Local Union Raises Concerns Over Michigan City Data Center Construction

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, representing over 24,000 workers, has formally intervened before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) regarding NIPSCO's request for power service to Google's "Project Maize" data center in Michigan City, Indiana. The union is urging regulators to halt project approvals until serious concerns regarding labor, safety, and accountability are addressed. Local 150 claims the project, despite significant public incentives, has failed to create local job opportunities, instead relying heavily on out-of-state, foreign, and potentially undocumented workers, and has been marred by safety issues. The union is currently on an unfair labor practice strike against Phoenix Construction at the site and demands enforceable commitments to protect local workers and ensure transparency.

David A. Fagan, financial secretary for Local 150, stated that regulators have an obligation to demand answers from Google and Phoenix Construction before any further utility approvals. These concerns have been heightened by a sworn statement from a former security guard, alleging that a majority of workers were not from the U.S., most did not speak English, and that contractors utilized undocumented workers. The statement also described an alleged worker fall incident where emergency services were not immediately called and an attempt was made to conceal evidence, leading to an OSHA citation for failing to properly evaluate working surfaces.

Adding to the legal challenges, Local 150 has filed a federal lawsuit against Michigan City, alleging First Amendment violations when city officials allowed Phoenix Construction to block a public right-of-way with fencing, impeding the union's lawful picket line. The union has also highlighted the arrest of a Project Maize electrician who was subject to an ICE hold, further underscoring their demands for a transparent review of labor practices. Local 150 asserts that their actions are not against data centers generally, but specifically against the problematic handling of Project Maize, which has received over $71 million in state and local tax incentives.