Michigan Unions Launch Coalition for Clean Energy Jobs

Michigan labor leaders just took the driver's seat in the state's clean energy future, launching a coalition that puts workers first in the fight against climate change.

Michigan Climate Jobs (MICJ) brought together unions representing construction workers, electricians, pipe fitters, carpenters, engineers and educators with one clear goal: make sure the clean energy economy creates real careers, not just jobs. The coalition announced its formation with labor leaders gathering to chart a course for worker-led climate action.

Ryan Bennett, chair of MICJ and President of the Michigan Pipe Trades Association, made the mission clear. "The jobs needed to create the clean energy economy absolutely must be union jobs because it's union jobs that will deliver family-sustaining wages, good benefits, and safety for workers," he said.

The coalition is following a blueprint developed by the Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University. Michigan becomes just the third state to launch this type of worker-centered clean energy initiative, following New Jersey and Oregon.

The plan focuses on three big areas: decarbonizing public infrastructure, upgrading Michigan's energy grid, and building more union careers and apprenticeships. These aren't temporary gigs but pathways to lasting careers that keep families rooted in their communities.

The Ripple Effect

Natalya Craig, a journeyperson with Operating Engineers 324 who came up through the apprenticeship system, sees the bigger picture. "These projects don't just produce energy—they produce long-term, skilled careers that allow people like me to support our families, stay in our communities and build a life with dignity and security," she explained.

The coalition's approach tackles two challenges at once: addressing climate change while ensuring the transition creates opportunities rather than leaving workers behind. When clean energy projects are built by skilled union trades, they're completed safely, professionally, and create real opportunities for the next generation.

Michigan's move shows how the clean energy transition can lift up workers instead of disrupting their livelihoods, proving that fighting climate change and building strong communities can go hand in hand.