> The critics pointed to several unusual provisions in the labor agreements. One part of Local 147’s deal entitles the union to $450,000 for each tunnel-boring machine used. That is to make up for job losses from “technological advancement,” even though equipment has been standard for decades
They literally have to pay the union $450,000 for using machines that have been standard around the world for fifty years.
So both are getting paid, out of money taken by force from the population. Neither has an interest in making this stop.
About the only hope is that 1-sided political donations will sufficiently tick off a political party at the national level. There is a tiny chance that national law could change because of that.
Nobody scoffs at Elon Musk for suggesting he could reduce the cost of tunneling in the US. It's not like it's a mystery why tunneling is so expensive. They scoff at the suggestion that he's somehow unique or exceptional for making that claim.