LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Brightline West, the planned high speed rail service between Las Vegas and Southern California, has announced agreements with buildings trades groups in California and Southern Nevada to ensure the rail project is built with union labor.
The memorandum of understanding with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and Southern Nevada Building Trades Union announced Thursday covers a project projected to create nearly 10,000 construction and other jobs.
The agreements announced Thursday follows a similar agreement announced last month with a coalition of 13 rail unions [see “Brightline West announces agreement …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 22, 2023].
“The California Building Trades is excited to partner with Brightline West and the Southern Nevada Building Trades on this historic project bringing high-speed rail and thousands of new construction jobs to Southern California and Southern Nevada,” said Andrew Meredith, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “Our members are ready to get to work building this vital transportation project linking California to Las Vegas.” His organization includes 157 affiliated unions with nearly 500,000 members, including roughly 70,000 apprentices.
“This is a momentous day for the workers of Southern Nevada, specifically members of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, as we announce our partnership with Brightline West and the California Building Trades to create our country’s first true high-speed rail system,” said Vince Saavedra, executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Union, which represents 14 unions. “Our thousands of high-skilled members of our allied unions are standing at the ready to build this rail system. Nevada was built on the backs of our labor union members, and this historic rail project will continue that legacy.”
No date has yet been announced for the start of construction.
You have to remember that in CA and NV, for ANY large project or operation to happen, you have to involve the craft and construction unions. It’s just the nature of these states. You might as well make them your friends and allies.
Labor I bet will get tight with two different high or higher speed projects going on in the region at one time.