Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River used to connect Tennessee and Arkansas, a major artery for traffic between the two states. That is, until a week ago when it was discovered that the bridge had a massive crack in one of its beams. The bridge has since been shut down to avoid a catastrophe.
The Ironworkers, led by General President Eric Dean, are raising the alarm about America’s crumbling infrastructure. “The Ironworkers urge Congress to fix America’s bridges by quickly passing legislation based on President Biden’s American Jobs Plan,” the union said in a statement. “The plan would provide the funding to repair these critical bridges; and the labor, training and Buy America standards needed to ensure it is done right. It would make the traveling public safer and create good union jobs. Congress cannot delay; we may not be lucky enough to catch the next failing bridge in time.”