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

Nov

22 LIUNA AA Caucus President elected as the first black leader of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council

Click to read article:

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/ryan-boyer-elected-first-black-leader-of-building-trades-council/article_5872da7c-bf5b-5924-a864-4332781e3f64.html

Sep

03 LIUNA Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Fact Sheet for Communities of Color

LIUNA has added a Fact Sheet on the positive impacts the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Framework Bill (BIF) could have on communities of color. Be sure to check it out and share with your members.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.

Sep

03 PLEASE TUNE IN Tuesday, September 7th at 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. EST- LIUNA AA Caucus President Ryan Boyer participates in NAACP's Virtual Discussion on "Building Back Black - An Infrastructure Plan that works for Black America"

In recognition of Labor Day 2021, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will be hosting NAACP Labor Action Week 2021, September 2-7, 2021. LIUNA is happy to partner with the NAACP in this endeavor. Through the week of activities, the NAACP will celebrate and recognize the historic role of Black workers in advocating for workers' rights and supporting a robust economy.

The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) Bill seeks to invest nearly $550 billion in new spending on roads, bridges, broadband internet, water pipes, and other public works systems; hence creating upwards of 2 million jobs per year for the next decade. The BIF is crucial to all LIUNA memb...

29 Making It Plain Town Hall Meeting

Jun

16 LIUNA AA Caucus Member Brother Michael Bell Featured as MVP on Kansas City Radio Talk Show

LIUNA AA Caucus Board member and LIUNA Local 264 Business Manager, Brother Reggie Thomas, nominated Brother Michael Bell to be featured as the June MVP Spotlight on Channel 101 FOX Radio – Cumulus Kansas City Radio. Each month the station highlights a union member from the Greater Kansas City Building Trades Council. Brother Bell will be retiring at the end of June after 36 years with LIUNA and 24 years as an officer in Local 264.

The radio clip emphasized Brother Bell’s work in the Local and in the community. Brother Bell serves as the Recording Secretary and is also a Business Agent. Active in his church he also conducts the prayers at every E Bd and membership meeting of Local ...

26 LIUNA AA Caucus Board Member Brother Mamadou Bah (Local 506) cited as a Black Union Leader in "Celebrating Black Excellence in Construction" - Daily Commercial News - Toronto, CA

In honor of Black History Month, the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) profiled the achievements of five leading Black men in the construction sector, including one of our very own. LIUNA AA Caucus board member, brother Mamadou Bah of LIUNA Local 506, in Toronto, Canada was cited as a "Black Union Leader".

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE.

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.