Union urges regulators to halt further approvals until troubling allegations involving worker safety, local workforce exclusion, and project oversight are fully investigated
Representing over 24,000 workers in Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150, AFL-CIO, has filed to intervene before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission regarding NIPSCO’s request related to power service for Google’s Project Maize data center in Michigan City, Indiana. It’s workers operate and maintain heavy equipment across various industries. The union is concerned about serious and unresolved labor, safety, and accountability concerns and warns regulators that the project should not be allowed to move forward until issues are addressed.
Project Maize has been promoted as a major investment in Michigan City, but the reality on the ground tells a troubling story. The project has repeatedly failed to deliver meaningful opportunities for local workers of every craft and has instead relied heavily on out-of-state and foreign workers and has led to serious safety issues. Local 150 remains on an unfair labor practice strike against Phoenix Construction at the site and is demanding enforceable commitments that protect local workers, uphold basic safety standards, and bring immediate transparency to the project.
“This cannot be treated as just another utility proceeding,” said David A. Fagan, Financial Secretary for Local 150. “When a project tied to one of the largest corporations in the world is accused of shutting out local workers, relying on out-of-state, foreign, or undocumented labor, and failing to answer serious safety questions, regulators have an obligation to stop and demand answers. That is exactly why Local 150 intervened before the IURC. Before any additional public utility approvals move forward, Google and Phoenix Construction, and all project partners must answer for what is happening on this jobsite.”
The need for immediate scrutiny has been heightened by a sworn statement from a former security guard who worked at Project Maize. According to the statement, the vast majority of workers on site were not from the United States, almost no one working on site spoke English, and first a roofing contractor operated a second shift staffed by undocumented workers, and now an electrical contractor is following the same model. The statement also describes written protocols given to security personnel in the event that Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeared on site.
The same sworn statement raises disturbing allegations about a worker fall at the project and an apparent effort to avoid normal emergency response. The former guard stated that, after reviewing video, he observed a roofing supervisor leaving the site in a pickup truck with multiple individuals in the cab and what appeared to be an individual in the truck bed who was completely wrapped. The statement further describes a hole in the roof, a strong odor of bleach, and towels with blood in a nearby garbage can. According to the statement, security was not notified immediately, and emergency services were not called by the workers involved; security contacted Michigan City Police only after learning of the incident approximately 45 minutes later. OSHA later issued a citation related to the incident for failing to properly evaluate working surfaces, but Local 150 believes OSHA’s limited findings leave significant questions unanswered about what happened, how the incident was handled, and whether workers on site were adequately protected. Local 150 believes these allegations, combined with the unresolved questions surrounding OSHA’s findings, demand immediate investigation before any public utility approval connected to the project is allowed to proceed.
Additional developments have made the need for action even more urgent. During proceedings in LaPorte Superior Court last week involving Alfonso Alvarado, who was arrested for DUI and identified himself as an electrician working at Michigan City Project Maize, the court was informed that Alvarado was subject to an ICE hold. Local 150 believes this development underscores the need for a full, immediate, and transparent review of labor practices at the project.
Local 150 has also filed suit against Michigan City in federal court, alleging violations of the union’s First Amendment rights after city officials continued allowing Phoenix Construction to place temporary fencing in a manner that blocks use of the public right of way. Local 150 will continue engaging in all lawful activity to protect its rights under federal law and to advocate for local workers.
“Project Maize has been problematic from the beginning, and regulators should not look the other way,” stated Kristine Kavanagh, Communications Director for Local 150. “This is not about opposing data centers. Local 150 operating engineers are helping build major data center projects across Indiana and Illinois where developers and end users have respected local labor and worked constructively with the skilled trades. The problem in Michigan City is not the industry — it is the way this project has been handled, and it demands immediate accountability.”
Local 150 pointed to data center projects in Granger, New Carlisle, LaPorte, Hobart, and the recently approved project in Jasper County as examples of projects that have created strong opportunities for operating engineers. The union also noted positive working relationships with end users such as Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, and said those examples demonstrate that data center development can benefit local workers and communities and improve safety when strong labor standards and local participation are made a priority.
Source: Press Release
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
