Our Union
LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – is a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build the United States and Canada. A half-million strong, we are united through collective bargaining agreements, which help us earn family-supporting pay, good benefits, and the opportunity for advancement and better lives.
LIUNA Eastern Region represents more than 40,000 members in Delaware, New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, and Puerto Rico. We provide the skilled and productive workforce to thousands of top employers and are proud to not just build, but build better.
Our Members
A diverse, highly skilled, and versatile workforce and a politically and community-minded union–that’s how people describe LIUNA. And it all starts with our federally recognized apprenticeship program and independently accredited skills and safety training, a game-changing educational opportunity offered to LIUNA’s newest members—all at no cost to apprentices.
Construction is our primary industry but LIUNA also works in environmental remediation, education, manufacturing, sanitation, security, and the public sector. Outside of work, LIUNA members are just like everyone else. We live in your community, raise families, volunteer our time, pay bills, and everything else you would expect. By sticking together as unionists, LIUNA creates opportunities for a better work environment which leads to better lives for our members and their families. By setting the standards for fair pay, benefits, and working conditions, LIUNA helps all workers.
Our Leadership
LIUNA leaders can be found throughout the union—at the District Council and Local Union level, at worksites, and in our various funds and departments. Overseeing all operations in the Eastern Region is LIUNA International Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager, Raymond M. Pocino.
liuna history
The Beginning
1903-1920
Born of strife and struggle, LIUNA members have been uniting for better lives since 1836 when the first recognized Laborers union was established in Philadelphia. Hundreds of Laborers Local Unions existed across North America at the turn of the century but they were only admitted to the early AFL as "Federal Locals."
New Direction
1921-1940
The advent of the Great Depression in 1929 not only put tens of millions of Americans out of work, including tens of thousands of Laborers, it also drove wages downward. With so many people jobless and struggling to support their families, unions lost much of their leverage to negotiate wage increases.
war to prosperity
1941-1960
Some of the most critical ways the union helped members improve their lives was not just through their wages, but also through health insurance, pensions, disability coverage, and other benefits offering greater physical and financial security.
Leading the Way
1961-1980
In 1962, LIUNA helped found the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department Safety Committee, and launched an effort to stop construction site cave-ins through intensive membership education and pushing protective legislation.
Improving Health & Safety
1981-2000
In the late 80’s and early 90’s many LIUNA regions implemented training programs to further improve the skills and safety of members.
In 1981, New York LIUNA Locals added drug and alcohol rehabilitation to their welfare programs.
