United States: Unions Clash Over AI Data Centers

Faced with the rise of data centers necessary for AI, American union positions are sharply divided. Organizations from the construction and technical trades oppose moratoriums, while others, such as nurses, support a national freeze. This divide occurs in a context where Washington has expressed its desire to accelerate projects.

Federal Pro-Construction Stance and Major Union Absentees

In July, the White House presented an action plan on AI and emphasized a pro-construction slogan: "Build, baby, build!" Previously, the Trump administration had supported the expansion of infrastructure by speeding up federal permits. It also backed the Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative led by OpenAI and SoftBank to build facilities. While the executive pushes forward, several major organizations, including the Teamsters, United Auto Workers, and the National Education Association, have yet to take a public stance.

Construction and Technical Trades Unions Against Moratoriums

In April, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers called on its 901,000 members to persuade Congress to reject any law banning the construction of data centers, providing a digital toolkit for action. The union argues that bans would eliminate opportunities for union workers and hinder local growth, viewing well-regulated projects as sources of skilled jobs, tax revenue, and sustainable development. Don Slaiman from IBEW Local 26 (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia) cites wages of $28 per hour for apprentices, $62 plus $30 in benefits for experienced electricians, and mentions six-figure salaries associated with data centers.

The North America’s Building Trades Unions, representing over 3 million workers, describe critical infrastructure supporting the digital economy, data security, and national security. The organization welcomed new rules imposed on developers in Pennsylvania, prioritizing standards, transparency, and accountability over blanket freezes. The following day, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, with over 500,000 workers, also supported this approach, stating that moratoriums are not the solution. The United Association, comprising about 407,000 plumbing and pipefitting professionals, advocates for more data centers, which it describes as essential infrastructure for daily services, and criticized Representative Frank Pallone's support for a national moratorium. Its General President Mark McManus argues that expansion brings stable jobs and rejects the idea of an impulsive moratorium based on misinformation. The AFL-CIO shares the opposition to the moratorium while supporting stricter regulation of AI, according to its president Liz Shuler.

Health and Jobs: The Call for a Moratorium

National Nurses United, nearly 225,000 professionals, supports Bernie Sanders' proposal for a national moratorium. The union believes that a freeze would better position nurses, patients, and workers by highlighting risks to communities and the impact of AI on nursing jobs. It argues that a moratorium would provide time to enshrine enforceable protections in law, preserve work and democracy, and collectively decide on the desired scope of AI.

Local Landscape: Moratoriums, Bans, and Tightening Regulations

On the ground, a dozen cities in North Carolina have enacted moratoriums, and two have permanently banned these facilities. In July, New York became the first state to approve a moratorium on AI-related data centers. In Texas, Greg Abbott, initially enthusiastic about statewide construction, recently imposed stricter requirements on developers following negative feedback from residents.

Public Opinion, Federal Politics, and Industry Arguments

Polls indicate that a majority of the population is opposed to AI-related data centers, citing environmental risks, pressure on the grid, noise, and distrust of AI. On Capitol Hill, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are calling for a national moratorium. AI companies highlight tax benefits and job creation, primarily during the construction phase, which employs electricians, plumbers, and skilled workers at high wages. The debate thus contrasts these promises with societal concerns, as some unions align with developers while others fear job losses and impacts on communities.