Dorsey Hager, Columbus/Central Ohio Executive Secretary-Treasurer, started his April appearance on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast by giving an update on the Intel project.
Hager told AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc that construction on the first two fabs is making great progress and they are getting ready to start on the front of the office building and the parking lots with the help of the support staff.
“I would say probably mid-summer, they’re going to break ground on the water treatment plant,” Hager said. “We’re not sure of a price tag on that yet, but I would expect that to be around probably $650 million, which is a big job just in itself.”
Dorsey Hager, C/COBCTC Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Hager said there is a lot of specific equipment that goes into building fabs and it can often be a long waiting time to get the right equipment. He does not believe the schedule is going to be impacted right away.
“I expect once we get ramped up on the first phase and we’re building these two fabs and as that starts to work toward completion, instead of laying off operating engineers or pipe fitters for electricians, I think they’ll roll them right over to the second phase while they’ve got their workforce here and established and just keep rolling on,” Hager said.
Intel is committed to building out these 3,000 acres through four phases, which would be a total of eight fabs, Hager added.
Between Intel, Phase One and Phase Two and the first two to four fabs, Hager believes the workload in Central Ohio and Licking County will remain promising for the next eight to 12 years.
Now is a great time to join the trades
Trades, like laborers and pipe fitters, are doing a lot of organizing work to expand their apprenticeship classes.
“I think it’s going to be really important that we continue to expand our free apprenticeship, but also get out there and organize and find folks that maybe feel like they’re being underpaid or underutilized working in the open market and that we’re bringing them into the fold to let them know about these great jobs with great pay and great benefits,” Hager said.
America’s Workforce Radio Host Ed “Flash” Ferenc
Building trades leaders are negotiating new Collective Bargaining Agreements to increase first-year wages to get them between $18 and 22 an hour. This will allow apprentices coming in to make a good first year wage plus a great health package with a great pension and great annuity.
Hager said it takes a significant amount of time for individuals who go to college and then graduate, get a job and get established before they start making a good living.
In the trades, individuals can immediately start making a good living wage and get a great benefits package. By their third year, apprentices are making really good money and young people are starting to see that.
Listen to the full interview: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-verw7-15d34bb
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