Q: Isn’t Intel going to employ everyone in the local?
A: It’s great to have this investment in our region, but we must be cautious of putting all of our eggs in one customer’s basket.
Intel will not employ a predominance of the service contractors, down-state union members, plumbers, or refrigeration hands.
Diversity amongst services, industries, and geography helps the UA maintain stability and ultimately protects its members and the value of their future pensions.
All big jobs come to an end and we don’t want to look around after D1X and see that the non-union sector has moved in and taken away our historical markets.
Q: Remember when there were 10 semiconductor facilities in the state being built?
A: Currently, we have 1 major semiconductor expansion announced (D1X) and possibly another solar facility.
Click the image below to download an article from the Oregonian in 1995 that lists 10 semiconductor facilities under construction.
Of the facilities listed:
- 4 are in limited operation and employ minimal construction workers.
- 3 are shutdown/bankrupt
- 1 was converted to a solar facility
- 2 are major construction employers and growing.
Q: What are the recent economic trends in our area and what is the outlook for work?
A: The PMCA commissioned ECONorthwest to evaluate economic data affecting the local construction market and comment on the prospects of our market sector.
ECONorthwest conclusions are as follows:
- The Great Recession had a lower peak than 1982, but was more heavily concentrated in housing and construction.
- The number of plumbers and pipefitters working in Oregon has continued to decline (even in non-recession years).
- Inflation on the consumer level is going up over the next 2 years.
- It is benefits (not wages) that have increased far faster than the inflation rate for UA 290 members.
- It will be many years before housing returns to mid-2000 construction employment levels.
- The outlook for non-residential construction is better than residential.
- Water, wastewater, pipeline, power & utility markets have a stable outlook.
- Debt levels vs. revenues (taxes collected) at the state and local government levels are at their widest levels in 35 years.
- With pension liabilities counted as debt, Oregon ranks as one of the worst states for debt-revenues ratios.
Click on the image below to download the full report.
