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OPA News Release: [09/05/2003]
Contact Name: Ed Frank
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Honors Unions for a Century of Service to Workers

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today honored four unions for 100 years of service to American workers as part of the Department of Labor's Labor Day celebrations. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Laborers' International Union of North America, the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) and the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers were added to the U.S. Department of Labor's Century of Service Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations.

Joining Secretary Chao for today's induction were hundreds of union members and labor leaders, including IBT President James P. Hoffa, Laborers President Terence M. O'Sullivan, NRLCA President Dale A. Holton, and Asbestos Workers President James A. Grogan.

"This Administration and Organized Labor share a commitment to worker safety and security. I am proud of the historic number of health and safety partnerships the Department has established with organized labor. We are pleased to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of four labor unions that have served their members for 100 years and welcome them to the Labor Department's Century of Service Honor Roll," said Secretary Chao.

Secretary Chao also announced that the Century of Service Honor Roll will be featured on the department's Web site at www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/history/century/. The Honor Roll, created in 1992, honors labor unions that have reached their 100th anniversary. Today's ceremony is only the second such ceremony recognizing unions for their induction into the Century of Service Honor Roll. With the addition of today's honorees, 45 unions have been honored for their service and recognized in the Department's exhibit (see attached list).

The exhibit is located in the North Plaza of the U.S. Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. and is open during government working hours.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was founded in Niagara Falls, N.Y. on Aug. 4, 1903 and represents approximately 1.4 million workers in the package delivery, transportation, health care, law enforcement, construction, and civil service sectors.

The Laborers' International Union of North America was founded in Washington, D.C. on April 13, 1903 and represents approximately 800,000 workers in the construction, sand and gravel, brick and concrete products, manufacturing, health care, mail handling, shipbuilding, food services, hazardous waste removal, and civil service sectors.

The National Rural Letter Carriers' Association was founded in Chicago on Sept. 11, 1903 and represents approximately 100,000 rural letter carriers, all of whom are employed by the U.S. Postal Service.

The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers was founded in St. Louis, Missouri on July 7, 1903 and represents approximately 20,000 workers in the asbestos, heating, and frost insulating industries.

Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations

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