Construction workers building TSMC microchip plant in Phoenix worried about pay cuts

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) -- The first phase of a massive semiconductor chip plant is being built in north Phoenix. It’s a $40 billion investment in Arizona by microchip Taiwanese semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company TSMC set to come online next year.

Political leaders on both sides are pushing to bring more high-tech jobs back to the States, but in a rush to complete construction, some blue-collar workers building the plant now claim they’re getting the squeeze with pay cuts.

Earlier this year, the chip manufacturer announced it was bringing in workers from their home country of Taiwan to speed up the construction. However, TSMC didn’t say exactly how many workers were being brought here to finish the project they hope to complete by the start of next year.

At the time, it was said the additional workers would not “impact” the thousands of construction workers already building the billion-dollar factory. But recently, multiple sources have come forward to Arizona’s Family saying they feel the new workers are here to replace them or as an excuse to cut their pay.

Sarah Porter, director of Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, says it won’t hurt farmers and shouldn’t impact the city’s water supply.

Early Wednesday, Arizona’s Family reached out for comment to TSMC and to a general contractor on the project. We received a response Thursday morning from the chipmaker which reads:

“In Arizona, TSMC is building what will be the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology in the U.S., which will not only build U.S. capacity for our customers but also benefit America to re-establish its strength in chip manufacturing.
Given we are now in a critical phase handling all of the most advanced and dedicated equipment in a sophisticated facility, we require skilled expertise for specific TSMC Arizona construction activities and are temporarily bringing to Arizona select specialized talent with strong experience – whom are E-2 visa holders – to support this work and the fast ramp up of this project. As of now, the number of workers coming to Arizona has not been determined, but they will only be in Arizona for a limited timeframe for this specific project and will not impact the 12,000 workers currently on-site every day nor our U.S.-based hiring.
We look forward to accelerating this project and ultimately spurring economic benefits, creating thousands of high-paying jobs, and driving innovation in Arizona and across the U.S.”
TSMC Statement to Arizona's Family

On Good Morning Arizona, Arizona’s Family asked Sen. Mark Kelly about the situation. He responded that he was focusing more on the high-paying jobs of the future when the factory was up and running. “I’ve spoken to the U.S. CEO of TSMC specifically about the jobs, and it’s important that these are for Arizonans. They are bringing in a small group of individuals to do some training, and that might be what you’re referring to and there was some press about that,” Sen. Kelly explained.

In the meantime, construction continues at the site near the I-17 and Loop 303 freeways.

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