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Big labor backs opening ANWR; Democrats in Congress take note Some ANWR development proponents are calling opening the coastal plain to drilling a done deal thanks to labor’s backing Steve Sutherlin PNA Managing Editor
The cause for opening the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge got a big boost recently when major national labor organizations declared their support for drilling in ANWR. Some drilling proponents have predicted victory in the struggle to open the coastal plain to oil and gas drilling, crediting labor’s lobbying efforts in Congress as the deciding factor.
“Organized labor’s eagerness to go to bat for American workers on ANWR signals the start of a sea change in this debate,” Congressman Don Young said. “Passing a bill to permit environmentally sound development is going to happen.”
“Opening the Arctic coastal plain is one important part of the national energy policy we need to protect this country,” Sen. Frank Murkowski said. Organized labor’s willingness to step up to the plate and support this exploration brings us one step closer to implementing that much-needed policy.” Jerry Hood leads the way Oil and gas consultant Roger Herrera credited Jerry Hood, secretary/treasurer of Teamsters Local 959, with galvanizing national union support to turn the tide in Congress.
“This will pass, and if it passes it will be because of Jerry Hood and the Teamsters,” Herrera told PNA.
Herrera said the union support has been a powerful door opener in Congress, particularly when visiting Democratic members to promote ANWR drilling.
Hood praised the efforts of Alaskans to visit Washington D.C. on the issue, saying lawmakers are swayed when they hear from people who actually live in the region.
“Members of our legislature go to Washington and we have a Democratic governor that supports responsible opening of ANWR,” Hood said.
Members of Congress are also heavily influenced by constituents in their home states, he said. Local labor delegations are contacting their Congressional members to promote ANWR development.
Hood acknowledged the power of the unions to get attention in Congress.
“Those who are beholden to labor for actually sitting in their House and Senate seats are going to listen,” Hood said. Hoffa support advances ANWR It isn’t the first time labor has backed opening ANWR to drilling. Hood said the movement got a boost in the mid-1990s when James P. Hoffa became Teamster general president. Hoffa’s support on ANWR led to the March 28 creation of Job Power, an alliance of labor and business groups in favor of ANWR development, Hood told PNA.
Hoffa named Hood special assistant on energy affairs to spearhead Teamster efforts to educate Congress on the advantages of drilling in the refuge.
Union resolve in favor of ANWR drilling is stronger than ever, Hood said. Union education efforts and a projected 735,000 ANWR jobs have solidified support for drilling at the rank-and-file level.
The 1.5 million-member Teamsters union forecasts 25,000 ANWR jobs for its members in all 50 states. Hood said the Teamsters union is conducting its own awareness campaign on the issue by educating state delegations on ANWR and its potential impact on jobs and spending in their states. April 23 letter to Congress An April 23 letter to members of Congress from 12 national labor union leaders urged support for oil and gas exploration in the refuge. Teamsters President James P. Hoffa, Maritime Trades Department President Michael Sacco and Building Construction Trades Department President Edward Sullivan were among those that signed the letter.
The letter was widely distributed to all members of Congress in the House of Representatives and Senate, according to Sen. Frank Murkowski.
The appeal, made on behalf of 10 million workers, said that U.S. workers would use U.S. products to develop and ship ANWR oil and would use technology to protect the environment.
“Not only is today’s technology more environmentally sound, but labor has for decades worked with employers in the oil and gas industry to promote safety, efficiency and ecologically safe operations,” the statement said.
The Job Power alliances includes: American Maritime Officers; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers; International Union of Operating Engineers; Laborers’ International Union of North America; Maritime Trades Department/AFL-CIO; National Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; Seafarers International Union of North America; Transportation Institute; and United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Every state will benefit The analysis in each state shows that every state will gain jobs and economic development if ANWR is drilled, Hood said.
Hood told PNA that a union study found that $22.5 billion had been spent on North Slope oil operations from 1980 to 1994.
States will benefit from reduced dependence on foreign oil, Hood said, and he discounted claims that ANWR oil production will have a negligible effect on U.S. energy independence. “
ANWR oil could negate the need for Iraqi oil for 30 years,” Hood said.
New technology has increased production at the North Slope and it will likely boost actual production in ANWR, he said.
Sen. Ted Stevens concurred in remarks at a March press conference welcoming organized labor support for ANWR development.
“At the time we were looking to pass Alaska pipeline legislation, we were told that there was a probability that there would be a billion barrels of oil at Prudhoe Bay and it was opposed because it wasn’t enough to take the risk. We’ve produced over 13 billion barrels of oil so far and this is a larger reservoir,” Stevens said. “If the predictions are right, the supply of oil from ANWR will be about equivalent to the amount of oil we have imported from Saudi Arabia over a 30-year period. It’s a tremendous amount of oil.”
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