IV 

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; 
2

•HRES 186 ATH 

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 
3

•HRES 186 ATH 

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; 

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; 
4

•HRES 186 ATH 

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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the 

3 founding of the Laborers’ International Union of 

4 North America and acknowledges the tremendous 

5 contributions LIUNA has made to the structural de6 velopment and building of the United States and to 

7 the well-being of countless laborers; 

8 (2) congratulates the members and officers of 

9 the Laborers’ International Union of North America 

10 for LIUNA’s many achievements and the strength of 

11 its membership; and 

12 (3) looks forward to the continuation of 

13 LIUNA’s efforts and believes that LIUNA will have 

14 an even greater impact in the 21st century and be15 yond, enhancing the standard of the living and work 

16 environments for future laborers.

Æ