Union Rallies to Restart Gateway Tunnel Project and Get Workers Back on the Job

Members of LIUNA Eastern Region held a rally this week demanding the release of federal funds for the Gateway Tunnel Project after the Trump administration froze billions in funding, causing a sudden work stoppage and layoffs for about 1,000 union workers.

LIUNA, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, represents more than 40,000 members across New Jersey, New York City, Delaware, Long Island, and Puerto Rico. At the rally, union members were joined by Governor Mikie Sherrill, Senator Cory Booker, and other lawmakers, calling for an immediate restart of the critical infrastructure project.

“Enough is enough. Get people back to work. Get our brothers and sisters in labor back on the job,” said Governor Sherrill during the protest.

The Gateway Tunnel Project is a $16 billion infrastructure plan to repair and expand train tunnels under the Hudson River between New Jersey and Manhattan. It is considered essential to the long-term stability of the Northeast Corridor, which supports hundreds of thousands of daily commuters and regional freight transport.

Work halted after the Trump administration withheld federal grants and loans approved for the project. Officials and union leaders say the decision was politically motivated and risks delaying the project by months or even years.

“Any delay translates directly to missed paychecks for working families,” said John Wade, Business Manager of Iron Workers Local 11. Union leaders also warned that skilled tradespeople could be moved to other jobs, making it harder and more expensive to restart construction.

Senator Cory Booker called the halt “deeply harmful to New Jersey’s working families,” while Senator Andy Kim noted that “shovels go down today,” threatening jobs and safety.

As of now, a court has temporarily lifted the freeze, but full funding has not yet been restored. LIUNA and other unions continue to pressure federal officials to unlock the remaining funds so construction can resume and laid-off workers can return to the job site.