President Joe Biden made a drastic decision regarding the Keystone Pipeline that found him in hot water, conjuring criticism from unions and Canadian leadership.
Shortly after becoming president, Joe Biden had revoked a cross-border presidential permit that was required for workers to complete the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline was rejected by former President Barack Obama back in 2015, but now former President Donald Trump enabled it as one of his first tasks.
The Keystone XL pipeline is an $8 billion project that could transport oil sands crude all the way from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf coast in America. However, it became an issue when people debated fossil fuels and the transmission of greenhouse gasses in the hopes for keeping the environment clean and reducing climate change.
Trump allowed the project to carry on, creating jobs and keeping many union members happy, albeit not to the chagrin of those who opposed it due to climate concerns. Not to mention lawsuits from tribes who claim the pipeline would travel through their lands without having discussed it with them ahead of time. For example, tribes in South Dakota have already applauded Biden’s decision to revoke the permits to continue the work.
Biden’s decision to revoke the permit has unions and Canadian politicians upset, including leader Justin Trudeau who expressed Canada’s disappointment in the decision, but will support any workers in need during possible job losses.
The Laborers International Union of North America expressed their feelings on Biden’s pipeline decision, stating the following on social media, “#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.”
This same union group had previously endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, suggesting that their work helped push them to victory in the 2020 election. The LIUNA also stated the following, “Together, we helped push Joe Biden and Kamala Harris over the top, and we helped elect many pro-union, pro-labor, and pro-family candidates to office. #1u #LIUNAVotes2020 #Election2020 READ STATEMENT HERE”
That LIUNA statement was released in early November, 2020, and suggested the Biden/Harris victory was a “victory for our nation and working-class Americans.”
The organization now finds themselves in a bit of a confliction.
The National Association of Manufacturers CEO responds in the following video: