Saxonburg, PA (November 21, 2017) – PA Governor Tom Wolf met Dennis Martire, LIUNA Mid-Atlantic Vice President and Regional Manager, and Phil Ameris, Business Manager of the Western PA Laborers’ District Council, at the Western Pennsylvania (PA) Training Facility yesterday.

Wolf cares about creating jobs for PA residents and reducing PA’s unemployment rate. Upon learning of LIUNA’s contribution to that goal, Wolf reached out to LIUNA to witness the training first-hand.

Located about 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh, the facility trains laborers for routine and technical construction jobs through a combined method of classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Wolf observed the OSHA Certification course, one of 34 courses offered at the facility, where he met 19 laborers participating in the course. This course promotes an understanding of the OSHA 1926 Code of Federal Regulation standards and how to apply them in a safe work environment.

Additional courses include concrete, asbestos, scaffolding, blueprint reading, and first aid.

“LIUNA fights for good pay and benefits for our workers because we know that they are well-trained and can complete projects safely and efficiently,” said Martire.

The facility’s resources are available to current LIUNA members and apprentices.

Wolf visited the facility a few days after the conclusion of National Apprenticeship Week, which was observed from November 13-19. LIUNA apprentices follow an “earn-while-you-learn” program, which means they are paid during the training process.

“Anyone can read about our facility online, but going to the facility provides so much more,” said Training Director Marc Ferrari. “You see the advanced equipment, but more importantly, you see the men and women who want to either learn or improve their skills.”

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The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region represents more than 40,000 working men and women in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina.