LIUNA President Says Construction Projects Across The United States ‘Are Slowing’ Because Of The “Chaos And Unpredictable Actions’ Of The Trump Administration - Which Is ‘Affecting Both The Building Industry & Apprenticeship Training Programs’
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Construction Industry Registered Apprenticeship Programs, a success story for both Workers and employers, are being threatened by the chaotic and unpredictable actions of the Trump Administration, LIUNA General President Brent Booker says.
Booker, the leader of the largest Union of Construction Laborers, recently told a U.S. Senate Committee Hearing “in Construction, nothing kills work more than chaos and uncertainty.”
During a U.S. Senate Hearing on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Booker said: “Chaos like cancelling ($24 billion) of Department of Energy projects set to be built by skilled Union Apprentices. Chaos like cancelling major energy projects that are already (80%) complete, chaos like cancelling major Hydrogen Hubs in Pennsylvania. In the last few years, our Members and employers have gone from an ‘infrastructure construction boom’ to an unpredictable series of project shutdowns. This type of chaos hurts the Registered Apprenticeship System. In the wake of public and private investment, the demand for Apprentices has grown substantially, but that future is looking more uncertain.”
Booker cited several Trump Administration actions that have halted major projects and led to chaos and unpredictability, a deterrent to both investment and the willingness of Workers to meet the rigorous training requirements of becoming an Apprentice.
Construction Trades Unions, partnered with Industry Contractors, invest $2 billion a year in its 1,700 Training Centers and 20,000 Certified Instructors.
The system “is what allows our Union to deliver the skilled Laborers required to complete essential construction for our country,” Booker said.
Union Construction Apprenticeship Programs are a proven path to life-long, family-supporting careers.
Those who complete Union Apprenticeship Programs see earnings that exceed Associate Degree holders, Booker told the Senate Committee.
The Apprenticeship Training, which is free for Workers, means a Worker can go on to earn on average $84,000 a year.
To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Construction Projects Are Slowing – Affecting Building Industry & Apprenticeship Programs – LaborPress
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