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Laborers Local 175 |
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Workers and Lawrence Community members have an important role in our project. To learn more please go to the following sections.
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Background
LIUNA Laborers’ Local 175, one of the largest institutions representing Hispanic workers in Lawrence, has repeatedly stressed the importance of addressing fall hazards that endanger Latino and other laborers. Currently, it has over 500 members, the majority of whom are Spanish speakers from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Central American countries. Local 175 plays a key role in protecting the health and safety of both its own members and the estimated several thousand non-union construction laborers in the Lawrence area. The union has adapted OSHA 10-hours safety courses to be linguistically, culturally, and educationally appropriate to the Hispanic workforce, via a research collaboration with the Department of Work Environment (OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant) during 2003–2005.
Key Role
Developing and institutionalizing the union role in addressing fall and silica hazards is one of Laborers Local 175's primary role. It participates in design and validation of training programs; provides feedback on instruments, protocols for research activities, and interpretation of data; and writing and reporting of results. Laborers Local 175 (LIUNA) takes part in designing inter-organizational and policy level interventions.