Full Micron CBA Platform
Our Campaign
In an effort to maximize the success of the Micron project, our alliance is calling for a community benefits agreement (CBA).
Jobs Access, Workforce Development, and Equitable & Safe Workplace
Commit to a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace and a family-sustaining compensation package – Micron has a responsibility to pay its workers so that they and their families, and by extension the local economy can thrive. That includes a) a family-sustaining-wage and b) comprehensive benefits, including robust medical insurance and paid time off, retirement, and on-site childcare or subsidies for childcare. Measures such as pay equity and transparency, fair schedules, child care and other supportive services, inclusion and anti-bias training, and protections against discrimination and harassment will help ensure accessibility for and retention of women, people of color and other marginalized populations. Micron must also commit to ongoing training and professional growth of employees to ensure equitable promotion and advancement in a highly technical work environment.
Guarantee equity in hiring practices and workforce development – Micron must guarantee that a meaningful percentage of new hires come from marginalized local communities, particularly within the City of Syracuse, so that those who need good jobs the most have access to them. Micron must create a workforce development process focused on census tracts with the highest concentration of poverty in the CNY region. Micron must also commit to workforce development and hiring policies and programs free of access barriers such as GED requirements, English language proficiency requirements, and discrimination against workers impacted by the criminal legal system.
Ensure safe working conditions for workers – A good job is a safe job. Micron must commit to keep workers, their families, and community members safe from hazardous work conditions and toxic chemicals by implementing state-of-the-art health and safety protocols to protect workers and their families, especially from exposure to large quantities of toxic chemicals used during production.
Housing and Transportation Justice and Equity
Invest in public transportation infrastructure to ensure Micron’s facility is accessible to all CNY residents – Micron has a responsibility to the people of CNY and its own workers to invest in transportation services and infrastructure that will support safe, reliable, affordable and low-emissions transportation. Micron should supply electrified transit options to and from their facility factory (which is a site currently not accessible by public transportation) and to other areas in the region to facilitate access and reduce traffic congestion and associated air pollution. No matter what other commitments Micron might make to hiring workers from disadvantaged communities, these jobs and the local socioeconomic benefits projected by Micron’s development will not be accessible to transit-dependent people if quality public transportation is not available.
Invest in affordable, safe, and secure housing for existing and new residents – The population growth driven by the Micron project could exacerbate housing affordability issues.A cooperative effort between Micron and state, county, and city government agencies is needed to expand the availability of mixed income affordable, climate-friendly, and safe housing. This includes the protection of existing affordable housing, strengthening tenant protections, and ensuring appropriate maintenance of the housing stock.
Strengthen the Regional Healthcare System to Meet Growing Demands – Micron should invest in strengthening Central New York’s regional health infrastructure, including expanding hospital capacity, maternal and primary care access, and workforce training pathways to meet rising demand and the projected population growth by 2045. Micron should ensure that healthcare jobs created at its facility and as part of health infrastructure are dignified, family-supporting jobs.
Investment in our school: Micron must expand its direct investment in our public school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and hands-on learning opportunities in both our K–12 schools and community colleges. Micron must also commit to ensuring that the pathways you help build are accessible, inclusive, and equitable for all learners in our community, including those with disabilities and English New Learners.
Public Health and Safety, Environmental Health, and Resource Justice
Protect communities’ health and safety from toxic chemicals used to make microchips. Micron must commit to protecting clean water, soil, and air by reducing its use of toxic chemicals and adhering to the highest standards for handling and disposing of hazardous waste. Micron must not pollute our air, soil, waterways, and groundwater with any of the hundreds of chemicals used in their production process, especially highly toxic ones such as arsine, phosphine, PFAS (“forever” chemicals”), and hydrogen fluoride. Micron must commit to: Reporting the types and quantities of chemicals used; Minimizing its use of toxic chemicals; Using best practices to handle toxic chemicals and waste and to address chemical spills; Using wastewater technologies that eliminate forever chemicals; Controlling air emissions; and Commit to long-term monitoring of water and air quality in the affected areas.
Limit immediate and long-term environmental harms and care for impacted land, water, and fish and wildlife – Micron must ensure that their mitigation plan fully replaces the valuable wetlands habitat, watershed, and habitat for multiple endangered species that the project will destroy, and minimizes negative impacts to native species and ecological communities. Environmental protections should also include protecting the vibrant agricultural economy of our region which relies upon healthy soil and waterways.
Commit to affordability and abundance of energy & clean water for communities – Micron must ensure that their massive energy and water use does not affect the affordability and abundance of energy and clean water in Central New York or elsewhere. The costs of infrastructure upgrades and higher energy demand to benefit Micron are not the responsibility of ratepayers.
Generate renewable energy and minimize contributions to the global climate emergency – To meet Micron’s 100% renewable energy commitment and to help meet the goals of New York’s signature law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Micron must create a comprehensive plan to generate or purchase new renewable energy using wind, solar, hydro or other renewable technologies as well as ensure adequate power and grid and storage infrastructure – without relying on renewable energy credits.
Transparency and Accountability to the Community – Because the people of New York deserve to know how their public funds are being spent and workers and surrounding communities deserve to know how Micron is living up to its commitments, Micron should release regular, publicly available reports on their compliance with commitments all of the issues outlined above. Regarding Micron’s workforce, quarterly reports should include wage, benefits, hiring, demographics and other data for each kind of job. Micron should also ensure community engagement by providing funding for independent community oversight and review councils engaging stakeholders and experts to monitor Micron’s economic, environmental and social impacts and delivery on commitments.