Portland Press Herald: Contractors, developer promote offshore wind jobs deal for Maine

Trade unions representing 5,000 Maine workers would provide a talent pool to fill skilled positions for an anticipated wave of offshore wind construction.

The memorandum creates a framework for future negotiations of a so-called project labor agreement. Such agreements are common in the construction industry and set terms and conditions for employing union workers. In this case, the agreement envisions that 17 trade unions representing 5,000 Maine workers would provide a talent pool to fill skilled positions for an anticipated wave of offshore wind construction.

Those unions involve trades such as shipbuilders, electrical workers, plumbers, millwrights and laborers.

The memorandum also includes training initiatives to bring new workers into the skilled trades for offshore wind. One element would incorporate pre-apprenticeship programs such as Helmets to Hard Hats, which recruits veterans, and Building Futures, which helps train disadvantaged young adults.

Read the full article online: https://www.pressherald.com/2021/04/07/contractors-developer-promote-offshore-wind-jobs-deal-for-maine/?rel=related