By JOSH BOAK Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP)—President Joe Biden plans to sign an executive order for federal grants on Friday that would prioritize projects with labor agreements, wage standards, and benefits such as access to child care and apprenticeship programs.
The Biden administration is trying to make the case that economic growth should flow out of better conditions for workers.
“A good job is a job with security and benefits, where workers have the right to join a union, advocate for better working conditions, come home safe and healthy, and retire with dignity,” said Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.
Biden is going to a union training center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to announce the order as the administration has stressed the vital role that organized labor will likely play for Democrats in November’s election. In her matchup against Republican Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris is depending on backing from the AFL-CIO and other unions to help turn out voters in key states.
Trump has tried to make inroads with organized labor as well by having Teamsters President Sean O’Brien speak at the Republican National Convention. The Teamsters have yet to formally endorse any candidate, though Harris is expected to meet with them.
The order would establish a task force to coordinate policy development with the goal of ensuring more benefits for workers. The administration’s funding for infrastructure, computer chip manufacturing and the development of renewable energy sources has led to a wave of projects.
By the administration’s count, its incentives have prompted $900 billion worth of private-sector investments in renewable energy and manufacturing. Those commitments have yet to resonate much with voters who are more focused on the lingering damage caused by inflation spiking in 2022, but many projects will take several years to come to fruition.
Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement in response to reports that President Biden will sign the executive order:
“This gift to unions is discouraging for the overwhelming majority of the U.S. construction industry workforce—nearly 90%—that works for nonunion employers,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “It also will hurt taxpayers and the overall construction industry, as both benefit from inclusive, win-win policies that welcome all contractors and workers to rebuild America, even if they decide not to affiliate with labor unions.
“ABC opposes exclusionary policies and instead advocates for all construction workers to be welcome to build taxpayer-funded construction projects because that creates the most value for taxpayers,” said Brubeck. “ABC strives to create an environment in which people and companies succeed and flourish based on free-market principles.”
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