[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 120 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING LiUNA LOCAL 304

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to LiUNA Local 
304--Alameda County as they celebrate 100 years of solidarity and a 
commitment to a safe work environment for their members.
  On April 13, 1916, LiUNA Local 304--Alameda County was signed into 
existence with the founding mission of ``We, the undersigned wage 
workers, believing it to be well calculated to improve our intellectual 
and social condition, and to promote our industrial well-being and 
advancement, respectfully petition the International Hod Carriers', 
Building and Common Laborers' Union of North America to grant us a 
Charter as representatives of said International Union.''
  LiUNA Local 304--Alameda County was born out of a petition to the 
International Hod Carriers', Building and Common Laborers' Union of 
North America to grant us a Charter as representatives of said 
International Union. They chartered by President Anderson, Vice 
President Walker, Recording Secretary Burke, Financial Secretary 
Hawley, Correspondence Secretary Van Deventer, Treasurer Cottingham, 
Sergeant-at-Arms Wilcox, Guard Norris and Executive Board members 
Evans, Canady, Jones, Cayne and Falk, LiUNA Local 304--Alameda County 
(as it is known today) was chartered on April 13, 1916 in Oakland, 
California, with a fierce commitment to those words and born out of the 
necessity and constant struggle of the disenfranchised community, 
knowing that tangible sacrifices would soon follow to ensure the 
working men and women of the East Bay would be protected by this 
promise.
  This chartering occurred during a time when the City of Oakland was 
growing by leaps and bounds due in part by the industrial explosion in 
the San Francisco Bay Area, LiUNA Local 304--Alameda County served the 
communities of not just Oakland, but the surrounding cities that make 
up Alameda County.
  Further, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 helped double Alameda 
County's population and industry overnight. During this time, Oakland 
became host to over 50 assembly and component plants with close to 
300,000 residents many of whom became lifelong members of LiUNA Local 
304--Alameda County.
  With construction of marvels such as Kaiser's Bay Bridge and 
Bechtel's Golden Gate Bridge, the Laborers served a real need to the 
construction industry not just as a work force but as a melting pot of 
sorts, bringing the majority of white male unionized workers together 
with both the immigrant Mexican and African American workers at the 
time. The early years of organizing were especially difficult due to 
the anti-union climate in Oakland and the Alameda County government.
  Throughout the decades in the face of adversity and antagonism, LiUNA 
Local 304--Alameda County has never forgotten that they exist because 
of loyalty to their members. Regardless of their successes and 
failures, their members, families and community will always be at the 
heart of their work and their commitment to the mission. Today, with 
more than 30,000 brothers and sisters in Northern California, of which 
5,000 reside in Alameda County, they continue to do outstanding work.
  On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional 
District, I extend my sincerest congratulations to LiUNA Local 304--
Alameda County on the special occasion of its Centennial Anniversary. I 
thank LiUNA Local 304--Alameda County for providing critical 
unionization and protection for labor workers and their families in my 
district, and wish them many more years of success.

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