Two more unions leave AFL-CIO

Wednesday 15th February, 2006

Two unions leave AFL-CIO

Big News Network.com
Tuesday 14th February, 2006 (UPI)

The Laborers' International Union and the International Union of
Operating Engineers said Tuesday they were leaving the AFL-CIO.

The two unions, two of the largest in the United States and have 1.1
million members between them, will leave the AFL-CIO's Building and
Construction Trades Department to form a new organization.

Both unions will join several other construction trade unions in
founding the National Construction Alliance, which will represent
virtually all union basic trades workers in the United States.

The NCA will focus on helping lift working and living standards for the
nation's approximately 8 million construction workers, increasing the
union share of the construction market and helping union contractors
compete in today's construction industry.

The construction industry has changed, said Laborers' Union General
President Terence M. O'Sullivan. If our union is going to provide our
members with good jobs, good wages, good training and safe workplaces,
we must embrace change and opportunities. It is our obligation to stop
decades of decline and begin a renaissance of unions in construction.