Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Terry O’Sullivan appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed his pending retirement and his tenure as the leader of LIUNA.
On March 28, several weeks prior to the International’s 120th anniversary celebration, O’Sullivan announced his retirement. He took over the reigns of General President in 2000, and since then, became one of the longest tenured General Presidents in LIUNA history.
O’Sullivan shared several stories about his time as LIUNA’s leader and discussed some of the many ways his leadership team made a difference for the union’s members.
Early on in his tenure, O’Sullivan focused on the need to organize and grow the union. This duty, he recalled, was taken to heart by members of the 2006 LIUNA leadership conference and resulted in one of the largest membership increases in union history. In order for the union to move forward, it must increase both manhours and membership. This is the philosophy he used to to help push LIUNA’s recruitment efforts to new heights.
O’Sullivan also talked about other changes at the International level besides his retirement. Of the 16 members who sit on the Executive Board, seven members have retired or will retire by May 1. He believes this change will be good for the union, as a new generation of leaders will be given the tools to implement their ideas and succeed.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.