STATEMENT OF LIUNA GENERAL PRESIDENT
TERRY O’SULLIVAN
PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

During this year’s Public Service Recognition Week, from May 5-11, 2013, as we reflect on the outstanding service of the men and women who serve this nation as federal, healthcare, education, state, county, and local government employees, it is with great pride that the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) represents over 70,000 public employees. LIUNA public employees provide critical health care services, keep our parks clean, pick up our trash, maintain our roads, process our mail, and respond to emergencies both foreign and domestic. They work in all kinds of harsh environments, and often put their lives at risk to serve others.

LIUNA was chartered in 1903 as a construction union, but realizing the importance of representing our brothers and sisters in the public sector in the 1920s chartered the first public sector local in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the 1960s, LIUNA chartered our first federal employee Local Union and now represents tens of thousands of workers at the Defense Department, Indian Health Service, Federal Aviation Administration, National Park Service, and other agencies. LIUNA understands the importance of fighting for the rights of our members to have fair wages and good working conditions through the collective bargaining process at all levels of government. And, LIUNA members are pushing back against the attacks on collective bargaining, pensions and retirement security, and harmful sequestration cuts.

LIUNA is proud to support a resolution sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) that unanimously passed the Senate on April 16 which expresses the sense of the Senate that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the United States during Public Service Recognition Week.

LIUNA will continue to educate and support our members not only during this week of recognition but for all time. We at LIUNA want to say thank you to all public service employees who serve our communities each and every day.