1. April 13, 1903
a. International Hod Carriers and Building Laborers’ of
America
2. September 1912
a. International Hod Carriers and Common Laborers’ Union of
America
1. Common laborers’ employed in the construction of streets,
sewers and tunnel work.
3. Feb 1929
a. By agreement the Tunnel and Subway Contractors’
International Union merged with the
International
Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers’ Union of
America.
4. September 1965
a. AFL-CIO approved International Hod Carriers, Building and
Common Laborers’ Union of America. Name changed to Laborers’
International Union of North America (LIUNA)
5. Presently the LIUNA has about 1 million members from
all ethnic backgrounds. LIUNA represents different groups of
workers such as.
a. Construction workers
b. City and municipal employees
c. Teachers
d. Healthcare workers
e. Postal Service employees
2. Construction Industry
A. A career in the construction industry can provide a good
living for you and your families as well as some pride of
the accomplishments and the projects you helped to build.
B. Major Construction Industries
1. Buildings
2. Heavy and Highway
3. Demolition
4. Underground work and utilities
5. Remediation work
a. Lead Abatement
b. Asbestos abatement
c. Hazardous and biological Remediation
C. Construction Growth
1. Construction remains a major growing industry in America
2. Source of jobs for new entrees into the workforce
3. Construction spending is always increasing because of
high demand for projects and increasing population
a. Schools
b. Hospitals
c. Public and private work
d. Roadwork
e. Airport and aviation work
f. Infrastructure
D. A career in the construction industry is very rewarding
for the worker because they receive great satisfaction when
a construction site begins as a hole in the ground and is
transformed into a building through their hard work and
determination.
E. Construction projects are built on teamwork. A great
feeling of satisfaction comes from the relationships a
person makes with co-workers and management so the project
can be completed.
3. Employer and Employee responsibilities
A. Employer and Employees have similar responsibilities
1. Skill
a. Complete the work on time and under budget
b. Utilize safe work practices
1. PPE
c. Maintain equipment
d. Initiate ideas for getting the job done
e. Organize and planning work
f. Anticipate and solve problems before they become a
barrier to the project
2. Responsibilities
a. Displaying a positive attitude throughout the project
b. Working skillfully, safely, and productively
c. Setting and successfully achieving personal goals
d. Demonstrating a concern for quality
4. Benefits of Union Membership
A. Union members are better trained, make better wages, and
receive better benefits than their non-union counterparts.
1. Union members make about $200 more per week than
non-union members
2. Union Laborers are more marketable because of their
skills acquired through intensive training
5. Apprenticeship
A. In 2004 all Laborers must complete an apprenticeship
program before they can become journeymen.
1. Each future laborer
must complete a minimum of 288-300 hours of specialized
training
2. Each member’s wages are adjusted throughout the
program at 1000 hour intervals until 4000 hours are
worked in the field.
3. Specific training involved
a. Construction skills
b. Construction and environmental craft skills
c. Specialty skills
Supervision and leadership skills
History
