Wages matter. Job security matters. But for Dennis L. Martire, there’s another dimension of labor advocacy that sits at the very foundation of everything else: keeping workers safe. In an industry like construction — where physical risk is part of the daily reality — safety isn’t a secondary concern. It’s essential.
As the longtime vice president and regional manager of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) for the mid-Atlantic region, Martire has made workplace safety a consistent pillar of his leadership. His engagement with this issue operates on multiple levels. Through his membership on the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America, he participates in developing and advancing safety standards and programs that protect union members across the country. This national-level engagement ensures that best practices in hazard prevention, equipment use, and job-site protocols continue to evolve in ways that actually reach the workers on the ground.
At the state and local level, Martire’s advocacy for prevailing wage laws also intersects directly with safety. One of the key — and often underappreciated — benefits of fair wage requirements is their positive effect on how work gets done. When workers are appropriately compensated and job sites maintain professional standards, projects tend to be completed with greater care and fewer accidents. Research supports this connection, and Martire has long been an articulate voice in making that case to policymakers.
His career has also included continuous advocacy for the kinds of working conditions that reduce physical strain, minimize exposure to hazardous materials, and ensure laborers have the training and equipment they need to do their jobs safely. These aren’t abstract commitments — they emerge from decades of direct experience representing workers and understanding the real risks they face. Martire’s approach reflects a deeply held belief: a union that fights for wages but ignores safety is only doing half the job. By treating worker safety as integral to — not separate from — the broader mission of labor advocacy, Dennis L. Martire has helped build a legacy that goes beyond pay stubs and contract language.