Samuel Staten, Sr. is former Business Manager of Laborers’ Local #332 and the former Secretary-Treasurer of the Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia & Vicinity.

Sam Staten came up through the ranks working ten years as a construction laborer before becoming a Local 332 Field Representative in 1970.

In 1973 he was appointed Assistant Business Manager and in August 1978 he was elected the Business Manager, and held that position until May 2008. In March 2010, Sam officially retired from Laborers’ Local #332 and the Laborers’ District Council. Sam’s leadership was and still is essential to the continued evolution of Laborers’ Local 332.

Sam’s leadership does not stop with Laborers’ Local 332, he was also a Trustee of the Laborers’ District Council Building & Construction Health & Welfare Fund, Delegate to the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council, Board Member of the Philadelphia Housing Authority, Member of the African American Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of the Laborers’ District Council Building & Construction Pension Fund, Trustee of the Laborers’ District Council Education & Training Fund, Trustee of LECET and the LDC Health & Safety Fund, Trustee of the L.D.C. Legal Fund, President of the Philadelphia Building Trades, Board Member of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, chair of the PCCA Expansion Committee. He is still a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Appeals Board.

On October 3, 1987 the Friends of Labor Committee held a dinner honoring Samuel Staten, Sr. for his leadership. At the dinner, Sam was presented with $25,000 by his members. Sam stated that his deeds were done for charity and that he felt uncomfortable accepting the money. He, therefore, awarded the $25,000 to four charitable organizations, from that generous act, evolved the Annual Friends of Labor Charity Dinner, from which

Laborers’ Local 332 members have raised and given $1 million dollars to local organizations that provide services to the needy. Realizing that charity begins at home, Sam and his members provide thousands of dollars in scholarships to Local 332 members’ children. He also created the Emergency Relief Fund, which aids members with catastrophic problems.

Through his union leadership, he has pushed his members to get out and get involved with countless organizations, and the political occurrences in the city. Because of his keen awareness of the power of Labor, Local 332 has become a calling stop of almost every successful political candidate.

Sam is a genuine family man; he is the proud father of nine children.