Data Center Jobs: Unions Join OpenAI, Blackstone in New Alliance
Quick answer: The American Infrastructure Alliance, launched on September 28, 2026, unites five building trades unions with companies including OpenAI, Blackstone, SoftBank and QTS. It will lobby for state and local data center standards, rather than moratoriums, in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina, citing construction jobs as a key benefit.
Key Takeaways
The American Infrastructure Alliance launched in Washington on September 28, 2026, pairing construction unions with AI, energy, real estate and data center companies.
Union members include the IBEW, the Iron Workers, the United Association of plumbers and pipefitters, SMART and the Heat and Frost Insulators, plus two Ohio building trades groups.
The coalition will work in seven states ahead of 2027 legislative sessions and opposes blanket bans on new data center projects.
A poll commissioned by the group in Ohio found most voters viewed data centers unfavorably, though support rose when companies promised to cover costs and create jobs.
For skilled trades workers, the campaign signals continued demand for electricians, pipefitters, ironworkers and sheet metal workers on data center builds.
A new coalition of construction unions and some of the biggest names in artificial intelligence and real estate is betting that jobs can win over skeptical communities. The American Infrastructure Alliance (AIA) was announced in Washington on Monday, September 28, 2026, with a plan to shape how states and towns regulate data center construction instead of halting it.
According to the group's launch announcement and reporting by Axios, as summarized by The Next Web, the alliance includes OpenAI, Blackstone, SoftBank and data center operator QTS, alongside five major building trades unions. Its first campaigns will run in seven states.
Who is part of the American Infrastructure Alliance?
The labor side is made up of unions whose members physically build and wire these facilities. The founding list published by the alliance names:
IBEW, the electricians' union (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
SMART, representing sheet metal, air, rail and transportation workers
UA, the United Association of plumbers and pipefitters
The Iron Workers' international association
The Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers
Two Ohio groups: ACT Ohio and the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council
On the business side, the members span AI developers (OpenAI and CoreWeave), investors (Blackstone and SoftBank), energy company SB Energy and data center and real estate firms including QTS, Digital Realty, Prologis, Related Digital, Skybox, Rowan, and American Real Estate Partners with its PowerHouse Data Centers platform. The Next Web notes that Blackstone owns QTS.
Axios described the effort as a multimillion-dollar coalition, and a spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation it amounts to a "high eight-figure campaign," The Next Web reported.
Where will the coalition focus?
The alliance lists Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina as its key operating states, with local initiatives leading the work and room to expand later. It says its efforts will run through the 2027 state legislative sessions. While the group states it is not focused on the upcoming election, OnLabor, a labor law blog, observed that data centers have become a flashpoint in the 2026 midterms.
What standards is the alliance pushing for?
The coalition says it wants locally grounded rules rather than a single national template. Its announcement lays out five priorities for state policy:
Binding, transparent commitments on water use and water infrastructure.
Developers and operators paying for the energy and infrastructure their projects require, so households and ratepayers are not left with the bill.
Good jobs and long-term workforce opportunities, including in the skilled trades.
Visible local benefits for schools, roads and community institutions.
Clear, enforceable oversight so operators are held accountable.
According to The Next Web, the alliance's website also calls for community agreements covering noise, lighting, construction activity and how far facilities sit from homes. QTS co-CEO Tag Greason said in the launch release that the group will publish a set of principles in the coming weeks as a starting point for policymakers.
Why are unions backing data center growth?
For the building trades, data centers mean large, long-running construction projects. IBEW International President Kenneth Cooper argued in the announcement that outright bans would hurt the economy and cost workers good middle-class jobs, a point repeated in coverage by Axios and OnLabor.
SMART General President Michael Coleman framed data centers as a chance to build and invest in the U.S. while traditional manufacturing is under strain, and said workers and communities deserve a voice as the facilities go up. UA General President Mark McManus pointed to his union's apprenticeship and training programs, saying members have built and maintained data centers since the early days of the internet.
What is driving the backlash against data centers?
The alliance is responding to real resistance. The Next Web reported that the group's own poll of 800 Ohio voters found only 18% viewed data centers favorably, compared with 67% who viewed them unfavorably, and nearly three in four opposed one being built near their community. When respondents were told companies would cover infrastructure costs, create jobs and pay local taxes, support climbed to 60% against 34% opposed.
Several states have already acted, according to that report. New York paused new data centers for a year in July. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted new approvals, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an order tightening rules. Abbott's press secretary said data centers must pay for their own electric infrastructure, add power, reuse their own water and lower electricity costs for Texans.
Critics remain unconvinced. Mitch Jones of Food and Water Watch told the Daily Caller that moratoriums exist to allow careful study of whether the industry can be regulated safely at all.
What happens next?
The next milestone is the release of the alliance's principles, which QTS said would come in the coming weeks. After that, the unions plan to mobilize their members to persuade state and local officials that data centers can be built responsibly, according to The Next Web. The larger test will come during the 2027 legislative sessions in the seven target states, where lawmakers could weigh moratoriums, cost-sharing rules and water protections.
What this means for you
Whether you already work in construction or are considering a trade, this campaign offers useful signals:
Skilled trades remain in demand for data center work. Electricians, pipefitters, plumbers, ironworkers, sheet metal workers and insulators are the crafts named in this coalition. If you are in one of these fields, ask your local union hall about data center projects in your area.
Apprenticeships are the main entry route. The UA, one of the unions involved, highlights its registered apprenticeship programs. Search for openings through your nearest union local or your state's apprenticeship office, and apply early, since programs often have set intake periods.
Watch your state's rules. If you live in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana or South Carolina, local decisions on moratoriums and standards could affect how many projects move ahead and how much work is available.
Weigh community concerns too. Residents worried about water use, power bills and noise can take part in public hearings, where the terms of new projects are often negotiated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the American Infrastructure Alliance?
It is a coalition of building trades unions and companies, launched on September 28, 2026, that advocates for state and local standards on data center development. Members include the IBEW, OpenAI, Blackstone, SoftBank and QTS, and the group opposes blanket bans on new projects.
Which unions joined the data center alliance?
The founding unions are the IBEW, the Iron Workers, the United Association of plumbers and pipefitters, SMART and the Heat and Frost Insulators. Two Ohio groups, the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council and ACT Ohio, are also members.
Which states will the data center coalition target?
The alliance lists Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana and South Carolina as its key states. It says its work will continue through the 2027 state legislative sessions and could expand to other states later.
Do voters support new data centers?
A poll of 800 Ohio voters commissioned by the alliance found 18% viewed data centers favorably and 67% unfavorably, according to The Next Web. Support rose to 60% when companies pledged to pay infrastructure costs, create jobs and pay local taxes.
Which states have paused or restricted data centers?
According to The Next Web, New York froze new data centers for a year in July. In August, Texas Governor Greg Abbott halted new approvals and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed an order tightening the rules.
Sources
This article was compiled from the sources listed above with AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. We update stories when new verified information becomes available.