A Message From LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we observe the national holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is clear that in order to realize his dream of an America free of the scourge of racism and extremism, we must continue the work he began. We must fight for the world he envisioned, in which people are measured only by their character and by their actions.
As united trade unionists, we are at the forefront of the work that must be done. Dr. King, who saw labor unions as a key to achieving a more just society, said, "The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress." I share his conviction. We must make our unions bigger, stronger and more active, so the uplifting and equalizing power of collective bargaining contracts are available to all. We must speak out forcefully and unequivocally against bias, bigotry and racism whether it is in our community or in our halls of power, from statehouses to the Halls of Congress and the White House.
We can make Dr. King’s dream real so that every American, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, wealth or the lack of it, has equal rights and equal opportunity including our sacred right to vote which must be accessible to all. But we have to act to achieve his dream.
On behalf of myself, General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni, and the entire LIUNA General Executive Board, I ask you to join me in continuing to fight for the legacy of Dr. King and his vision of a better America.