Unions & Tech Giants Team Up for AI Powerhouse

It's May 2nd. Welcome in. This is Canada News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm

Corey with the story. Building trade unions, once the classic

voice for everyday workers, are now teaming up with the world's biggest tech companies

to build America's AI, powerhouse through massive data center projects.

These union workers are handling a flood of construction gigs, racing to train thousands

of new apprentices to keep up with the demand. They're pushing the idea that the U.S. needs

this edge in the AI race against China for national security.

Unions are seeing explosive growth, with membership hitting record highs not seen since

the 1950s. Data centers are eating up huge chunks of their work hours, 40% in central

Ohio, and 50% around Washington, D.C. for electricians, alone.

The energy hunger of these centers is sparking a boom in power plant builds, reviving trades

like boiler makers who went years without new recruits. But, now have classes of over

200. Communities and some lawmakers are pushing back hard, with proposals for moratoriums,

energy rules, and tax changes in states like Maine, Illinois, and Virginia.

Unions are showing up at town halls and state houses, often siding with Republicans and

pressuring Democrats to back jobs over stricter regs. Leaders say, instead of flat out

nose, locals should negotiate for school funds or project upgrades from tech firms.

Tech giants like Google, Amazon, Oracle, and OpenAI are all in. Funding tens of millions

in union training programs and hiring union labor for most builds.

One plumber's union claims work on over 90% of U.S. data center projects, a market share

they dominate. Deals are locking in on huge sites, like a $20 billion Amazon push in

Pennsylvania. This alliance is reshaping labor's role in the tech boom, delivering real jobs

while navigating tough local fights, and it looks set to power more. Growth as AI demands

keep surging.