ABOUT OUR LOCAL

Members of LIUNA are experienced Construction Craft Laborers that rely on a diverse set of skills, performed on a wide variety of jobsites. LIUNA members build roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, tunnels, transit and energy systems as well as work on demolition and renovation projects. Members assist in the construction and maintenance of power plants and substations, dig trenches for lines, and repair roads after line installation, and build supporting infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines. Members are skilled in general construction, concrete placement, roadway construction, site preparation, pipelaying, erosion control, hoisting and rigging, OSHA safety, permit-required confined space, rough terrain forklift operation, trenching and excavation safety, erecting turbines, and solar panel installation.

Laborers Local 785 has a New York State Approved Apprentice Program. This program is an "earn while you learn" program. Applications for the Apprentice Program are accepted year-round. The application can be completed on this website under the "Join Local 785" tab, or call (607) 272-3122 to request one be mailed to you. Interviews for the Apprentice Program are held quarterly. Most apprentices are indentured in January of each year. Please see the training tab for more information.

OFFICE HOURS : Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

OFFICE TELEPHONE: (607) 272-3122 FAX: (607) 277-6883

There is an answering machine in operation for all hours the office is closed. Messages are retrieved in the morning.

YOUR TELEPHONE AND ADDRESS: It is very important that we have your current telephone and mailing address at all times. If you change your address and/or telephone number please notify us immediately.

Union meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. They are at 7:00 p.m. at the Laborers Local 785, Waverly Training Center, 180 Rt. 34 Waverly, NY14892. All members are encouraged to attend the monthly meetings. 

Keep informed as to what is going on in your union and get to know your fellow members!

You are responsible for paying $35.00 per month union dues. This will increase to $40 on January 1, 2025. This is in addition to the 6% dues deducted by your employer from your gross wages. Your Constitution states, "Dues are due the first day of the month and must be paid by the last day of the second month or the member is deemed suspended by the Laborers’ International Union without notice." Please note that you must hold a union book/card in order to hold a union job. Contractors/Employers are notified immediately of suspensions.

You should have your union book/card stamped every time you pay dues. Dues can be paid:

• You can pay your dues at the union hall any time during office hours.

• You can pay dues at the union meetings.

• You can leave your book/card and payment in a sealed envelope in the U.S. Mail slot on the front door of the union hall; your book/card and receipt will be mailed back to you.

• You can mail your book/card and payment to Local 785, 622 W. State St, Ithaca, NY 14850; your book/card and receipt will be mailed back to you.

• Call the Union Hall and pay with credit card, however there is a bank card fee of 3%, make checks payable to: Laborers' Local 785 - or - 

• You can pay your dues online or set up recurring payments here.