New contract will improve the pipeline industry from an all-time low

Rick Bauer, Director of the Teamsters Pipeline Division, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the new contract agreement for the mainline pipeline workers. Bauer also talked about new projects for pipeline workers and the importance of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Last year was a difficult year for the Pipeline Division, reporting a 50-year low in manhours. Coming into contract negotiations, Bauer was worried that this all-time low would hurt their negotiating position. However, they stayed strong in negotiations and earned a well-deserved 3 percent pay raise for the 106 locals in the bargaining unit. The vote to ratify the contract was overwhelmingly in favor of the new deal, as 103 locals voted yes and 3 locals voted no. 

Looking forward, there are many new developments for workers in the Pipeline Division that will create a need for more workers, Bauer said. New natural gas plants and Carbon Dioxide Capture projects are creating the need for more pipeline workers nationwide. Not only are these projects increasing the need for a larger workforce, they are also improving the emissions from current plants, Bauer said. The CO2 capture projects have been reported to eliminate 90 percent of the CO2 emissions before they ever leave the plant.

Along with new plants, the reopening of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has rejuvenated the work for the Pipeline Division. Projected to bring in nearly 5,000 pipeline workers, 500 of which will be Teamsters, the pipeline will help bring the industry back from its 2022 all-time low. Along with the reopening of the pipeline, there will be a new cracker plant that will create another few hundred jobs for the pipeline division.

Listen to the entire episode to learn more.