BURRILLVILLE – The United Way of Rhode Island honored Pascoag resident Karen Hazard last month with Dante F. Mollo Labor United Award.
Hazard, 59, is the first woman to hold the position of president of the Rhode Island Laborers District Council. She has served as business manager, president, executive board member and steward for Laborer’s Local 1134 at Zambarano Hospital. Hazard also served Laborers Local 808 as a field representative and auditor.
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 started he career at the University of Rhode Island, and has held the classifications of cook’s helper, janitor, stores clerk carpenter and dietary supervisor.
“Karen is an outspoken advocate for the issues that affect public employees and those of Local 808,” notes a bio on the nearly 30 year state employee. “As a member of the LiUNA Women’s Caucus Karen has been a champion of workers rights as well as women, minority, and gay and lesbian rights.”
As president of the council, Hazard is responsible for the negotiations of 19 collective bargaining agreements for state, quasi-school, and municipal leaders.
She was reportedly selected for the award for being a “transformational leader in Rhode Island’s labor movement.” The award recognizes the strong partnership between the Labor Community and non-profit United Way. The award was named after the late Dante Mollo, a steelworker who had a long partnership with UWRI.
Hazard received the award during the organization’s annual celebration at Farm Fresh Rhode Island on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
