H. Res. 186

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

April 9, 2003.

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
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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 roundthe-clock to clean up the site of the September 11, 2001,

terrorist attacks on New York City, completing the cleanup three months ahead of schedule and under budget;
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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
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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.

Attest:

Clerk.