House Bill 78 aims to rebuild stability in public service and strengthen the workforce that keeps Alaska running.
Snow is mounded at an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities snow dump along Old Seward Highway at O’Malley Road. Alaska has always depended on people who are willing to commit their lives to this place — to raise families here, build communities here and serve the public good.
But today, too many of the institutions that make Alaska work are struggling to hold onto the people who keep them running. Our schools are losing teachers faster than they can replace them. Police and fire departments are struggling to fill positions. Across state and local government, key offices face constant turnover. Even in areas that directly affect construction and development — permitting offices, inspection departments and engineering positions — vacancies and inexperience are slowing the work that keeps our economy moving., now before the Senate Finance Committee, would restore a defined benefit retirement plan for public workers. Doing so would help Alaska compete again for the teachers, police officers, firefighters, engineers and public servants our communities depend on. For those of us in the construction industry, the connection between this issue and Alaska’s future workforce is clear. Construction workers do not just build in Alaska — they live here. They raise families here. For skilled tradespeople to commit to building their careers in this state, they must believe Alaska is a place where their families can thrive. That means having confidence that schools will have stable, experienced teachers. It means knowing roads will be plowed in the winter. It means trusting that when you call 911, someone will answer and someone will come.There is another perspective worth considering: no one understands the value of defined benefit retirement plans better than the building trades. For generations, union construction workers have relied on defined benefit pensions that reward long-term commitment and skilled work. These systems help create the stability that allows workers to dedicate their careers to mastering their craft. Some argue that defined benefit pensions are outdated or that younger workers do not value them. Our experience says otherwise. The strength of Alaska’s building trades workforce is proof that when workers know their years of hard work will lead to a secure retirement, they are far more likely to commit their careers to that profession.There is also a practical economic reality at stake. Major construction projects do not move forward without competent, experienced public agencies. Contractors depend on permitting offices, inspectors, engineers and municipal building departments to review plans, issue permits and ensure projects meet safety standards.When those offices are understaffed or constantly turning over personnel, projects slow down. Delays increase. Costs rise. And the people who ultimately feel the impact are Alaska’s workers and communities.in Anchorage, Alaska will need a capable public sector that can process permits, review engineering plans and keep projects moving safely and efficiently.Restoring a defined benefit retirement system will not solve every workforce challenge Alaska faces. But it is a meaningful and practical step toward rebuilding the stability that public service careers once offered — and that our communities urgently need.Supporting HB 78 is ultimately about ensuring that Alaska remains a place where families can build a future, where public servants can build careers and where the infrastructure that supports our economy can continue to be built by the skilled workers who call this state home.is president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Southcentral Alaska and the elected business representative of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Alaska Local 1959.Opinion: Before chasing megaprojects, Alaska must face the real costs
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