Statement of Terence M. O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, On the Continuing...

Statement of Terence M. O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, On the Continuing Loss of Construction Jobs and Need for Real Economic Stimulus

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Today's alarming job market report cries out for aggressive
economic stimulus focused on creating jobs.

The report released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics shows that 34,000 construction jobs were lost between
the April 2008 and May 2008. The loss of construction jobs is by far
the largest of any U.S. employment sector.

The net loss of 440,000 construction jobs since 2007 nearly equals
the amount of jobs lost in the manufacturing industry. While most of
the jobs lost have been in the residential industry, there has also
been significant job loss in commercial construction and heavy-highway
construction both in the last month and since the start of 2007.

Earlier this year, Congress and President Bush responded to
mounting unemployment and an economy sliding into recession with a
one-time economic stimulus package. Working families who are
struggling appreciated the break, but a one-time check will do nothing
sustainable to stimulate the economy.

Instead, our nation needs a plan to build America - so that
America works. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives the basic
infrastructure of the United States a near-failing grade due to years
of neglect and estimates that $1.6 trillion is needed over the next
five years to fix America's basics.

LIUNA members and millions of construction workers like them can
build our highways, mass transit systems, bridges, water system,
damns, airports and schools. Building America is what they do and they
are proud to do it.

If we redirect resources to what is needed in America, we can
create millions of family supporting jobs and take care of the basics
of our nation at the same time.

The half-million members of LIUNA - the Laborers' International
Union of North America - are on the forefront of the construction
industry, a powerhouse of 10 million workers who build America.

LIUNA recently launched its Build America, so America Works
campaign, a long-term effort to make taking care of America's
highways, bridges, dams, schoolhouses and other basics a national
priority. The effort includes ongoing targeted advertising outreach, a
new website www.LiunaBuildsAmerica.org and The Petition to Build
America, with a goal of 1 million voices telling Congress and the
country's next president to "build America so America works."

Laborers' International Union of North America
Jacob Hay, 202-942-2285 or 202-445-4788
jhay@liuna.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008