The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) will begin offering 12 weeks of maternity leave benefits starting Jan. 1, 2025. New mothers will be eligible for up to $800 per week for 12 weeks.
Laborers Local 737 Business Manager Zack Culver said he hopes the new benefits will encourage more women to apply to join the Laborers union and that they’ll help retain female members who may otherwise leave the workforce when they have children.
Women account for about one-fifth of Local 737’s membership, but those numbers are trending upward among new apprentices.
LiUNA General President Brent Booker announced the new policy at the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in late September.
As of early November, locals had few details on the maternity leave program. Culver said locals were awaiting more information from the international union.
It isn’t clear how the new program will work in states with paid medical leave. Federal law provides up to 12 weeks of protected — but unpaid — medical leave. Thirteen states, including Oregon and Washington, offer paid medical leave that can be used to care for a new child.
