Labor unions have been the beating heart and hardworking muscle behind many critical American infrastructure success stories in the modern era, not to mention many of the social and cultural shifts that have brought greater prosperity and equity to the working and middle classes. When we look at the historic significance and sheer scale of what the clean energy transition represents, it is clear its success is tied to the strong engagement of organized labor.
This was underscored in the 2024 North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) National Legislative Conference, which celebrated the historic contributions of organized labor. Every discussion underscored the critical role of unions in our society.
I attended as the labor engagement manager for the Great Plains Institute’s Carbon Management program, and I was profoundly moved by the passion for social justice and commitment to workers’ rights demonstrated by every union, delegate, and speaker. As I reflected on the lessons from this conference, I had three key takeaways.
#1: A Commitment to Economic Equity and Workers’ Rights
As we look toward the future, the role of organized labor is as vital as ever. The transition to clean energy and implementing carbon management technologies will require the same dedication, skill, and unity that unions have historically demonstrated.
Unions have proven their value in moments of national need – from ramping up production during World War II to the swift 12-day repair of the I-95 freeway – displaying their abilities to mobilize quickly and effectively. But beyond serving as the backbone of America’s infrastructure, the labor movement has been instrumental in creating economic equity for workers and communities going as far back as the late 19th century, driven by workers seeking fair wages, reasonable hours, and safer working conditions.
At the NABTU conference, discussions of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) and the Davis-Bacon Act highlighted the ongoing commitment of organized labor to ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for their workers. The commitment of unions to uphold these standards is a testament to their enduring value in our society.
Organized labor is not just a relic of the past. It is a fundamental cornerstone of our progress. Labor unions need to continue to be involved if we want a transition that is as equitable as it is ambitious.
#2: Critical Source of Skilled Labor
From construction to engineering to energy, the clean energy transition requires vast amounts of highly skilled labor in these critical trades and more. And it is no secret that union workers are some of the best trained and most experienced in their trades.
Jennifer Granholm, the secretary of the US Department of Energy, emphasized this in her remarks at the conference, noting that clean energy is the future and that the clean energy transition will benefit from the skilled labor of union workers.
The construction industry will be vital in building carbon management technologies while the manufacturing sector will produce the components needed for these technologies. To ensure that projects are built at the highest standards and operate effectively, skilled labor moves from beneficial to necessary. Who can provide us with a skilled workforce? Organized labor, that’s who.
#3: Addressing Workforce Shortages
Labor unions are leaders in high-quality workforce development pipelines. They have many of the best training programs and facilities for early career tradespeople to ensure their members are well-prepared for the demands of their trades.
Today, workforce development is among the top priorities for every union to address the current and projected labor shortages – a critical risk of concern to all clean energy transition stakeholders. This was clear at the conference, which included numerous sessions discussing workforce gaps, industry research, and needs within the labor movement. It also featured several workshops tailored to discuss best practices supporting apprenticeship readiness programs.
Carbon management is one potential benefactor of organized labor’s commitment to workforce development and apprenticeship programs. Collaborative programs such as the Capturing Better Futures Initiative, of which organized labor was a founding partner, are already in place.
The clean energy transition requires increasing the workforce trained in both the trades of today and ones we don’t even know of yet. Labor unions are more than capable of adapting and identifying gaps and workforce needs. I think the benefit of unions taking the wheel of workforce development and driving our industrial revolution is clear.
Connecting Organized Labor with Carbon Management
To harness the power of organized labor for the emerging carbon management industry, more education is needed to bridge this gap and ensure all members of the clean energy transition understand the role carbon management technology will play in our future. Attending the NABTU conference made it clear that, while unions are well prepared and adaptable, there still needs to be more knowledge about the value of carbon management technologies among union members.
This is where the Carbon Action Alliance (CAA) makes a significant impact. By partnering with unions, CAA can provide resources and help union members grasp the importance of carbon management technology. Through collaborative efforts, we can uplift labor voices while sharing the benefits and opportunities carbon management presents. This technology is one of the many tools necessary as part of a pathway to net-zero emissions by midcentury.
To continue the discussions on labor and carbon management, join CAA at our annual conference, CO2NNECT 2024! CO2NNECT 2024 will take place from September 29 to October 1, 2024, near Denver, Colorado. Reach out to our team with any thoughts, questions, media requests, or otherwise at [email protected].