Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 157 President and Assistant Business Manager Glenn Marek joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed how the rebounding economy created a new “Golden Age” for construction workers, especially in the upstate New York area.
Local 157 represents 550 members from five counties in rural upstate New York.
Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy has rebounded and, as a result, there are unprecedented work opportunities in the upstate New York area, Marek said. The state is strongly pushing forward with green energy projects in solar, wind and other renewable energy resources. Combined with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, there is a tremendous workload for members of Local 157, he added.
Marek then spoke about efforts to grow Local 157 through expanded apprenticeship programs and member recruitment drives. He expects the Local to add at least an additional 100 members in the next year to help meet the growing workload.
Additionally, he provided an overview of the opportunities for union labor in the renewable energy sector in New York. State laws mandate that any solar project over 5 megawatts offer Prevailing Wage, which has leveled the playing field and made it easier for union contractors to compete, he added.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: