2023 -- H 6520
========
LC003177
========
S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
____________
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
HONORING ARMAND E. SABITONI ON HIS RETIREMENT AS GENERAL SECRETARY-
TREASURER AFTER NEAR LY TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF DEDICAT ED SERVICE TO
THE LABORERS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Corvese, Chippendale,
Kazarian, McNamara, Kennedy, Cardillo, Solomon, and J. Brien
Date Introduced: June 13, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, Armand E. Sabitoni, the General Secretary-Treasurer of the Laborers' 1
International Union of North America (LIUNA) and the organization's New England Regional 2
Manager retired in April of 2023, after nearly twenty-two years of dedicated and commendable 3
service; and 4
WHEREAS, A skillful leader, tough and unafraid, and always an advocate for members' 5
rights, benefits, and working conditions, Mr. Sabitoni is a second-generation laborer, who began 6
his career in general construction as a laborer and member of Laborers' Local 271, Providence; 7
and 8
WHEREAS, During his years with Local 271, Mr. Sabitoni also attended the University 9
of Rhode Island and subsequently earned his law degree from the New England School of Law in 10
Boston; and 11
WHEREAS, Mr. Sabitoni's work experience together with his law degree provided him 12
with the foundation and determination to effectively rise through the ranks, serving as Auditor, 13
Vice President, and President of Local 271, followed by Business Manager and Secretary-14
Treasurer of the Rhode Island Laborers' District Council, to LIUNA Vice President and New 15
England Regional Manager, and Assistant to the General President, and ultimately on May 1, 16
2001, as General Secretary-Treasurer, LIUNA's second highest ranking office, where he has lead 17
LIUNA's more than 500,000 members into a new era of authority and influence; and 18
WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Mr. Sabitoni has received numerous awards 19
LC003177 - Page 2 of 2
recognizing his outstanding leadership and his impact on bettering the quality of life for working 1
families. He is also credited with the Union's unprecedented growth in numbers and with the 2
substantial increase in the union's assets and comprehensive rights for safer job sites for the men 3
and women of LIUNA; and 4
WHEREAS, Providing exemplary leadership on a broad range of issues and initiatives, 5
Mr. Sabitoni spearheaded the union's efforts to strengthen Laborers' training programs and 6
instituted apprenticeship positions to advance Laborers' careers and respond to the growing 7
requirements of the industry. He also helped to establish the union's first construction charter 8
school for high school students, which earned him a “Newsmaker of the Year” title from 9
Engineering News Record magazine in 2003; and 10
WHEREAS, Widely-admired and greatly influential in both Rhode Island and across the 11
country, Mr. Sabitoni has been strongly committed to the principle of democracy, using the 12
power and political impact of the union in order to advance the core values and objectives 13
beneficial to the union's membership. To the good fortune of union membership, he will continue 14
to serve as New England Regional Manager, representing members across the six New England 15
states, as well as most of New York State; and 16
WHEREAS, In addition to serving as LIUNA's General Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. 17
Sabitoni chairs the national Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, the national 18
Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust Fund, the national LIUNA Health and 19
Welfare Fund, and the Service Contract Education of Training Trust Fund, and LIUNA's health 20
and safety, pension and investment funds; and 21
WHEREAS, Mr. Sabitoni has consistently demonstrated that no amount of effort is too 22
great to put forth in accomplishing his goals. He has been of immeasurable benefit to the 23
members of the Laborers' International Union of North America, the people of the State of Rhode 24
Island, and to all those who have had the good fortune to work by his side; now, therefore be it 25
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 26
honors and thanks Armand Sabitoni whose fighting spirit and determination have paved the way 27
for a brighter future for the membership of the Laborers' International Union of North America 28
and our State. We furthermore wish him good health, fulfillment and continued success in all his 29
endeavors; and be it further 30
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 31
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Armand E. Sabitoni. 32
========
LC003177
========