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Dear Brothers and Sisters:

I am writing to share with you exciting news from the LIUNA front. On Monday, our two tireless leaders—General President Terry O’Sullivan and General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni–both announced to the General Executive Board their intention to retire from their respective positions effective April 30, 2023. Throughout their entire careers, and especially as the leaders of this great international union, Terry and Armand have made a tremendous, really historic, impact.  If I were to list all of Terry and Armand’s accomplishments, this letter would turn into a book. So instead, let me just thank Terry and Armand for their leadership, service, and support of our International Union and congratulate them on their upcoming retirements!

It speaks to our union’s strength that two amazingly strong, competent, and committed leaders can pass on the duties and responsibilities of office to two equally strong, competent, and committed leaders. To that end, the General Executive Board voted unanimously to appoint LIUNA Vice President Brent Booker to become LIUNA’s eleventh General President and LIUNA Vice-President and Rhode Island Laborers’ District Council Business Manager Michael F. Sabitoni as our next General Secretary-Treasurer. This is great news for LIUNA, and I couldn’t be more optimistic for our future and excited for our Union

Brent is a third-generation Laborer who started his work in LIUNA’s Construction Department and, for past decade, served as General Secretary-Treasurer of the North American Building Trades Union. He comes into office ready and able to lead LIUNA to new heights. Similarly, Michael Sabitoni is also a third-generation laborer who has dedicated his working life to LIUNA and brings the knowledge and experience to ensure LIUNA has the financial resources and organizational strength to succeed and grow. I have worked with both Brent and Michael for many years now and look forward to continuing our work as members of LIUNA’s General Executive Board. 

It should be noted that in the 23-years that Terry and Armand led this great Union, we have experienced everything from major economic recessions and global pandemics to all-out legislative and political attacks on our union and our work. We have witnessed major shifts in our industries, growth in others, and have brought the fight to those who would challenge our jurisdiction or threaten our ability to work and organize. 

The first principle of leadership is that one leaves their organization in a better place than when they arrived.  For all that was already good about LIUNA when Terry and Armand assumed office, they most definitely left things far better off as they prepare to retire.  Knowing Brett and Michael as I do, I would expect them to do the very same thing.  I hope you will join me in offering our solidarity and support.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Michael E. Hellstrom
Vice President, LIUNA and Eastern Regional Manager

Following New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY24 budget address, LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager Michael Hellstrom released the following statement:

“I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul’s bold vision to build 800,000 homes as part of her New York Housing Compact. Governor Hochul demonstrates a keen understanding of the very real challenges families face securing safe, affordable housing and has put forth an ambitious and responsive policy proposal.

“While details of the Governor’s housing plan have yet to be finalized, it is my sincere hope that the New York Housing Compact will  include clear and enforceable labor standards that protect workers, strengthen communities, and help ensure responsible contracting in the residential construction industry.  If done right, the Housing Compact will not only build housing, it will also build long term careers in the unionized construction industry and set workplace standards that will extend far beyond any one building program.

“We will be working diligently until the April 1st budget deadline to ensure labor standards and protections are added to the final agreement. We trust that—together with Governor Hochul and our partners in the legislature–we can find a path forward that better supports the needs of working people in New York.”

EAST BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY — The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the 20,000-member political powerhouse in New Jersey has announced its support for Assemblyman Dan Benson in the race to serve as Mercer County Executive. The building trades union has two union halls in Mercer County (Local 172 in Trenton and Local 77 in Ewing), one of the state’s largest political action committees, and a politically active membership.

LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager Michael E. Hellstrom talked about Benson’s experience, energy, and openness to new ideas. “In addition to its government services, Mercer County is also an important and influential property owner and caretaker of public lands and property,” Hellstrom explained. “Mercer County has close to 200 miles of county roadway, a 7,000-student county college, public buildings, parks, and a public airport. All that infrastructure must be maintained and modernized in a responsive and fiscally responsible manner, yet opportunities are lost to connect the skilled local workforce of Mercer County to public investment. Dan Benson understands that we must do a better job of creating jobs and supporting Mercer County families. He has demonstrated as chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee a willingness to listen, consider, and most importantly, lead.  LIUNA’s endorsement of Dan Benson for Mercer County Executive is a based on our respect for all that he has done and our confidence for what he will do in the future.”

“I am grateful for not only LIUNA’s endorsement, but also for their leadership in representing workers, protecting work standards, and providing employers with a skilled and productive workforce that builds a better New Jersey,” said Assemblyman Benson. “Mercer County is better when we work together—government, the private sector, non-profits, higher education, everybody. A Benson administration will look beyond business as usual and towards new ideas and better service.”

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The 20,000-member New Jersey Laborers Union is the statewide affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and represents workers in various industries, including construction, clean energy, environmental remediation, sanitation and recycling, security, public service, and education.  The New Jersey Laborers are widely viewed as having been instrumental in helping to lift living standards and workplace safety for employees and for developing innovative cooperative relationships with employers and communities.

“Governor Florio was a dedicated and determined legislator, a principled and effective Governor, and more than that, he was my friend.  I mourn the passing of this honorable man and true public servant.  

Jim and I cut our teeth together in South Jersey—he as an assemblyman and then Congressman, me representing Laborers Local 172. He was a man who was always available to answer questions or address concerns, and he challenged me to never settle for easy answers when the right answers were out there for those willing to work for it.  I was so honored when he appointed me to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in 1990, a role I would continue for the next four decades. 

Jim Florio leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. I offer my condolences to Lucinda and the whole Florio family.”

The Right Thing to Do for Workers, City of Newark

(September 8, 2022)
Today, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development issued a stop work order for the construction project at 155 Jefferson Street in Newark, New Jersey, the proposed Newark High School of Architecture and Interior Design which was being developed by an LLC managed by Summit Assets CEO Albert Nigri. Under the terms of the agreement, the building will be leased back to the Newark Public School District for use as a technical high school. Under New Jersey law, leaseback projects like these are considered public work and must adhere to all pertinent public contracting laws. 

LEROF—the organizing arm of Laborers’ International Union of North America—filed a complaint with the NJ DOL in May 2022 alleging workers are exposed to unsafe conditions and are not being paid prevailing wages as required by law. 

LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager Raymond M. Pocino stated that the NJ DOL’s decision to issue a stop work order for the 155 Jefferson Street project validates the union’s claims.

“We have spoken to workers on the Jefferson Street project who have been exposed to dangerous and unsafe conditions. We know they have been paid significantly less than the state mandated prevailing wage. We also know that the only one who stands to benefit are the private developers who choose breaking the law over following it,” said Pocino.

“The New Jersey Department of Labor was right to issue a stop work order and I applaud Commissioner Rob Asaro-Angelo and his staff for doing so,” Pocino continued. “When evidence of illegal activities is found, the NJ DOL must use its powers to address the issue and hold responsible parties accountable. Enforcement of the law not only catches bad guys, it also helps ensure standards are followed and that the public gets what they paid for. It sends a signal to other developers and contractors—follow the law or face the consequences.”

Paul Roldan, Business Manager of LIUNA Local 3 echoed Pocino’s statement. “The public deserves to know that a $160 million school construction project like this is being built to the highest standards. This school can be a model for creating good paying jobs for local residents, for the quality of its construction, and for its value to the community. A stop work order eliminates the immediate risk to workers, but the work doesn’t stop there.  Newark Public Schools, the City of Newark, and the State of New Jersey must now do what is necessary to ensure Newark students receive the school they deserve, a school that is built by people who follow the law and serve the public and not themselves.” 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, as a nation, as a union, and as individuals, we honor those who laid down their lives in service to our country.

These brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms are deserving of our respect, our remembrance, and our thanks.

Whether in private reflection, by watching or participating in a local parade, or through service at a memorial or cemetery, we see the highest virtues of our country and our citizenry illuminated by the beacon of their supreme sacrifice.

Every day, but especially today, we should honor and remember the last full measure these service members gave to our country.

In Solidarity,

Raymond M. Pocino
LIUNA Vice President
Eastern Regional Manager

Today is a great day for the New York metropolitan region and for the commuters, businesses, and families who rely on rail service between New York and New Jersey. I applaud Governor Phil Murphy and Governor Kathy Hochul for their nomination of Kris Kolluri to serve as chief executive officer of the Gateway Program Development Corporation. The GPDC has been doing much of the heavy lifting to address the region’s critical need for a safe and reliable commuter rail system connecting New York and New Jersey, a system that not only connects these two great states, but in its importance and activity, also serves the entire nation.

I have known and worked with Kris for several decades now, I can state unequivocally: Kris Kolluri will deliver for the region. He has dedicated his professional life to public service; to issues pertaining to transportation and economic development; and to achieving great things by combining the vision of a great leader with the focus and drive of a professional who understands that details matter. He is an industry-expert, a consensus-builder, and a person of high-character and dependability. In selecting Kris Kolluri to serve this important role, governors Hochul and Murphy got things right.

As vice president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and eastern regional manager representing more than 40,000 construction craft laborers in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Puerto Rico, I am acutely aware of the tens of thousands of jobs which will be created building the tunnels, tracks, and bridges needed to increase rail capacity and resiliency on the nation’s busiest commuter rail line.  I also spent more than 20-years serving as commissioner of both the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and many more years advocating for a safe and efficient transportation system. Inasmuch that I understand the issues, I remind people that the Northeast Corridor line presently relies on a century-old rail tunnel, a frequently failing bridge, and a transit system where delays have become more common than delivering people to their destinations on-time. We need better infrastructure, we deserve better service, and Kris Kolluri can help us achieve better results.

Raymond M. Pocino is Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager for the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), representing more than 40,000 construction workers in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island, Delaware, and Puerto Rico

As part of their protest against a contractor who stated to union officials that he would only hire workers of Macedonian and Serbian decent, members of the LIUNA Union 77 have been staging a peaceful protest outside of Lincoln Elementary School in Edison Township. The union believes there is no room for discriminatory hiring practices in this community or any community and are willing to fight against unscrupulous practices that hurt workers. The contractor Pal-Pro Builders has been hired by Edison Public Schools to perform work. 

Before the school day on Friday, September 3, 2021, members of LIUNA Local 77 began setting up to peacefully protest. As part of their preparations, they assembled props including an inflatable rat, which symbolizes unfair labor practices, as well as a coffin and banner which symbolizes how bad employment practices kill middle class jobs.  All of these things were set up before school had started and the coffin and banner were down before students arrived.  How do we know this? Because at 8:21 a.m. a school official actually knocked down the display which was never put back up before its removal.

Regarding the coffin’s use as part of the protest.  Some have argued that its use was inappropriate for an elementary school setting.  We agree and have begun a review of the process and will work to ensure we don’t make this mistake again.  We think it is not good to expose young children to the imagery and we also think it distracts from the issue-at-hand—that a contractor hired in Edison is using what appears to be discriminatory hiring practices.  We believe workers should not be discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or any other arbitrary standards and we are willing to fight to ensure workers are protected.

To be clear.  We do not condone the use of any props or messaging that may negatively affect children and apologize for the poor judgement. In this instance, the coffin was down before students arrived and we think that is for the best.  We will work to do better, and we hope Edison Township Public Schools will, too.  We need to send a message that Edison Township Public Schools will not reward discriminatory business practices.  On this matter, we should ALL be on the same side!”  

Rev. Carl E. Styles is Business Manager of Building Laborers Local 77 representing more than 1,500 members if Central and Southern New Jersey. Through its innovative apprenticeship and training programs, industry-leading labor-management partnerships, and commitment to protecting the rights of workers, Local 77 is proud to serve its members, its signatory contractors, and the communities where they live and work.  Reverend Styles also serves as Pastor of Bethel United Methodist Church in Camden, New Jersey. 

LIUNA Local 199 took on huge multinational bank, JPMorgan Chase (and won)

With a market value of some $460 Billion, JPMorgan Chase is a huge corporation to say the least. The multinational investment bank and financial service holding company has offices all over the world, but the decisions they make and actions they take affect local families, businesses, and communities. This is why Delaware-based Local 199 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)–along with its affiliated funds–decided to take on the corporate giant. Big companies can put a big hurt on the little guy, and sometimes the little guy has to fight back.

Yes then No

JP Morgan Chase has big expansion plans for its Chase Bank. New brick-and-mortar retail branches are being built throughout Northern Delaware. Local 199 Business Manager James Maravelias was aware of that fact which is why he approached representatives to JPMorgan Chase about hiring union contractors and skilled union labor to build their proposed branches.

“To me, hiring union contractors and workers is a good business decision,” explained Maravelias.  “A company like JPMorgan Chase would benefit from productivity, dependability, and quality construction.  They seemed to agree with me when they promised to hire a union masonry contractor for one of its new branches in Wilmington, Delaware. When time came to actually do the hiring, however, the bank was silent on their promise. As a result, we decided we’d remind them, and the community, that breaking one’s word is no way to operate.”

Taking it to the Streets

With so many branches in the immediate area, LIUNA Local 199 had ample opportunity to let the public know of JPMorgan Chase’s underhanded practices.  Working with the Laborers Eastern Region Organizing Fund (LEROF), Local 199 members joined organizers at information lines near Chase Bank customers.  While many people were sympathetic to the union message, the actions did not lead to a positive outcome, so the union decided to shift strategies and bring the message to JPMorgan Chase’s corporate headquarters in New York City. With huge corporations like this, you sometimes need to bring your message to the top, and that would be JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Diamond. 

The Delaware and New Jersey LECET Funds joined LEROF researchers on a deep dive of JPMorgan Chase’s business practices. With pages upon pages worth of information at-hand, the union laid out a pattern of questionable business practices—from averaging more than $1.7 billion in fines each year, to settling lawsuits on racial discrimination and discriminatory lending practices, to having a lower tax rate than the average America (despite reporting almost $120 billion in net revenues last year).   As the union spelled out in flyers, signs, and conversations, going back on the promise to hire local contractors and local workers in Delaware was another example of poor corporate behavior.

Yes Again

In an organization as large as JPMorgan Chase, you don’t always find out what message or method helped change their mind but change their minds they did.  The Wilmington. Delaware branch that was supposed to be built using union contractors would be built union again. 

For LIUNA Local 199, the focus now moves from information lines and activism to delivering quality craftsmanship.  “We will always fight and scrap to win work,” explained Maravelias, “but longer term, we want to build mutually beneficial relationships with project owners like JPMorgan Chase. We want them to know that when you work with LIUNA, you work with a union that wants its partners to succeed and will do what it takes to make that happen.”