President Joe Biden slashed thousands of union jobs on his first day in office due to the cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline construction.
Immediately after Biden signed the executive order on Jan. 20 revoking their permit, TC Energy Corp, the company responsible for building the pipeline, announced that they would have to layoff 1,000 workers.
The pipeline was supposed to run from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, and sparked controversy for building on Native American land.
“I believe this will send a concerning signal to infrastructure developers that resonates far beyond our project and will stifle innovation for a practical transition towards sustainable energy,” President of the Keystone Pipeline project Richard Prior said in an email Wednesday, according to Reuters.
TC Energy planned for the pipeline, which has long been the subject of controversy, to provide over 10,400 American jobs and 2,800 Canadian jobs, KMGH-TV reported.
The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, which endorsed Biden in the 2020 election, expressed their disappointment with the decision.
“In revoking this permit, the Biden Administration has chosen to listen to the voices of fringe activists instead of union members and the American consumer on Day 1,” the United Association’s general president, Mark McManus, said in a statement.
Read the rest at: westernjournal.com
