FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Tom Owens
202-251-1081 (Cell)
202-756-4623 (Office)
towens@buildingtrades.org
North America’s Building Trades Unions Welcome Presidential Permit for Keystone XL Construction

Skilled Laborers Ready to Get to Work on Long-Awaited Infrastructure Project

WASHINGTON, DC – The following statement was released today in response to the State Department granting a Presidential Permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline:

“On behalf of the tens of thousands of skilled craftworkers poised to earn millions of dollars constructing the Keystone XL pipeline, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) is thrilled that TransCanada has now received the green light for construction.

“Today, our unwavering support is rewarded. We are invigorated and proud to build Keystone XL with American labor. And because TransCanada has entered into a project labor agreement, the public can rest assured that this vital infrastructure endeavor will be tackled in the safest and most environmentally stringent manner possible. Our members’ hard work will bring the energy needed to fuel Americans’ daily lives – now and for generations to come.

“NABTU views this permit as a victory for all Americans, as it’s now clear that the strong arm of the federal government will no longer restrain the building of the world’s safest pipeline. It is refreshing to know multi-billion dollar projects are gaining support from the White House and expedited timelines to reach a permitting decision.

“Most importantly, the men and women who make their livelihoods in the construction industry will no longer suffer the indignity of having their chosen careers demeaned as nothing more than ‘temporary jobs’ by out-of-touch politicians and political pundits.”

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ABOUT NORTH AMERICA’S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS

North America’s Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $1 billion in private sector money to fund and operate over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities across North America that produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world.

 

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