[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 186 Agreed to House (ATH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 186
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Laborers'
International Union of North America and congratulating the members and
officers of the Laborers' International Union of North America for the
Union's many achievements.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2003
Mr. George Miller of California (for himself and Mr. LoBiondo)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce
April 9, 2003
Committee on Education and the Workforce discharged; considered and
agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Laborers'
International Union of North America and congratulating the members and
officers of the Laborers' International Union of North America for the
Union's many achievements.
Whereas Samuel Gompers, the first president of the American Federation of Labor,
challenged laborers across the country to coordinate their activities
into one cohesive unit, and in response 25 delegates from 17 cities--
representing more than 8,000 laborers--met in Washington, D.C. on April
13, 1903;
Whereas after four days of meetings these representatives formed the
``International Hod Carriers' and Building Laborers' Union of America''
(Laborers' Union);
Whereas the Laborers' Union was started and built by immigrants and minorities,
and today immigrants and minorities continue to be the fastest growing
segment of the Union's membership;
Whereas, in 1920, the Laborers' Union backed efforts by African-Americans to win
equal treatment in other United States labor unions;
Whereas by the late 1920s a boom in construction caused the Laborers' Union
membership rolls to approach 100,000, and during this period the merger
and addition of three other unions--the International Compressed Air and
Foundation Workers Union; the Tunnel and Subway Constructors
International Union; and the International Union of Pavers, Rammermen,
Flag Layers, Bridge and Curb Setters and Sheet Asphalt Pavers--further
added to the Laborers' Union's size;
Whereas the members of the Laborers' Union provided crucial support to the
National defense effort during World War II, and during the post-World
War II industrial boom the Laborers' Union began organizing
nonconstruction workers in the labor force;
Whereas, in 1950, the Laborers' Union built their own training center in Kansas
City, opening an era of high-quality training to help workers advance in
their jobs and careers by providing more opportunities for them and
their families;
Whereas, in 1955, the Laborers' Union affiliated itself with the AFL-CIO
Industrial Union Department in order to effectively represent the 60,000
laborers working under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Union
Department;
Whereas, in 1965, the Laborers' Union officially changed its name to the
``Laborers' International Union of North America'' (LIUNA) to better
reflect the continual expansion of the union beyond the construction
field;
Whereas, during the 1960s, LIUNA successfully organized municipal, State, and
university employees, and in 1968 added the 20,000 Mail Handlers Union
to their ranks;
Whereas, in 1970, intensive lobbying by LIUNA and other unions resulted in the
creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
Whereas more than 3,000 LIUNA members worked round-the-clock to clean up the
site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City,
completing the clean-up three months ahead of schedule and under budget;
Whereas LIUNA currently consists of approximately 800,000 members in more than
650 locals;
Whereas LIUNA has long played a vital role in building the United States by
constructing highways, bridges, tunnels, subways, dams, power plants,
factories, office buildings, schools, churches, hospitals, and apartment
buildings and houses;
Whereas LIUNA members work in a variety of fields such as local, State, and
Federal government service, health care, mail handling, custodial
services, shipbuilding, food service, and hazardous waste removal;
Whereas LIUNA is one of the most innovative unions in the labor movement, with
69 state-of-the-art training centers across North America, and is among
the most successful unions at organizing within the labor movement;
Whereas LIUNA is an extraordinary union whose leadership works hard to protect
its members' health and safety, to provide laborers a strong voice in
the workplace and extensive skill training designed to empower members
to reach their full potential, and perhaps most important, to ensure the
dignity, respect, and security of laborers in the workplace; and
Whereas LIUNA's efforts are deserving of our attention and admiration: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the founding of the
Laborers' International Union of North America and acknowledges
the tremendous contributions LIUNA has made to the structural
development and building of the United States and to the well-
being of countless laborers;
(2) congratulates the members and officers of the Laborers'
International Union of North America for LIUNA's many
achievements and the strength of its membership; and
(3) looks forward to the continuation of LIUNA's efforts
and believes that LIUNA will have an even greater impact in the
21st century and beyond, enhancing the standard of the living
and work environments for future laborers.
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