Unions who pushed Joe Biden for president and supported him during the Presidential campaign flipped as they now condemn the President for his decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, killing around 11,000 jobs.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden signed an Executive Order canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, killing approximately 11,000 American Jobs. The Canadian company behind the Keystone XL pipeline Project, TC Energy Corporation, also added that they would probably cut more than 11,000 jobs in the coming days.
American energy innovation is respected around the world.
Pipelines like the Keystone XL are the safest & most efficient ways to transport energy.
By canceling Keystone, Pres. Biden has put 11,000 Americans out of work & raised energy costs for families around the US.
— GOP (@GOP) January 21, 2021
According to Reuters’ report, TransCanada Corp stated that they would resubmit their application for the Keystone XL permit. The move to resubmit permit application is made possible by the Order signed by former President Trump saying that the company could re-apply. Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the U.S. State Department, which will then have 60 days to reach a decision.
Keystone XL, proposed by TransCanada, is intended to transport Alberta oil sands to U.S. refineries.
In January 2017, only a few days after former President Trump was inaugurated, he started efforts to complete the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines. He made it possible by imposing a deadline on the government’s environmental review of the pipelines.
Pres. Biden's canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline will eliminate 11K AMERICAN jobs.
➡️Independence is a core American value—& the pipeline is vital to US energy independence.
➡️The decision sets us back to relying on foreign energy markets controlled by OPEC & other oil cartels.
— GOP (@GOP) January 22, 2021
Before the Trump administration, Obama also rejected the proposal given by Keystone back in November 2015. They also blocked Dakota Access since September of 2016.
The Obama administration had rejected the Keystone proposal in November 2015 and had blocked Dakota Access since September of 2016.
Then, on Wednesday, President Biden signed an executive order revoking the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline permit. The Executive Order cited the Keystone pipeline spill as a “climate crisis,” which, according to the Executive Order, “must be met with action on a scale and at speed commensurate with the need to avoid setting the world on a dangerous, potentially catastrophic, climate trajectory.”
In addition to this, the Order signed by Biden also contained a statement saying, “Leaving the Keystone XL pipeline permit in place would not be consistent with my Administration’s economic and climate imperatives.”
"Deeply disappointed," said the head of the North American Building Trades Unions, which endorsed Mr. Biden in October. "Will kill thousands of good-paying #UNION jobs!" tweeted the Laborers' International Union of North America.https://t.co/qCO7mG4I0A
— WSBT (@WSBT) January 22, 2021
After Biden signed the said permit, Unions who had championed Biden were angered.
Previously General President of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), Terry O’Sullivan, endorsed the Biden-Harris tandem during the campaign period.
In the said endorsement O’Sullivan wrote that they “unanimously, enthusiastically, and proudly endorse Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris.”
O’Sullivan also claimed that “Joe Biden is one of us; he knows, first hand, the trials, and tribulations faced by working men and women across this country.”
However, last week, after he learned about Biden’s plan to cancel the permit of the Keystone XL pipeline, the general president of the laborers’ union tweeted, “Pipeline construction has been a lifeline for many #LIUNA members across the country. The anticipated decision to cancel the #KeysonePipeline will kill thousands of good-paying #UNION jobs!”
#Pipeline construction has been a lifeline for many #LIUNA members across the country. The anticipated decision to cancel the #KeystonePipeline will kill thousands of good-paying #UNION jobs! #pipelinesarelifelines #energy pic.twitter.com/p0BxD1vPHV
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) January 20, 2021
Other than LIUNA, the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters also endorsed Joe Biden in August. However, the union also flipped as they released a statement on January 18 to anticipate Joe Biden’s announcement related to the Keystone Pipeline.
The General President of the United Association, Mark McManus, released a statement saying, “In revoking this permit, the Biden Administration has chosen to listen to the voices of fringe activists instead of union members and the American consumer on Day 1.”
McManus then clarified that pipelines like Keystone XL, when built with union labor by men and women, remain the safest and most efficient mode of energy transportation in the world, and the Keystone pipeline spill is less likely.
"We will keep fighting for Keystone XL and any infrastructure project that creates good jobs for the Brothers and Sisters of the United Association, and to make sure our members have a seat at the table."
See more from GP McManus on the KXL decision here: https://t.co/crJAJ1j7xP pic.twitter.com/WmOdGphyTi
— United Association (@UAPipeTrades) January 18, 2021
The General President of the Union continued, “sadly, the Biden Administration has now put thousands of union workers out of work.” He added, “For the average American family, it means energy costs will go up, and communities will no longer see the local investments that come with pipeline construction.”
