Union Workers Power Project Jupiter—and New Mexico’s Future

By Michael Little, Vice President, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure-Sep 29, 2026

I began my career with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), where I learned a trade that started as a job but became a career filled with opportunity. The hands-on experience and technical training I received gave me the foundation to grow into the role I hold today.

Those early experiences continue to shape how I approach my work. At Oracle, I'm proud to bring that background with me as I work alongside talented union tradesmen and women helping build the data centers that will power our future. They are the foundation of this new generational opportunity for construction workers.

Oracle believes responsible development should create opportunity for the people and communities where we operate. That commitment is taking shape at Project Jupiter, where union workers are helping build critical cloud infrastructure while contributing to economic development across New Mexico.

As of August 31, more than 1,500 union workers across project trades have contributed to Project Jupiter. They are part of a workforce that has completed more than 2.8 million labor hours to date.

Union workers employed by contractors including UA Local 41, Sheet Metal Workers 49, IBEW Local 583, SW Regional Council of Carpenters (Local 1319), and others are contributing across nearly every phase of construction. From complex electrical and mechanical systems to concrete, insulation, and fire protection, these skilled tradespeople bring the training, experience, and craftsmanship required to deliver a project of this scale safely and effectively.

I asked a few of the union workers helping to build Project Jupiter about why this project is special to them. For many tradespeople, that opportunity also means spending more time close to home and with their families:

"One of the best things about this project is that we've been able to bring a lot of our people back home. When we closed the facility and there was a lack of work in the area, a lot of our membership had to travel for work. Now that we have this project here, we're able to bring back people who live in this area," said Rosendo Najar, President, Carpenters Local 1319; Lead Business Agent for New Mexico.

I also heard how the project's impact will also continue long after construction is complete. Union apprenticeship and training programs can help people enter the trades, build durable careers, and strengthen the local workforce for years to come:

"The job opportunities this project will create are huge and will have long-lasting effects. Someone with no experience can come into the trades and learn a career. We offer apprenticeships for painters and drywall finishers, and we also have members who have been in the union for a very long time. It means continued contributions to retirement accounts and health and welfare," said Uriel Apodaca, Field Representative, National Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 36, Local Union 823.

And I learned how union workers at Project Jupiter take pride in creating something with a larger societal impact for future generations:

"The project benefits families and the community because there are jobs, people are employed, people are getting fed, and finances are moving around. But for me, the bigger benefit is kids in the future. Life is technology based, and we're moving somewhere at a rapid speed. Planting this seed for the future is where the big payoff is," said Raul Retana, Laborers Union Local 16.

Project Jupiter is more than an investment in critical cloud infrastructure. It is an investment in the skilled workers, local families, and a community that's helping build New Mexico's future. We are proud to continue to move this important project forward together.

Learn more at ProjectJupiterTogether.com.