FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 26, 2018
Media Contacts:
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic:
Ashley Hansen
ahansen@maliuna.org
703-476-7381
Virginia’s Community Colleges
Jeffrey J. Kraus
jkraus@vccs.edu
804-592-6767
Labor Union Announces Partnership to Train and Hire Local Residents for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (January 26, 2018) —The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
announced a partnership with the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) to recruit and train
Virginia residents to work on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project. The two organizations signed a
Memorandum of Understanding outlining the details of the collaboration.
“This partnership reinforces LIUNA’s commitment to recruit and train as many Virginia residents as
possible to work on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. This project is going to provide middle class wages and
family health benefits to hundreds of our members across Virginia,” said Dennis Martire, Vice President
and Regional Manager of LIUNA Mid-Atlantic.
LIUNA Local Union 980, out of Roanoke, Va., will dispatch current LIUNA members who live on the
pipeline route as well as new, local hires.
“Through our partnership with Virginia’s community colleges, we intend to hire well over half of the
Atlantic Coast Pipeline workforce from those who live in nearby communities,” Martire added.
Pipeline workers will train at six Virginia community colleges, selected for their proximity to the
pipeline route: Dabney S. Lancaster, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Southside Virginia, Paul D. Camp, and
Tidewater. Together, LIUNA and the colleges will recruit, screen, and train prospective workers.
“Virginia’s Community Colleges are dedicated to providing workforce training opportunities to people
throughout the commonwealth. This partnership is another opportunity for us to help connect Virginians
with good-paying jobs,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
Training will provide local Virginia residents with the skills necessary for a range of pipeline work,
including installing environmental control devices, performing ground clearing, coating and installing
pipe, and restoring the right of way.
Ground preparation for the ACP began last weekend with some Virginia LIUNA members already
dispatched to the project. As ground preparation continues and the project prepares for full construction
in the spring, plans of a significant ramp up in workers starting in March is expected.
“Not only are Virginians proud to work on a project that will help reduce their state’s carbon emissions
and bring affordable, dependable energy to Virginia, but they want to work on the Atlantic Coast
Pipeline because they know this opportunity will lead them to a promising career in the construction
industry,” said Martire.
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The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region represents more
than 40,000 working men and women who work in construction and public service in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Media Contacts:
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic:
Ashley Hansen
ahansen@maliuna.org
703-476-7381
Virginia’s Community Colleges
Jeffrey J. Kraus
jkraus@vccs.edu
804-592-6767