Biden & Harris Eliminate IRAPs
February 18, 2021 - Contractors CLDC LMCC LECETA Message from LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan
February 18, 2021
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Congratulations! Your determination and advocacy for LIUNA apprenticeship programs made a difference. President Biden and Vice President Harris recognized that IRAPs were a threat to union workers and they eliminated them yesterday by rescinding the previous Administration's order supporting IRAPs and ordered the Department of Labor to act on new rules to reverse these harmful, anti-worker, union-busting programs.
The Biden Administration affirmed their support of union registered apprenticeship programs, because, as you and your brothers and sisters are well aware, they are the gold standard. With these new policies in place, LIUNA and the building trades first-class, cutting edge apprenticeship programs will continue to be the construction industry standard bearer.
This victory would not have happened without the extraordinary activism of LIUNA members in defense of our training and apprenticeship programs. Our 88,000 member comments, which exceeded all of the other building trades unions, is a testament to LIUNA's solidarity, strength, and activism.
We won this battle and we will be ready for whatever comes next. Whether it's an attack on our wages, pensions, or our right to collectively bargain, we must remain vigilant.
On behalf of myself, General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni, and the entire LIUNA General Executive Board, I want to express our pride and our thanks for your commitment, your solidarity, and your determination. With the half-million strong, proud, and united brothers and sisters of LIUNA, there is nothing we can't do.
May you always Feel the Power, Use the Power, and Be the Power!