Spring 2024

My Fellow Brothers and Sisters,

I hope all had a great holiday season. Local 5 changed things up a little last year. In the past three years, Local 5 has held a holiday drive thru but this year we opened the hall up to all Local 5 members and had an open house/ walk thru in its place. All members that came thru picked up a gift and also grab a bight to eat. Also, we had local 5’s first annual “Spread the Joy and bring a Toy” drive, which was a huge success. Local 5 members were able to help bring holiday joy to kids in three different organizations: Children being treated at St James hospital, US Marine Corp Reserve’s Annual Toys for Tots Drive as well as to Bloom Township’s Youth Department’s program “Fun with Santa” event to assist local families in need. Thank you to all that were able to bring gifts!

In LiUNA news, our new general President Brent Booker, along with LiUNA’s Executive Board, has asked all their affiliates- District Councils and all Local unions to introduce and implement a new program ”Laborers Rising” to all of our LiUNA members throughout the United States and Canada. President Booker goal is to grow LiUNA from over 500,000 to a million members strong.

How do we do that? It could be by helping with anything from helping out at local food banks, to assisting veterans or our elderly. We will be hosting union rallies, marching in parades, or any type of positive community engagement. One of our first events will be participating in the March 3rd Chicago Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics. If you are interested in joining us, please scan the QR code on this page to get the latest information. Laborers Rising is about building power and making a difference with our union brothers and sisters.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6-BP35S7yJyIBb9fr3sdVHkqjh6uDRKn2PDHebnEEhAx6nw/viewform

Finally, as our Out-of-Work List currently sits at 39 laborers’ and with spring right around the corner, I want to reiterate that the Training Center classes fill up quickly and get harder to get into, the warmer it gets. If I can give any recommendations on the most requested certification needed, it would be hands down, the 10 or 30 hour OSHA certification. For shutdowns here in Illinois and Indiana, OSHA is a must have! Call Kim to help get you registered for a training center now.

In closing, remember to take advantage of the 2024 Dues Promotion by February 29th to receive your voucher. Hopefully our friend the groundhog is right with his prediction and spring comes early so we can all get an earlier jump on the year!

Fraternally yours,

Frank Taffora

President/ Business Manager