Peters Announces Saginaw UA Local 85 Leader as Virtual Guest for 2022 State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that Justin Pomerville, Business Manager/Financial Secretary of UA Local 85 in Saginaw and Secretary of the Michigan Pipe Trades Association, will be his virtual guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, March 1. Peters and Pomerville will highlight how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest in Michigan’s infrastructure, bolster our economic recovery, create good-paying jobs for Michiganders — including union jobs — and protect critical labor standards on construction projects.
“The bipartisan infrastructure law will strengthen our economy and improve the way Michiganders move, live and work for generations,” said Senator Peters, a member of the Senate, Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “Thanks to this significant investment we will create good-paying jobs for Michiganders, including for union workers, as we rebuild our roads and bridges, and invest in clean drinking water. I’m thrilled to have Justin join me virtually for this year’s State of the Union Address to discuss how the bipartisan infrastructure law will directly benefit Michiganders and support our local workforce.”
“I’m honored to join Senator Peters virtually for this year’s State of the Union Address,” said Justin Pomerville, UA Local 85 Business Manager/Financial Secretary and Secretary of the Michigan Pipe Trades Association. “The bipartisan infrastructure law, which Senator Peters was instrumental in helping pass, is a win for Michigan workers that enacts strong labor protections and will create good-paying, union jobs. We’ve been proud to host Senator Peters in Saginaw and see firsthand some of the incredible work our members do. I applaud Senator Peters’ leadership to strengthen our local economy and provide Michiganders with the skills and opportunities they need for success.”
Pomerville serves as the UA Local 85 Business Manager/Financial Secretary and Secretary of the Michigan Pipe Trades Association, which includes Michiganders in a variety of industries like plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC services. Peters previously toured UA Local 85 with Pomerville to view firsthand the apprenticeship programs offered in the region. During the tour, Peters and Pomerville interacted with apprentices and instructors from the Saginaw School District and the UA Veterans in Piping Program.
The overwhelming majority of the funds in the bipartisan infrastructure law will be subject to Davis-Bacon requirements, which ensure that contractors pay workers on construction projects a fair, prevailing wage so that local wages, labor markets, and workers won’t be undercut. These requirements will protect wages for millions of workers, grow the economy and support good-paying, union jobs. The law also provides $55 billion to invest in clean drinking water, including dedicated funding to replace lead service lines, and address PFAS contamination.
As a direct result of the bipartisan infrastructure law, Peters has announced that Michigan is already set to receive $563.1 million to fix bridges across the state, $479 million to modernize the Soo Locks, $16 million to build electric vehicle charging stations, and $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – the single-largest-ever investment to protect our Great Lakes.
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