LIUNA Constitutions  last revised 08/14/07 AFL-CIO Constitution

The Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure  (EDP) supersedes and amends the constitutional provisions in effect on January 18, 1995.On page 60 of the LIUNA  Constitutions, the language reads as follows: "Governance of the Laborers International Union of North America is supplemented by the LIUNA Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure and the LIUNA Ethical Practices Code, which together constitute part of this constitution." Supplemented is too charitable a word. 

The constitutions were further amended by the Agreement of January 18, 2000  wherein the percentage of delegates necessary for nomination of International Officers was increased from 5 percent to ten (10) percent. Ask your local union to obtain a copy of an up to date, accurate  version of LIUNA's constitutions. See background  See Trial Board Rules  PDF File

LIUNA provides copies of its constitutions on its web site in such a fashion that it provides incomplete information to members. While it no longer  breaks up each page into frames deliberately to frustrate the swift, easy acquisition of information by members as part of its continuing conspiracy to deprive the members of information necessary to exercise their right of self governance, it does not provide hyperlinks to referenced  documents. Laborers for JUSTICE provides this service to members because it wants members to be educated and informed. LIUNA  does not provide the name and address of the Special Election Officer much less his phone or fax number. In the 2005 List of LIUNA secretaries, a guide  to LIUNA entities and departments, no mention is made of the GEB Attorney, LIUNA Inspector General, LIUNA Appellate Officer, LIUNA Independent Hearing Officer or the Special Election Officer. In a union with 550,000 members, the general executive board has authorized the printing of less than 10,000 copies in the last 10 years is a proposition one can go to the bank on and not lose money. LIUNA, quite frankly, does not want an educated, informed membership.

Laborers for JUSTICE will provide commentary to the constitutions and will indicate what provisions are illegal, null and void, against social policy and hence ripe for amendment.  Just because there is a provision in the LIUNA constitution, does not mean it is legally enforceable. There are a number of provisions that contravene existing law. (i.e. LMRDA lawsuits do not have to be filed in Washington, D.C.) The Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure was adopted as an amendment to LIUNA's constitution yet it does not appear in LIUNA's constitution booklet. It is in a separate booklet which typically is not provided to members when they ask for a copy of LIUNA's constitution.

The U.S. Department of JUSTICE erred grievously in not requiring LIUNA to completely amend its constitutions, all of which were crafted by lawyers beholden to the mob to maintain organized crime's influence and control of the Laborers' International Union of North America. Without structural, cultural change within LIUNA, true reform is impossible. Without requiring elections to fill vacancies in office, the LIUNA "One Party State" will continue to appoint its lackeys and sycophants to office and LIUNA will never be reformed. Nepotism and cronyism continue to flourish in LIUNA despite the RICO complaint against these evils..

The constitutions do not reflect the date of amendments, how amended or even if they are complete and authoritative because, to put it charitably, the legal department of LIUNA is not composed of constitutional scholars . It is composed primarily of lawyers who would not get a hiring  interview on either LaSalle Street or Wall Street, in other words "mediocrity at its best". LIUNA General Counsel Michael Bearse is an appointee of Arthur Coia-enough said.

LIUNA members should demand from their elected officer that they be provided a complete  set of the rules, policies and procedures that govern LIUNA, including an up-to-date version of the Union's constitution which should include the Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure. .

last revised  08/14/07
Laborers for JUSTICE ©1999 all rights reserved. Intended for private use and not for republishing on other web sites.

Laborers for JUSTICE
Attn: James McGough
Laborers for JUSTICE
2615 West Peterson Av
Chicago, Il 60659
773-878-1002 (tel)
773-409-1503(fax)