Understanding the power of organizing, Frank Hawk, Vice President of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (SWRCC), launched an initiative to collect signatures of Union Carpenters who will reach out to Congress to urge passage of an infrastructure package that brings jobs to the Southwest.
At a recent hybrid delegate’s meeting, over 200 advocates in six states signed up to contact their members of Congress, and over 600 messages were sent to Congress.
“If all of our 57,000 members support, push and advocate for the most significant national investment in infrastructure since the 1950s, we can finally build this country back better,” said Frank Hawk, Vice President of the SWRCC. “The cost of inaction is detrimental. More cities in the Southwest will face Los Angeles-style traffic or worse; water and natural gas pipeline bursts will disrupt entire communities; and hard-working Americans will have to pay $3,300 more each year, as businesses raise prices due to rising costs.”
By 2039, the effects of this inaction will be drastic. The cost of inaction includes $10 trillion in GDP, $2.4 trillion in exports, and over 3 million jobs.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has issued a proclamation to declare May 24-28 as Nevada Infrastructure Week. A portion of the proclamation reads: “Infrastructure investments help to not only meet the challenges of today but address the successful growth of our State in the future.”
In April and May, SWRCC members encouraged Congress, including U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and U.S. Reps. Mark Amodei, Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee to support an infrastructure bill that will put the Southwest Carpenters to work building the nation’s next generation of public infrastructure. The Nevada delegation shared their commitments, including investing in Interstate 11 and workforce development to create opportunities for women, people of color, and young people in the trades.
View the proclamation here.
