In the PR Battle for AI Data Centers, Tech Giants Gain a Blue-Collar Ally
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) —
AI reshapes the future economy. Tech giants join union labor; these unions build data centers. The blue-collar workers and powerful companies now work closely. They build physical links that support the digital age.
Union Labor Powers Data Center Boom
Union workers build data centers across the United States. Demand for AI drives more projects. Unions recruit apprentices and expand training programs. They meet new and high manpower needs.
Rob Bair, president of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, stresses that unions help build community trust. He links construction jobs to local life and community work. When critics call data centers “the root of all evil,” he counters by pointing to the jobs that keep neighborhoods strong. Communities now ask tech companies for better plans and local investments. He adds, “If you don’t ask, you’re never gonna get.”
Data Centers Create New Opportunities for Unions
Data center growth brightens the future for unions. In Ohio, union labor covers nearly 40% of data center work. In Washington, D.C., the figure grows to at least 50%. Union leaders point to this rise as a sign of change.
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) sees record numbers of members and new apprentices in 2025. President Sean McGarvey links these trends to the past and to new federal laws. He connects the rise in data centers with growth in semiconductor plants, electric vehicle battery plants, energy projects, and grid work.
Large data centers use much energy. This need boosts power plant construction, where specialized union skills work on boilers, ductwork, and pipelines. For instance, Boilermakers Local 154 recently recruited over 200 apprentices. Their new start comes after a time of few new workers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Tech Industry Investments and Partnerships
Tech companies spend millions to train skilled workers. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman links union work with the growth of the AI economy. NABTU’s McGarvey echoes this strong connection. Google shows that most of its data center builders work under union contracts. The company even donates $10 million to support a union-backed electrician program. Their aim is to grow the electrician workforce by 70%.
Mark McManus, president of the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, hears criticism about close ties between unions and tech firms. He explains that unions build data centers because jobs must be built. His union now works on more than 90% of data center projects across the nation—a market share they hold in high regard.
Political and Community Frontlines
Union support for data centers goes beyond work sites. Unions join with tech firms on large projects, such as Oracle and OpenAI’s Stargate campus in Michigan, and Amazon’s Project Blue in Arizona.
When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Amazon’s $20 billion investment in two local data centers, Rob Bair joined corporate and government leaders. His presence highlights a close link between civic and corporate aims. The governor noted a rare spirit of common purpose and action.
At state government halls, unions work to block laws that limit data center growth. In Maine, they stopped a statewide ban on data centers. They also challenge energy and tax rules in Illinois and Virginia that affect these projects.
This work sometimes causes friction with progressive leaders. Pennsylvania state Sen. Katie Muth finds it hard to get Democratic support for tougher regulations when unions back pro-development laws—even if she thinks those laws are too soft.
An Influential Voice in Local Debates
Unions also make their mark in local meetings. At city councils, union members speak in favor of data center projects. Their strong presence sometimes draws criticism. In Joliet, Illinois, some citizens complained about their forceful style. Yet in Hobart, Indiana, union voices acted as the “adults in the room,” prompting better local decisions.
Tech giants and building trades unions now work side by side. They build the physical and political backbone for America’s digital future.
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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