Brothers and sisters, I am awed and inspired by the hard work and persistence of all those who fought to recover the overtime pay many of you were wrongfully denied for many years. The $55-million Settlement Agreement between the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) was historic in its size and scope. LIUNA has been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of you in this important fight for justice, just as we are deeply proud to represent so many of the dedicated public employees in the IHS.
Every day, you make a real difference in the lives of people and communities that otherwise would have very limited access to health care. Your persistence in this fight demonstrates the power of solidarity, and proves that workers, united, can never be defeated. On behalf of the LIUNA General Executive Board and your 500,000 brothers and sisters throughout the United States and Canada, I congratulate you on this victory, and assure you that we will never back up, never back down, and never surrender in the ongoing battle for workers’ rights, civil rights, and human rights.
Terry O’Sullivan
LIUNA General President