A new coalition of Oregon construction, electrical, and ironworkers unions launched Wednesday, aiming to ensure that the state’s transition to clean energy creates high-quality, union jobs. Climate Jobs Oregon convened along State Route 19 in north central Oregon, a region characterized by rural landscapes and growing clean energy infrastructure.
Creating a Coalition
Climate Jobs Oregon, more than a year in the making, represents ten construction industry unions, including the Oregon AFL-CIO, which represents over 300,000 members across multiple sectors. The coalition argues that achieving Oregon’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2040—and lowering utility bills for Oregonians—will require a substantial workforce trained to the highest standards, with stable employment and benefits.
“To meet our climate goals, Oregon needs a massive increase in workers, and those workers must be trained to the highest caliber, and safety standards, where they have a meaningful voice on the job, where they have career pathways for advancement and they have wages, benefits and a retirement plan to support their families and get them into the economy long term,” said Graham Trainor, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO. “Let’s be crystal clear: Those are union jobs.”
The coalition’s formation follows recent executive orders from Gov. Tina Kotek designed to accelerate the state’s shift away from fossil fuels by streamlining the permitting process for clean energy projects. It also comes after the expiration of Biden-era clean energy tax credits, which had incentivized significant investment in the sector.
Researchers at Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute spent over a year analyzing Oregon’s environment and have proposed 18 policy recommendations. These include increased investment in union apprenticeship programs, with the potential to create up to 200,000 direct jobs and 40,000 construction trades jobs within the next five years. Other recommendations focus on expedited permitting, a centralized project procurement system, and prioritizing union labor for public building upgrades.
Tiffany Wilkins, a representative of the International Union of Operating Engineers, noted that all wind and solar projects in Gilliam County have already been built with union labor. Ivan Maldonado, a member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, shared how joining a union transformed his career path from oil projects in Texas to a foreman position on solar projects in Oregon.
The coalition aims to increase the proportion of union labor on clean energy projects, currently lower than that employed in the fossil fuel industry—roughly 9% for fossil fuels compared to a lower percentage for solar and wind, according to a 2020 report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of Climate Jobs Oregon?
The primary goal of Climate Jobs Oregon is to ensure that the state’s transition to clean energy creates high-quality, union jobs with stable wages, benefits, and career pathways.
What role did Cornell University play in the formation of this coalition?
Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute collaborated with union leaders for over a year, studying Oregon’s environment and developing 18 policy recommendations to advance climate jobs.
What types of jobs could be created by these initiatives?
The initiatives could create up to 200,000 direct jobs and 40,000 construction trades jobs in the next five years, focusing on areas like clean energy production, energy storage, and transmission capacity.
As Oregon continues to invest in clean energy, how might the role of labor unions evolve in shaping the state’s energy future?
