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Most building trades leaders allied with Sweeney

Date Posted: June 10 2005

While a number of union leaders are calling for the head of AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, the majority of building trades union leaders want him to stick around for another four-year term.

Twelve of the 15 general presidents of the nation's construction trades unions have signed a declaration to "support the re-election of John J. Sweeney" as president of the AFL-CIO.

"We concur," the statement said, "that to strengthen our federation will require a united effort to increase the effectiveness of both our organizing and political initiatives. We support President Sweeney and his leadership team in their specific efforts to accomplish those goals while preserving the democratic principles upon which our federation was founded."

The statement was signed by AFL-CIO Building Trades Department President Edward Sullivan, and union president from: the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Boilermakers, Heat & Frost Insulators, Electrical Workers, Elevator Constructors, Painters and Allied Trades, Operating Engineers, Plasterers & Cement Masons, Plumbers, Pipe Fitters & Sprinkler Fitters, Roofers & Waterproofers, Sheet Metal Workers.

Signatures that were absent from the document: presidents of the Carpenters, Laborers and Teamsters. The reasons can be found in the article above.