PROVIDENCE – She is the first woman to hold the position of president of the Rhode Island Laborers District Council and now, Pascoag resident Karen Hazard has again made labor history.
Hazard was elected secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO Executive Board making her only the second woman, and the first person of color, to hold executive office in the state’s largest union.
Hazard, age 60, has served as business manager, president, executive board member and steward for Laborer’s Local 1134 at Zambarano Hospital. For the Rhode Island Laborer’s District Council, Hazard has served as the business manager/district council delegate, along with being an executive board member. She also served Laborers Local 808 as a field representative and auditor and is the current business manager of LiUNA Local 808.
She started he career at the University of Rhode Island, holding the classifications of cook’s helper, janitor, stores clerk carpenter and dietary supervisor.
Last October, Hazard was honored by the United Way of Rhode Island with the with Dante F. Mollo Labor United Award.
And on Monday, Oct. 28, she was named among the state’s largest labor federation’s top officers, along with new union president Patrick Crowley.
“I know that with your support, Sister Hazard and I will be able to work with all of you to keep the Rhode Island labor movement strong and vibrant,” Crowley said in a statement following a special meeting of the RI AFL-CIO where the pair was elected Monday night.
“I’m humbled to earn the support of my sisters and brothers in the Rhode Island AFL-CIO,” said Hazard. “Together with President Crowley, I look forward fighting for all working-class people in Rhode Island, including those in unions and not-yet in unions.”
Founded in 1958, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for over 275 local unions, collectively representing over 80,000 working people across the Ocean State.
Crowley and Hazard’s leadership terms will run through the fall of 2025 and in a release this week, the pair listed priorities for the coming year including:
· Raising the minimum wage $1/year for the next 5 years.
· Making healthcare for workers more accessible and affordable.
· Making Rhode Island the center of offshore wind energy development.
· Making it easier for workers to form unions at employers who receive financial assistance from the state.
· Banning smoking at Rhode Island’s casinos.
· Banning so-called “Captive Audience” meetings.
For more information about the labor federation, visit www.rhodeislandaflcio.org.
