Letter to the editor: Biden’s union-only approach on datacenter infrastructure excludes 70% of Wisconsin’s workforce

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Dear Editor:

Recently, President Joe Biden boasted about creating 2,300 union construction jobs in his announcement of a $3.3-billion investment by Microsoft to build a new artificial intelligence data center in Racine. But his divisive, union-only agenda excludes 70% of Wisconsin’s construction workforce during a severe labor shortage. It also carries a high price tag for all taxpayer investments in infrastructure.

New federal regulations on prevailing wage requirements, apprenticeship programs and anti-competitive project labor agreements on federal and federally assisted construction projects create an excessive burden on local companies. They also stand to favor union workers and contractors. This approach excludes more than seven out of 10 of Wisconsin’s construction workers who have proven their ability to build our roads, bridges and schools efficiently and safely but do not belong to a union. These same workers live in Wisconsin communities, pay local taxes and should be permitted to compete for the jobs created in our state.

The requirements placed on the construction of the artificial intelligence data center not only limit competition but increase costs 12% to 20% and will delay other clean energy and transportation projects. Such inefficiencies burden Wisconsin taxpayers when they are already concerned about rising costs of essential commodities like food and fuel.

Our political leaders should promote fair and open competition because that will deliver high-quality infrastructure projects at the best price for taxpayers. Policies that respect worker choice — whether unionized or not — and enable all contractors to compete on an equal footing will enhance the value of federal tax dollars for all Wisconsinites. Learn more at BuildAmericaLocal.com.

John Mielke
President
Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin