Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 81 Vice President and Field Representative Corey Campbell joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed efforts to grow his Local through expanding apprenticeship programs in the face of increased job demand due to the upcoming impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Representing about 1,164 construction workers in Northern Indiana, Local 81 ended last year with a little over 100 apprentices, Campbell said. This past Friday, the Local announced it will take on another 70 to 100 apprentices. The need for apprentices is directly related to forecasted workload, especially with upcoming funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, he added.
Indiana is expected to get about $8.8 billion in infrastructure funding for bridges, highways, broadband expansion, wildfire protection and cybersecurity. The bipartisan infrastructure bill will provide great opportunities for union labor for generations, he explained.
Campbell also discussed the challenges of recruiting in Indiana, a So-Called “Right to Work” state. Fortunately, Local 81 has not suffered too much from Indiana’s anti-union policies, thanks to a healthy job market and strong union leadership, he said.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: