Union workers line up for data center jobs
Hundreds of electricians traveled to Memphis to seek lucrative data center construction jobs, with union officials citing wages of more than $8,000 per week. The hiring event comes as Memphis leaders and community members debate whether to ban or pause data center development.
Hundreds of electricians, including workers from Dallas, Orlando, Augusta, St. Petersburg, Louisville and Monroe, traveled to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers office in Midtown Memphis seeking data center work. Union representatives said some workers had traveled thousands of miles and that the projects could pay more than $8,000 per week, helping address a period of limited work and income for members.
The hiring event highlights the economic benefits supporters see in data center construction, while Memphis continues to debate a possible moratorium. Some city, county and community leaders want to ban or pause data center development, but union members argue that the projects provide substantial employment opportunities. The report also notes that some contracts associated with Elon Musk have offered workers more money than they have previously seen.