Union launches new local for light commercial, housing work
Business Press - The Strip alone has $24.26 billion worth of resort expansions planned from 2006-09, including 34,639 more hotel rooms, 886 timeshare units, and 1.3 million square feet of added convention space, reported the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority.
Construction, not surprisingly, is now one of the valley’s fastest growing employers. The industry was responsible for 106,800 jobs in December, a 12.2 percent gain from a year ago, according to the state Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation. It trails only the hospitality sector in terms of new job growth.
Local trade unions are reaping the benefits with across-the-board enrollment gains, including the Laborers Union, Local 872. “We increased our membership by 900 to 1,200 people last year,” said Tommy White, secretary-treasurer for Local 872, which now has more than 4,000 people in Clark County. “And we’re projecting to add up to 2,000 more members by 2007.”
The Laborers recently launched a new local, Local 702, targeting light-commercial and housing work. It is banking on the valley’s current skilled worker shortage to aid its foray into traditional nonunion market sectors. Local 702, chartered in November, currently has approximately 350 members working at golf courses, Nellis Air Force Base and hospitals. It’s a figure that’s expected to increase.