Local 147 Attends Commerce Department CHIPs Act Announcement

IFPTE Local 147 leaders Jerry Bouchard and Mike Croll

Local 147 leaders Jerry Bouchard and Mike Croll attended an event in Malta, New York on Tuesday hosted by the United States Commerce Department to announce the $1.5 billion in funding upstate New York to expand and create new manufacturing capacity and capabilities to securely produce more essential chips for automotive, IoT, aerospace, defense, and other vital markets. 

The funding is as a result of passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation supported and endorsed by IFPTE.  Bouchard commented that, “the meeting not only provided us an opportunity to connect with other Union leaders from the CWA, Teamsters, Sheet Metal Workers, and the UAW, but also allowed us a chance to speak with National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard about the challenges Local 147 is facing from management when it comes to our efforts to organize in the private sector.” Croll also commented, saying that, “we appreciate the opportunity to attend this event and discuss the issues facing Local 147’s members here in New York.” 

IFPTE Local 147 represents members who work for the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) and General Electric (GE).  See IFPTE’s statement on the event here.