In August 2024, leaders from the biopharmaceutical industry and union leaders gathered in Nevada to tour IUOE Local 12’s training facility, highlighting the vital role that Operating Engineers play in building and maintaining life sciences infrastructure. Local 12, which covers Southern California, Southern Nevada, and now Arizona, represents nearly 22,000 members and invests approximately $17 million annually in training programs, including over 1,300 active apprentices.
The tour showcased how union partnerships deliver long-term careers with quality training, strong wages, healthcare, and retirement security. Local 12 emphasized the importance of diversity in its workforce, with 30% of its inspection program comprising women and a growing number of female operators.
Speakers celebrated the opportunities union apprenticeships provide across all stages of life: from young people starting to adults making a midlife career change.
The event reaffirmed the shared goals of labor and industry to build safe, cutting-edge facilities, invest in people, and ensure every worker has the chance to retire with dignity.
