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WASHINGTON, DC – Speakers at a construction union event on Dec. 11 expressed cautious optimism about the state of the industry, but pointed to an uncertain future brought on by the upcoming change in the Oval Office.
Union leaders and union signatory contractors praised the work of President Joe Biden’s administration at the Union Building Industry State Union Builders Association event in Washington, DC and said they expect continued momentum in the work brought about by IIJA funding and the XIPS Act.
“We in the construction industry will be forever grateful for what the president did,” said Sean McGarvey, president of the Construction Unions of North America.
He and other speakers acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Trump could try to stop, change or modify some of the work done by the Biden administration, but he is unlikely to be able to recover the funds spent or allocated, McGarvey said.
NABTU members have already seen the broad benefits of the actions Biden has taken, McGarvey said. such as updating the Davis-Bacon Act.
McGarvey especially praised Biden’s executive order requiring project labor contracts on jobs receiving more than $35 million in federal funding, saying NABTU has signed 13 contracts on those jobs with open-shop contractors.
TAUC President-elect Chris Buckman, president and CEO of Indianapolis-based mechanical contractor BMWC Constructors, also praised Biden’s executive order, saying PLAs ensure projects are delivered on time, efficiently and for the benefit of the workforce and the community.
However, McGarvey said, this provision will not last.
“What we do know is that President Biden’s executive order on the PLAs will go out on the 1st,” he said.
Election of the Secretary of Labor
Trump’s pick for labor secretary was a recurring theme for speakers at Wednesday’s event. At the end of November, Trump nominated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemerR-Ore., as his nominee for the cabinet post.
Chávez-DeRemer has a pro-worker record from her time in Congress, as she was one of the few Republicans who supported the Law for the protection of the right to organize which was defended by the unions and mocked by the opponents in favor of the companies.
Buckman called Chavez-DeRemer “a surprising choice,” saying, “She seems more into the job than some of the others.” [Cabinet] chosen.”
Anirban Basu, president and CEO of Sage Policy Group, called her “one of the most pro-labor Republicans in Congress” during an economic briefing at the event.
McGarvey acknowledged Chavez-DeRemer’s favorable track record, but questioned whether any Trump cabinet pick would function as anything more than a figurehead.
Another speaker, Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., a self-described “pro-labor Republican,” vowed to protect aspects of Biden’s legacy, such as the Davis-Bacon upgrades, which drew applause of those attending the TAUC.
“On the Republican side we’re getting more pro-labor Republicans,” he said.
The labor courtship
The message was clear from those in attendance: The Trump administration comes with a lot of uncertainty, but federal funds from the Biden administration will likely continue to benefit employers and workers alike.
McGarvey said NABTU was committed to efforts to elect Kamala Harris, saying the organization spent a record amount of money to shore up support for her candidacy in November’s presidential election.
“Let’s not kid ourselves that if the vice president had been successful, we would have done as well under the vice president as we did under Biden,” he said.
Still, demand for labor remains high, and McGarvey said he believes Republicans will need to keep union members happy in the midseason.
“We’re still the pretty girl at the dance,” she said.
