It’s a time of change at the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and the Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA). With the retirement of Terry O’Sullivan as General President and Armand E. Sabitoni as General Secretary-Treasurer, LIUNA and the entire labor movement are losing two leaders whose experience, passion and dedication to the cause are unmatched.
At the LHSFNA, we also saw the retirement of the longest serving member of our Board of Trustees. Management Co-Chairman Noel C. Borck had served as a Board member since the Fund’s inception in 1988. Following his departure and the departure of Armand E. Sabitoni as our Labor Co-Chairman, the LHSFNA welcomes newly elected General President Brent Booker as our new Labor Co-Chair and David F. Rampone as our new Management Co-Chair. The Fund’s Board underwent even more changes with the recent retirements of LIUNA Vice Presidents Rocco Davis, John Penn and Ray Pocino.
The contributions and impact of these legendary leaders will continue to be felt at LIUNA and the LHSFNA for years to come. We are forever grateful for their leadership and unwavering support. Fortunately, we have two strong, capable leaders in LIUNA General President Brent Booker and newly elected LIUNA General Secretary-Treasurer Michael F. Sabitoni, both of whom stand ready to carry the torch forward during this pivotal moment in LIUNA’s history.
Where some might only see obstacles, these LIUNA leaders see opportunities, and they’re wasting no time getting to work. LIUNA packed the halls of Congress during the recent North America’s Building Trades Unions’ Legislative Conference, emphasizing how important it is to protect and maintain the strong labor standards that are a cornerstone of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.
During that visit, LIUNA leaders from across the U.S. also voiced their strong support for Julie Su’s nomination as our next Secretary of Labor. More than any other agency, the Department of Labor is responsible for ensuring workers are protected from safety and health hazards on the job, are paid their fair share for the work they do and are protected from retaliation or other discriminatory practices when they make their voices heard. Working people in every corner of the U.S. deserve nothing less than a fully staffed and fully functioning Department of Labor.
In the meantime, the entire staff at the LHSFNA will continue to support LIUNA District Councils, Local Unions, health and welfare funds and signatory contractors in their efforts to protect the safety and health of LIUNA members across the U.S. and Canada. Because the joint partnership between union labor and management doesn’t require Congressional approval or political appointment – only a shared mission and a willingness to work together to achieve our goals. LIUNA and its signatory partners know that better pay, safer working conditions and reliable benefits packages make for happier members, more rewarding careers and a workforce ready and able to take on the challenges of tomorrow.
