LIUNA’s Tri-Funds bring labor and management together to expand market share, win projects and jobs, enhance health and safety, and train for the future. 

LIUNA’s Tri-Funds are critical tools in our efforts to expand market share. The LIUNA Training and Education Fund (LIUNA Training), the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET), and the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA) develop the training, marketing, and health and safety programs that give us a competitive edge in winning work. LECET works with your Local Union, District Council and Regional Office to ensure that you have a steady stream of good work opportunities. LIUNA Training provides the training you’ll need to perform that work. The LHSFNA works to keep you safe on the job, and to ensure that you have the best health benefits in the industry.

Supported jointly by labor and management, the Tri-Funds are unique to the Laborers, and they benefit Laborers and their families in a number of ways. 

LIUNA Training and Education Fund 

LIUNA Training provides comprehensive education and training programs and services to LIUNA members, local unions, and construction and environmental remediation contractors, through 70 affiliated training funds located across the United States and Canada.

A key goal of LIUNA Training is to develop and facilitate Construction Craft Laborer (CCL) training that will enhance worker skills, promote workplace safety, offer job and career opportunities for a diverse workforce, and enable Laborers to obtain and maintain employment that provides excellent wages and benefits. The Fund develops professional educational materials (training manuals, audio-visual aids, and presentation materials) that are relevant to experienced and new Laborers.

In addition, LIUNA Training has an ongoing professional development program for instructors designed to enhance instructor technical and presentation skills.

Each year, approximately 120,000 journey workers and apprentices are trained to work in building construction, heavy and highway construction, construction supervision, environmental remediation, demolition, and restoration projects. This training teaches or renews CCL skills and frequently leads to new career paths. The training employs the best practices of adult education and is presented through interactive classroom instruction and exercises, hands-on training, and simulated worksite activities to provide the learner with the best and most productive learning experience possible. Successful completion of many of LIUNA Training programs, offered at local training centers throughout North America, provides LIUNA members with the opportunity to receive college credits and industry certifications.   

The Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET)  

LECET helps Laborers and signatory contractors win projects and jobs, not only to keep Laborers working, but to increase market share and make Laborers the first choice of contractors and owners. LECET provides many valuable services, tools, and resources that LIUNA Local Unions, District Councils, and Regional Offices can use to increase market share, projects and jobs.

LECET representatives throughout North America work to build relationships with contractors, owners, developers, and users of construction services.

They monitor upcoming projects and jobs, highlight the advantage of utilizing LIUNA members, work to ensure fair contracting, promote the use of “best value” contracting, and do whatever is necessary to help Laborers and their employers win work. 

LECET works closely with your Local Union and District Council to measure the share of the local construction market they control, and to help them target their efforts to grow that market share. LECET tracks projects and jobs, gathers corporate intelligence, and alerts your Local Union to upcoming construction projects. LECET also works with industry trade groups to support vital market-related legislation. 

LECET’s National Office and 35 affiliates deliver these services throughout the United States and Canada, to Laborers and signatory contractors at the national, regional, District Council and Local Union levels.

Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA)

Everyone deserves to work in a safe environment. For members of LIUNA, ensuring that you work on safe job sites and that you and your family have the best health care possible have always been key concerns for your Union. Safe and healthy work sites reduce injuries and illness and prevent accidental deaths, benefiting both labor and management. Strong health programs help you and your family live better lives. To achieve these goals, LIUNA and its signatory contractors established the LHSFNA in 1988.

The LHSFNA provides assistance to you, your leaders, your employers and your health fund.

When requested by Local Unions and management, staff members conduct worksite visits to identify hazards, solve specific problems, assist in the establishment of site safety programs and committees and address OSHA compliance issues. e Fund’s Health Promotion Division identifies and develops prevention strategies for long-term health risks before they become problems for LIUNA members and their families, and works with health and welfare funds to improve health benefits and control health care costs. The Fund’s staff works with LIUNA Training to develop safety training programs covering a wide range of safety concerns. 

The Fund’s Research Division investigates the origins of occupational disease and works with industry partners to develop practical means to eliminate the risks. The Fund’s staff works on a variety of programs with federal agencies to develop and implement programs to advance the safety and health objectives of LIUNA and its signatory employers. The LHSFNA produces over 100 health and safety publications on issues relative to Laborers. These resources are available through the Fund’s website.