GE, unions reach deal on offshore wind plant at Port of Coeymans – Times Union

SCHENECTADY General Electric and two major unions have reached a labor peace agreement for facilities the company wants to build for offshore wind equipment manufacturing at the Port of Coeymans.

Should GE power subsidiaries get enough orders, they plan to build turbine blades and nacelles the housings that contain electric generating equipment for wind power projects off the Long Island coast. New York state is promoting the use of wind power as one of the ways to cut greenhouse gases in power generation. The state has set out ambitious goals for developing green, carbon-free energy and offshore wind is key to that plan.

GE says the manufacturing plants could create 870 jobs.

The company said it reached an agreement with the IUE-CWA unions in which GE would remain neutral during the labor organizing process for the plants.

Approximately 825 of GE Vernovas U.S. employees including about 700 in New York are represented by contracts with the IUE-CWA.

The agreement aims to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations of the manufacturing facilities.

As a leader in the U.S. wind industry and the company that introduced the first 12MW + offshore wind turbine, GE Vernova is pleased to have worked with the IUE-CWA on this labor peace agreement associated with our proposal to build two, state-of-the-art offshore wind factories in New York, officials from GE and the unions said in a joint statement.

Our organizations have a long history of working together and share common goals of addressing climate change and creating offshore wind manufacturing opportunities in New York state, GE Vernova President Scott Strazik added.

Vernova is the name of the power portion of GE that will be split off into a separate company early next year. The conglomerate recently decided to split its aviation and power generation units into two separate firms.

This forward-looking, historic agreement reflects the commitment of both IUE-CWA members and GE to addressing climate change and ensuring that green jobs are good jobs. IUE-CWA President Carl Kennebrew said.

In January, GE submitted a plan to New York to construct the two new manufacturing facilities in New York if it wins a sufficient volume of orders from customers in the states ongoing solicitation for up to 4.6 gigawatts of offshore wind.

In addition to 870 direct jobs, around 1,000 construction jobs and 1,400 other indirect jobs would be generated by the projects.

Additionally, GEs proposal includes a program called Pathways to Wind that will give historically underserved communities across the Capital Region exposure, education, and training in the offshore wind industry.

IUE-CWA is the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America. It represents 40,000 workers.

President Joe Biden issued a statement Monday saying his "'Investing in America' agenda has already brought in more than $470 billion in private sector manufacturing investments, and has helped make America a leader in clean energy for years ahead. We are creating good-paying jobs that Americans can raise a family on, and the opportunity to join a union will help ensure hardworking Americans continue to get paid what they deserve, and boost our local economies."

Biden commended IUE-CWA and General Electrict "for working toward a future where unions help build the middle class again, and the middle class rebuilds America."

Excerpt from:

GE, unions reach deal on offshore wind plant at Port of Coeymans - Times Union