Feeling the Power of Organized Labor, Brent Booker on LIUNA’s 2023

It's been eight months leading LIUNA for General President Brent Booker, and he joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss what 2023 has been like for him and the Union. Booker also discussed how LIUNA is ensuring workers stay working and what’s in store in 2024 for the Union.

The transition from previous General President Terry O’Sullivan to Booker has been relatively smooth. Booker thanked O’Sullivan for all his help in the transition. He has been touring Locals and job sites across the country, visiting with members. Booker said his goal is to help every member stay in the middle class, with the negotiated protections and wages, so they work to live a life, not just live to work. 

When discussing how to combat inflation, Booker looked at the wages for workers. Having a job and ensuring they make a livable wage is the best way to ensure that inflation doesn’t negatively impact workers. The clean hydrogen energy jobs are one pathway where LIUNA is ensuring workers will remain on the job. Booker discussed his recent meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Energy in early December about the newly announced Hydrogen Hubs to produce and distribute energy with union jobs.

After a surge of pro-union sentiment in 2023, LIUNA has goals to organize using a program called Labor is Rising. The program is looking for 15,000 Union volunteers to go out and organize with workers and speak about the pros and cons of Unions. If LIUNA plans to hit its goal of 1 million members, it will take successful organizing campaigns in the South. Unions are polling higher there than ever before, and Booker wants to help the younger generation of LIUNA members and provide them with a pathway to the middle class.

For more from Booker, please press play on the show above.