership in 2025, driven by explosive data center construction and federal infrastructure investments. Sam Altman noted that "highly skilled union construction workers are laying the foundation for the AI economy."
- Tech giants rely on unionized labor for massive projects; Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in two Pennsylvania data center projects where Rob Bair of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council publicly supported the development.
- Internal surveys show union members work on over 90% of data center projects in the United States, while data centers consume at least 40% of work hours for the Columbus-Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council.
- At municipal meetings, union representatives often act as sole voices supporting data center projects. Chuck Curry, president of Ironworkers Local 395 in Hobart, Indiana, commended his members for being the "adults in the room" during contentious sessions.
- Unions are expanding training centers to meet explosive demand; The Boilermakers Local assembled a class of over 200 apprentices after four years of zero recruitment. Google provided a $10 million grant to a union-backed electricians training program.
65 Articles
65 Articles
In PR battle over AI, tech giants secure a blue-collar ally
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Building trades unions, long fashioned as the voice of the American worker, now are intertwined with the richest companies in the world as they create America’s artificial intelligence economy. Read more...
The Toronto Star
In the PR battle for AI data centers, tech giants got a blue-collar ally
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Building trades unions — long fashioned as the voice of the American worker — are now intertwined with the richest companies in the world as they
Unionized workers form alliance with rich tech giants on AI data centers, pushing back on local opposition and redrawing political lines
With data center construction accelerating, unions are expanding training centers and seeing their ranks grow faster than many union leaders have ever seen.
Building trades unions emerge as key ally of tech giants in push for AI data centers
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Building trades unions — long fashioned as the voice of the American worker — are now intertwined with the richest companies in the world as they create America's artificial intelligence economy.
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