H. Res. 186
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 9, 2003.
Whereas Samuel Gompers, the first president of the Amer-
ican Federation of Labor, challenged laborers across the
country to coordinate their activities into one cohesive
unit, and in response 25 delegates from 17 cities—rep-
resenting 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 immi-
grants and minorities, and today immigrants and minori-
ties continue to be the fastest growing segment of the
Union’s membership;
Whereas, in 1920, the Laborers’ Union backed efforts by Af-
rican-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 cru-
cial support to the National defense effort during World
War II, and during the post-World War II industrial
boom the Laborers’ Union began organizing nonconstruc-
tion workers in the labor force;
Whereas, in 1950, the Laborers’ Union built their own train-
ing 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 fami-
lies;
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 expan-
sion 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;
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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 serv-
ice, 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 ex-
tensive 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 found-
ing of the Laborers’ International Union of North Amer-
ica 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 great-
er impact in the 21st century and beyond, enhancing the
standard of the living and work environments for future
laborers.
Attest:
Clerk.