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Labor unions divide over US data center construction and moratoriums

Trade organizations representing construction workers push for expansion, while other labor groups cite AI job threats and community concerns in supporting bans.

Updated Aug 31, 2026 · 09:21 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • National labor unions are split on whether to support or oppose moratoriums and bans on artificial intelligence data centers in the United States.
  • Unions representing construction trades, including electricians and plumbers, strongly oppose bans, arguing that data center projects provide stable, high-paying jobs.
  • Other labor groups, such as National Nurses United, support a federal moratorium to study the impact of AI on jobs, communities, and democracy.

Key facts

  • The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers urged its 901,000 members to lobby Congress against legislation that would ban data center construction.[Business Insider]
  • North America's Building Trades Unions, representing over 3 million workers, and the Laborers' International Union of North America, representing over 500,000 construction workers, praised Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's regulatory approach instead of imposing bans.[Business Insider]
  • The United Association, representing around 407,000 plumbing and pipe-fitting workers, publicly criticized New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone's support for a nationwide moratorium on data centers.[Business Insider]
  • National Nurses United, representing nearly 225,000 workers, backed a push by Sen. Bernie Sanders for a nationwide data center moratorium.[Business Insider]
  • AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler stated the federation opposes a moratorium on data centers but supports stricter regulatory guardrails on AI.[Business Insider]

What remains uncertain

  • Several prominent labor groups, including the Teamsters, United Auto Workers, and the National Education Association, have not yet taken a public stance on data center moratoriums.[Business Insider]

Sources