This morning, June 11, Glenfarne Alaska LNG and Alaska’s Building Trades signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding labor for the Alaska LNG gasline. According to Joey Merrick, President of the Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts Council, the MOU ensures Alaskans will be prioritized for jobs created by the gasline project and that every Alaskan who wants to work on the project has an opportunity to do so.
Laborers, union leaders, and project leaders gathered at the Alaska Laborers Training School to announce the signing of the memorandum.
“Today is about opportunity. It is about Alaska workers. It is about Alaska’s future,” stated Merrick. He emphasized the 12,000 jobs that the project creates, which will be filled first by Alaskans with the remaining jobs filled by lower 48 laborers. Merrick commented: “This is what this agreement represents: partnership, accountability, and opportunity.”
Adam Prestidge, President of Glenfarne Alaska LNG, gave a brief speech, stating that Glenfarne is “thrilled by the fortitude and commitment” of Alaskan laborers and leaders. Prestidge said, “today gives a resounding yes” to the question of whether the gasline can be built.
“First and foremost, [the MOU] is about prioritizing Alaska workers,” stated Rex Canon, Co-President of 8 Star Alaska, a subsidiary of Glenfarne Alaska LNG. Canon emphasized that every Alaskan who wants to participate and is qualified will get a chance to work on the project. According to Canon, working with the labor unions will help ensure the project “gets done on time and on budget.”
President of the Fairbanks Building and Construction Trades Council, Lake Williams commented on the current lack of opportunities in the state: “We see outward migration. People are going elsewhere for opportunity. Our kids are leaving.” According to Williams, the LNG project is the answer. He calls for the Legislature to “put their differences aside and do what’s best for Alaska.”
“Let’s build this damn line,” concluded Williams. “It is now or never. Let’s get it done.”
Bronson Frye, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Southcentral Alaska highlighted the “once in a generation” opportunity that the project offers and the “simple principle” that the gasline should be built by Alaskans. “That principle matters,” said Frye. “When we build something worthwhile, we build it together.”
Must Read Alaska has requested a copy of the MOU and will share it with readers when it is received.
