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