As part of the “Best of 2023” coverage, we replayed an interview from July 31, when America’s Work Force Union Podcast interviewed the 11th General President of LIUNA, Brent Booker, to discuss his time in charge of the International after being appointed to his new role. Booker also talked about the construction workers who repaired Interstate 95 in Philadelphia in record time and his plans for the future of the Union.
On May 1, Booker became LIUNA General President following the retirement of former General President Terry O’Sullivan. Booker returned to LIUNA earlier in the year (January 2023) after serving as North America’s Building Trades Unions Secretary-Treasurer to begin training under O’Sullivan. Thanks to the knowledge and leadership he passed down, Booker was able to hit the ground running in his new position. He feels he has big shoes to fill, but is excited to keep the organizing momentum going that began with the work done under O’Sullivan.
In early June, a truck ran into an underpass on Interstate 95 outside of Philadelphia, causing the bridge to eventually collapse. Originally, experts predicted repairs would take two to three months to complete. After a task force made up of building trades leaders and government officials met, a plan was created, and 12 days later, a temporary solution was in place. Booker admired the hard work of all the construction workers involved in the project and said they should be an inspiration and model for what could happen when organized labor is involved in projects.
Inheriting a union with 500,000 members can be a daunting task, but Booker is excited to continue to build on the union’s legacy, improve it and grow LIUNA. To grow the organization, Booker and his team are pouring more resources into organizing. They are working with the federal government to create Project Labor Agreements and ensure Prevailing Wage is paid on jobs created from different federal bills. With more jobs and a pathway to the middle class, now is the time for people to “Feel the Power” of LIUNA and its working-class men and women.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.