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Hundreds Gathered to Celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of LiUNA Local 500

 

By Tricia Hall

Sojourner’s Truth Reporter

 

The Stranahan Theater on Heatherdowns in Toledo welcomed laborers and community supporters on Friday, October 4, 2019. Festivities began at 5:00 p.m. with an upscale social hour and continued at 7:00 p.m. with a program.

 

WTOL’s Andrew Kinsey served as master of ceremony as elected officials and labor officers extended words to the audience throughout the evening. “Welcome and thank you for joining us to celebrate 100 years of being servants and stewards in this community,” opened Kinsey.

 

Political acknowledgements were delivered by Toledo City Council members Tyrone Riley, Matt Cherry, Yvonne Harper, Cecelia Adams, Nick Komives and Larry Sykes; City of Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz; Ohio House of Representatives Minority Leader Emilia Sykes; Ohio House of Representatives Minority Whip Paula Hicks-Hudson; Ohio Senator Teresa Fedor, and United States House of Representatives Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

 

“Laborers always support good pay and fair advancements. Many of the early laborers had to face struggles and sacrifice. That’s why unions were needed back than and still today,” explained Cherry, president of Toledo City Council.

 

The celebration included remarks from LIUNA vice president and Ohio Laborers’ District council officer Ralph Cole; remarks from LIUNA vice president and regional manager Robert Richardson Sr; remarks from MLK Kitchen for the Poor Executive Director Harvey Savage; a poem delivered by Daviana Estis entitled Hard Work; remarks from retired Assistant Business Manager Anthony Coleman and recognitions by current Local 500 Business Manager David Fleetwood.

 

“It is a great day to be a laborer in Toledo, we represent the best working people,” shared Ralph Cole.

 

Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) was organized in 1903, and International Hod Carriers’ and Building Laborers’ Union which began today’s Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 500 was chartered on October 20, 1919 to represent laborers who were in demand to build roads, bridges and other infrastructures in Toledo and northwest Ohio.

 

“I was raised right, I was raised to give back. When I first came to Local 500, I was at my lowest. I didn’t have two nickels to rub together. Someone told me about Local 500. I showed that I was serious about the work,” said David Fleetwood of the call he received to join the Local.

 

 

   


Copyright © 2019 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 10/10/19 09:56:21 -0400.


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