Articles & News

Ask applicants to the Illinois Laborers and Contractors Joint Apprenticeship Training Program what laborers do, and most people will say they hold the flag at road construction sites."We do a lot more than that," said Michelle Payne, apprenticeship director.Union laborers work with asphalt and concrete, build bridges, remove asbestos and other haza...

On October 3, 2015, ANSI certified instructor, George Martinez, taught a 3-day class on ICRA (Infection Control Risk Assessment) at our Stanford Facility. There were 9 Laborers in attendance, all of which are employed by O'Shea Builders out of Springfield, Illinois. O'Shea Builders currently has projects underway at both St. John's Hospital in Spri...

By Mike MatejkaThe Illinois Education Association, the IEA, the state's largest teachers' union, had a Representative Assembly meeting in Chicago, where Democratic Governor Patrick Quinn faced off against Republican nominee Bruce Rauner.Throughout the primary, Rauner has targeted what he calls "union bosses." IEA elected President Cinda Klickna ask...

By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSARHerald-Whig Staff WriterMOUNT STERLING, Ill. -- After a few simple instructions, Rob Fisher took the wheel.The forward-and-back dance of Fisher's feet and the trowel machine was intended to smooth a concrete pad -- and teach him valuable skills of the laborer trade."Try not to stop in one spot. You're going to dig a hole," ins...