BCTNN Applauds Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass Project Funding

Reno, NV – March 14, 2024 – The Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada (BCTNN) is thrilled to announce that Lithium Americas has received a substantial $2.26 billion in funding from the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for their Thacker Pass project. Lithium Americas signed a Project Labor Agreement on Thacker Pass with North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and BCTNN last year.

BCTNN Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rob Benner stated, “This project is a significant milestone for our region. It will not only create hundreds of union jobs but also lay the foundation for a robust lithium industry in Northern Nevada. We are excited about the opportunities this presents for our members and the community at large.

The Thacker Pass project is a testament to Nevada’s growing importance to national security, energy independence, and green energy. The lithium extracted from Thacker Pass will play a crucial role in the production of lithium-ion batteries, a key component in the transition to green transportation and energy storage.

Benner added, “The Thacker Pass project aligns with our commitment to promoting sustainable practices and green energy while helping build Nevada’s future. It’s a win-win situation - we’re creating union jobs while contributing to energy independence and national security.”

BCTNN is proud to support Lithium Americas on this project and looks forward to the positive impact the Thacker Pass project will have on Northern Nevada’s economy and the nation’s green energy initiatives.

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Media Contact: Wendy Colborne, (775) 247-4390 | wendy@bctnn.org

About BCTNN: The Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada has been training, supporting, and advancing the men and women who build Northern Nevada since 1928. We represent more than a dozen local trades affiliates and their members by: 

• Facilitating and promoting state-of-the-art workforce training programs, 

• Furthering opportunities for construction career growth from apprenticeship to small business ownership, 

• Providing a highly-skilled workforce to local construction industry companies, 

• Partnering with local leaders and organizations to improve our communities, 

• Lobbying for fair labor rights and issues at the local and national levels, and

• Promoting economic development in Northern Nevada to keep our region growing and vibrant and a great place to live, work, and play.

The Council is located in Reno-Sparks, and our service area includes Carson City and the counties of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine, and portions of Nye County.

BCTNN Statement on Lithium Americas Project MOU

Reno, NV – April 13, 2023 – The Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada applauds North America’s Building Trades Unions, Bechtel Corporation and Lithium Americas for the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding for the Thacker Pass Project in Northern Nevada which will tap into the largest deposit of lithium in North America.

“We are looking forward to working with Lithium Americas, a world leader in renewable energy development, on building a world-class lithium mine and refinery right here in Nevada," said BCTNN Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rob Benner. "This project agreement will mean thousands of good-paying union jobs for Nevadans and will help pave the way for our country’s clean energy future.”

“BCTNN appreciates the work that North America’s Building Trades Unions have done in helping secure this MOU at a national level, and we look forward to a strong partnership with Bechtel and Lithium Americas over the coming years," said Secretary-Treasurer Benner.

“As we begin construction on Thacker Pass with the goal of enabling secure domestic battery supply chains, it is vital to have the right workforce to advance our project,” said Jonathan Evans, President and CEO of Lithium Americas. “This partnership with the NABTU and Bechtel will provide us continued access to skilled tradespeople while supporting our efforts around apprenticeship, local hiring, and job training. Powered by American labor, we look forward to strengthening our nation’s energy security, driving economic growth, and accelerating our energy transition.”

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Media Contact: Wendy Colborne, (775) 247-4390 | wendy@bctnn.org

About BCTNN: The Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada has been training, supporting, and advancing the men and women who build Northern Nevada since 1928. We represent more than a dozen local trades affiliates and their members by: 

• Facilitating and promoting state-of-the-art workforce training programs, 

• Furthering opportunities for construction career growth from apprenticeship to small business ownership, 

• Providing a highly-skilled workforce to local construction industry companies, 

• Partnering with local leaders and organizations to improve our communities, 

• Lobbying for fair labor rights and issues at the local and national levels, and

• Promoting economic development in Northern Nevada to keep our region growing and vibrant and a great place to live, work, and play.

The Council is located in Reno-Sparks, and our service area includes Carson City and the counties of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, White Pine, and portions of Nye County.

BCTNN Applauds Passage of Labor Standards Resolution at 2022 NV AFL-CIO COPE Conference

For Immediate Release

April 27, 2022

Media Contact: Carlos Hernandez
Email: chernandez@nvaflcio.com
Cell: (702) 670-1899

Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada Applauds Passage of Labor Standards Resolution at 2022 Nevada State AFL-CIO COPE Conference

Sparks, NV - The Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada applauds the passage of a labor standards resolution this morning at the 2022 Nevada State AFL-CIO COPE Conference. The resolution was brought to the body by the Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada. It passed unanimously.

The resolution states that all federal funds received by the State of Nevada through the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act must follow strong labor standards, include PLAs wherever applicable, and offer wages at or above prevailing wage to help support and create good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs for Nevadans.

“Our congressional delegation could not have been clearer,” said BCTNN Secretary-Treasurer Rob Benner. “Labor standards like PLAs, prevailing wage, and local hire should be part of all ARPA and Infrastructure Bill dollars allocated to projects in our state.”

“Now Nevada’s workers have spoken, too,” said Nevada State AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Susie Martinez. “Federal dollars allocated to Nevada should stay in Nevada to create good-paying, high-quality jobs in our communities.”

A copy of the resolution as passed is attached below.

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Resolution Presented to the Nevada State AFL-CIO 2022 Annual COPE Conference

Whereas the federal government allocated $2.7 billion to the state of Nevada in American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Funds and over $4 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds; and

Whereas the Nevada State Legislature and the Governor’s Office are tasked with allocating and determining the use of those funds in our state; and

Whereas Treasury guidance strongly encourages recipients of ARPA funds to ensure that “projects use strong labor standards, including project labor agreements and community benefits agreements that offer wages at or above the prevailing rate and include local hire provisions, not only to promote effective and efficient delivery of high-quality infrastructure projects, but also to support the economic recovery through strong employment opportunities for workers;” and

Whereas President Joe Biden issued Executive Order 14063 requiring Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on federal construction projects over $35 million on February 4, 2022; and

Whereas PLAs are effective mechanisms for controlling construction costs, ensuring efficient completion of projects, establishing fair wages and benefits for all workers, ensuring worker health and safety protections, and providing a unique opportunity for workforce development; and

Whereas the Biden administration and federal government has been consistently and aggressively pro-union; and

Whereas our State’s congressional delegation fought to ensure that these labor standards were present in the guidance for these federal funds and those funds were intended to promote good-paying union jobs in Nevada, as per Senator Jacky Rosen, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and Congressman Steven Horsford; and

Whereas the ARPA funds affect a wide range of industries including broadband, public education, health care, public safety, job training, and more that will affect every one of the AFL-CIO’s affiliates;

Therefore be it resolved that the Northern and Southern Nevada Building Trades and the Nevada AFL-CIO Executive Board hold that all federal recovery funds should go to eligible uses and that the way in which funding is spent also follows the relevant federal guidelines;

Therefore be it further resolved that all federal funds received by the State of Nevada through the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act must follow strong labor standards, include PLAs wherever applicable, and offer wages at or above prevailing wage to help support and create good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs for Nevadans.

Submitted By: Building & Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada

April 27, 2022