Earlier this month, Google announced that it was investing $50 million in union training programs — including the UA’s gold-standard registered apprenticeship program — to help meet the increased demand for skilled plumbers, pipefitters, and HVACR technicians building the future of data centers. The UA ITF will use this funding to develop a five-year roadmap to scale our training programs as we continue to grow, organize, and strengthen our union at this critical moment.
The UA Department of Legislative and Political Affairs works hand in hand with allies like Google to lobby elected officials and support legislation in Washington, D.C., that creates jobs and opportunities for our membership. While the rest of the country might think data centers are a new development, the reality is that the UA has been building these facilities since the invention of the internet. Thanks to our expertise, elected officials rely on the UA to create more opportunities — and our end users can invest in the next generation when they see that work in action.