LIUNA African American Caucus

In Diversity There is Strength

WE ARE LIUNA

Mission

The mission of the LIUNA African American Caucus is to identify, promote and support issues that address the needs and interests of LIUNA members of African descent, their families and the communities they live in.

Overview

The Caucus works to identify, promote, and support issues of concern for African Americans within LIUNA for the purpose of advancing and sustaining LIUNA!’s mission and goals and interests.

POWER OF LIUNA

The Laborers International Union of North America is a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build the United States and Canada. A half-million strong, we are united through collective bargaining agreements which help us earn family-supporting pay, good benefits and the opportunity for advancement and better lives.

Get your LIUNA "Black Lives Matter" T-Shirt NOW!

The Black Lives Matter Movement is a call for much needed change across many barriers for all people of color, especially African Americans. Now is the time for systemic changes in this country. Our BLM T-shirt project is one way the AA Caucus is addressing the need for change and exemplifying a show of solidarity against injustice. We believe LIUNA members who wear the t-shirts, will do so with PRIDE knowing that our union stands on the right side of justice. Wearing the t-shirts is an expression of support for the AA Caucus, the BLM Movement, and most importantly LIUNA’s motto of "Justice, Honor and Strength".

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The African American Caucus (AAC)

In 1996 the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) announced the creation of a Minority Advancement Department. The Department was formed to address the concerns of the growing minority membership within the union and to develop links with minority communities around the country.

In June 2001, General President Terence M. O’Sullivan appointed the Minority Advancement Advisory Committee. Since that time members of the Advisory Committee have met and formed minority caucuses. One of the caucuses formed is the LIUNA caucus.

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LATEST NEWS

Jan

06 From Protest to Power 2021 MLK Conference

Registration is now live for the @AFLCIO 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference! The conference will be held Jan. 15–16 and will be free for all participants, but you must register in order to attend.

Emerging from a year that has presented many challenges and obstacles, our theme for the 2021 MLK Conference is “From Protest to Power: When We Fight, We Win,” in order to honor the brave and bold leadership of the activists among us and celebrate the power of people united in collective action toward justice for all.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Dec

17 LIUNA Joint Caucus Effort assists LIUNA AA Caucus Members work with NAACP Civic Engagement Program in Battleground States for November Election

Working together works! - The three LIUNA Caucuses (AA, Women, Latino) are very effective when working together on joint projects. With the 2020 election so critical for all LIUNA members, caucus leaders reviewed several organizational plans focused on supporting voter engagement. In early September, caucus leaders pledged joint monetary support to the National NAACP Civic Engagement Program. Subsequently, LIUNA AA Caucus members worked with the National NAACP Civic Engagement Program in battleground states to effect change in the November election. Through a grant process, caucus members developed separate strategy frameworks to work with NACCP state conferences and/or branches in five of t...

17 LIUNA AA Caucus Partners with GA Stand-Up to Support Voter Education in the 2021 GA Senate Runoffs

The LIUNA AA Caucus partnered with Georgia Stand-Up to support voter education and GOTV efforts in the 2021 Georgia Senate runoffs. GA Stand-Up is a think and act tank comprised of an alliance of leaders dedicated to community education. Leaders are represented from labor organizations, community, faith-based organizations and academia. The caucus supported GA Stand-Up by providing funding for 20,000 non-partisan door knockers. The literature included information focused on voter education - verifying voter registration status, providing voting deadlines and including a slate of all candidate choices.

Georgia Stand-up volunteers will conduct lit drops and canvas potential voters with the go...

01 LIUNA Local 264 AA Caucus members partner to host a Back To School Drive in Kansas City, MO

On August 29, 2020, LIUNA AA Caucus board member BM Reginald Thomas, AA Caucus members and other members from LIUNA Local 264 in Kansas City,MO partnered with City Councilwoman, Ryana Parks-Shaw, the AFL-CIO, Teamsters Local 41, KC BCTD, the Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Catholic Charities and Swope Health Services to host a Back-to-School-Drive at Swope Park. Families were provided free backpacks filled with school supplies, vouchers to receive a free laptop, food distribution and COVID testing. Despite the inclement weather, over 100 vehicles lined up bumper to bumper waiting to be served. Food distribution served 415 households, 814 adults, 584 children, and 138 seniors....

12 LIUNA AA Caucus Members participate in #BLM movement protest in Brooklyn, NY

LIUNA AA Caucus board member, Barrie Smith and 100 Black Construction workers whom most are also members of the LIUNA AA Caucus participated in the Brooklyn, NY Memorial to George Floyd and the #BLM movement. The members marched across the Brooklyn Bridge and provided security for Terrance Floyd, brother of George Floyd. LAAC Board member Smith spoke to the audience and all assisted in giving out boxes of food to the community.

Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams and Assemblyman Andy King spearheaded the memorial. Aim High and organization to mentor young black men also participated.

12 LIUNA Supports Black Lives Matter Movement

09 LIUNA Canadian Local 506 in Toronto #BLM Support letter to AA Caucus

Click here to download letter.

Jun

01 LIUNA AA Caucus President on the Killing of George Floyd

The past several days have struck at my heart in so many ways.

As a black man, I have firsthand experience with the inequities of our system. Like too many other black people, I have lost friends and loved ones to violent crime and have seen the ways in which the system fails many of us.

As the leader of a labor organization with a majority African-American membership, recent events have caused me to consider the ways in which I can play a role in improving the system on behalf of my members and their families.

And, most importantly, as the father of black sons, I harbor an intense resentment for a system that makes me fear for my sons every time they walk out the door.

My voice on this issue is...

01 LIUNA AA Caucus Members Work with LIUNA District Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity and LIUNA Local 413 to Test Community Residents in Chester, PA

LIUNA District Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity & Laborers and Local 413 in Chester, PA where many members are also members of the LIUNA AA Caucus, partnered with the Black Doctors Consortium to offer FREE COVID-19 testing at LIUNA Local 413. 380 people were tested. Pictured is LIUNA Business Manager L 413 and AA Caucus member, James Harper Jr., and fellow African American Caucus members.

19 LIUNA African American Caucus Statement on the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery

LIUNA African American Caucus is morally outraged over the callous, brutal, and coldblooded murder of Ahmaud Arbery. Our generation is charged with showing the work our collective outrage, just as prior generations did with the heinous murder of Emmitt Till. We must amplify our voices to demand justice and swift punishment for these executioners. Also, we must expose the racist and corrupt system that continuously allows racist murderers to go home and not to prison where they belong. We sincerely pray for his family during this very dark hour.

CLICK TO READ OFFICIAL STATEMENT.