H.R. No. 2439
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Laborers' International Union of North America
is celebrating the 112th anniversary of its founding in 2015; and
WHEREAS, The union was established as the International Hod
Carriers and Building Laborers' Union at a convention in
Washington, D.C., on April 13, 1903; the founders included 25
delegates from 23 local unions in 17 cities, representing more than
8,000 construction workers; the union's original constitution was
published in three languages, English, German, and Italian,
representing the diversity of its membership; and
WHEREAS, By 1920, the union boasted more than 96,000 members
in 548 locals, and under the leadership of its president, Domenic
D'Alessandro of Boston, it supported the right of African American
trade unionists to be accepted as equals; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, the organization suspended all
dues and pledged its support to the national war effort; by 1942, it
had grown to 430,000 members, and it continued to expand during the
1950s, when it took in the 60,000 members of a postal carriers union
and the 3,000 members of a stone cutters union; and
WHEREAS, The union was a leader in the struggle for civil
rights, and in 1962, it was one of the few organizations to send an
African American officer to President John F. Kennedy's conference
on ending racial discrimination in unions; the following year,
members proudly marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, the organization changed its name to the
Laborers' International Union of North America, and it worked to
gain for its members important new benefits to improve their
quality of life, including health care and pension coverage; in
1973, one of its members, a laborer named Ray Mendoza, became the
first president of the Labor Council for Latin American
Advancement; and
WHEREAS, Over the ensuing years, the members of LIUNA have
continued to distinguish themselves through their contributions to
the nation; after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, LIUNA
members were among the first on the scene at the World Trade Center
to help in the rescue and recovery efforts, and they have since
played a vital role in the construction of Freedom Tower on the same
site; and
WHEREAS, Today, LIUNA represents more than half a million
members in 425 locals, and under the guidance of General President
Terry O'Sullivan and General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E.
Sabitoni, the organization continues to lead the effort to
strengthen the rights of laboring men and women across the
continent; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 112th anniversary of the
Laborers' International Union of North America and extend to its
members sincere best wishes for continued success in their
important work; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for LIUNA as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Alonzo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2439 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House