Data Center Watch: What Happened This Week — August 30, 2026
This week’s data center news made one thing clear: the data center boom is no longer just a technology story. It is now a labor story, an energy story, a water story, a political story, and a community trust story.
Across the country, AI and cloud computing are driving a massive buildout of new data centers. But the public conversation is changing quickly. Communities are asking tougher questions about electricity use, water demand, local infrastructure, noise, land use, tax incentives, and whether these projects will create meaningful local jobs.
SMART Local 28 Family Picnic Brings Union Families Together for a Good Cause
The 2026 SMART Local 28 Family Picnic will be held Saturday, September 19, at Krucker’s Grove in Pomona, New York. With food, refreshments, activities and prizes planned throughout the day, the picnic will give members and their families an opportunity to step away from their busy schedules, enjoy the final days of summer and spend meaningful time together.
Data Center Watch: Why Labor Needs to Pay Attention to the Data Center Boom
Data centers are not just part of the tech economy. They are part of America’s infrastructure economy.
Ask the Expert: What Should Taft-Hartley Funds Prioritize When Designing a GLP-1 Benefit?
We asked Dr. Frank Dumont, Executive Medical Director at Virta Health, which coverage priorities and clinical guardrails he would put in place first when building a GLP-1 benefit for a self-funded Taft-Hartley fund or multi-employer group.
Worker Wellness Is More Than a Health Issue — It Is a Union Benefits Issue
For union leaders, wellness is no longer just about encouraging members to exercise more, eat better, or schedule an annual physical. It is increasingly a benefits issue. That distinction matters. A worker’s health is influenced by far more than what happens in a doctor’s office. Long shifts, physically demanding jobs, repetitive work, stress, family responsibilities,…
NABTU, BlackRock, and AI Infrastructure Partnership Launch Strategic Collaboration to Support America’s Infrastructure Workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 6, 2026 — North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), BlackRock, and the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the growth of domestic infrastructure, expand workforce participation opportunities, strengthen supply chain resilience, and foster long-term economic development associated with AI and energy infrastructure investment. Through the MOU,…
The Last Days of Summer Matter
As back-to-school season approaches, the last days of summer offer union and working families a chance to reconnect, make memories, and support one another.
National Immunization Awareness Month: Protecting Families at Every Age
Every August, National Immunization Awareness Month highlights the importance of vaccination throughout life.
National Health Center Week: Why It Matters to Unions and Working Families
National Health Center Week, observed August 2–8 in 2026, recognizes the Community Health Centers that provide accessible primary care in neighborhoods across the United States.
August is National Wellness Month: Wellness Can Look Like a Picnic Table
By August, many working families are running on a familiar kind of momentum. It’s also important to remember that August is National Wellness Month, a time to focus on self-care and healthy routines. The alarm goes off early. Work starts before the heat settles in. August is National Wellness Month and lunch gets packed, messages…