Senator Murkowski, Alaska labor unions urge NO vote on 1

Senator Lisa Murkowski recently joined seven pipeline trade unions and the North Slope Contractors Association to urge Alaskans to vote no on Ballot Measure 1.

“At the end of the day, what oil tax reform was all about was ensuring that we have good strong jobs and a good strong economy in the future,” Alaska’s senior senator said. “Oil and gas production has been booming in the Lower 48 and Alaska has been exporting its workforce. Compared to the relative ease of drilling wells off a road system, operating in Alaska is challenging and expensive, so our tax structure must be competitive,” she said.

“Oil tax reform is helping put Alaska back on the map as an attractive, competitive place to do business. Let’s keep it that way,” Murkowski said. “Let’s bring those jobs back to Alaska. We can do this by voting no on one.”

Joining the senator were the North Slope Contractors Association, Doyon Associated, Fairbanks Laborers Local 942, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302, Teamsters Local 959, United Association Local Union 375, Price Gregory International, and ASRC Energy Services-Houston Contracting Company.

Labor representatives talked about how tax reform has breathed new life into the North Slope. “We doubled our man power on the North Slope from the previous year due to SB 21,” said Gary Dixon, Vice President, Teamsters Local 959.

“Why would we want to stop the progress that’s been made in putting Alaskans to work,” asked Rodney Brown, Business Manager for UA Local 375. “We utilized over 70 local vendors and were able to infuse $100 million into the Fairbanks economy,” said Warren Christian, President of the North Slope Contractors Association.

“We currently employ 785 personnel and anticipate another 250- plus jobs due to the work this bill has already incentivized,” said Wade Blasingame, President and General Manager, ASRC Energy Services- Houston Contracting Company Inc.

“The amount of work and number of projects either currently ongoing or in our estimating department is at levels we haven’t seen in years,” said Ken Yockey, Vice President, Price Gregory International.

Rep. Don Young, Gov. Sean Parnell, Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate Mead Treadwell, U.S. Senate candidates Dan Sullivan and Joe Miller, and former Gov. Tony Knowles also oppose Ballot Measure 1.

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