On March 9, 2020, the Western Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council and the Eastern Missouri Laborers District Council merged to form a new district: the Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council. The new District Council will have an office in both the St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan areas.
Tim Bell, Secretary-Treasurer for the Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council, said, “Our members’ relationship with each local hasn’t changed. While some smaller locals have merged into nearby halls, overall operations and jurisdictions remain the same.”
“This change creates a singular, unified voice in Missouri politics and greatly increases our organizing abilities throughout Missouri and Kansas. This merger is a benefit to our members and strengthens our union.”
Brandon Flinn, Business Manager for the new Missouri and Kansas Laborers’ District Council, said, “This merger will make it easier, more seamless, to do business with us. Now that we are administering our business with a united, two-state approach to better serve the members; we will be more effective politically at the state and local levels, and more effective in organizing as a united front.”
“We always have greater strength in numbers,” Flinn said. “It’s the power of our union.” The newly formed Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council represents over 13,000 LIUNA members.
The new district council executive board consists of members from both former districts. Business Manager: Brandon Flinn; Secretary-Treasurer: Tim Bell; President: Patrick Pryor; Vice-President: Reginald Thomas; Executive Board: Sam Simmons, Jason Mendenhall, Ian Bedell, Jason Estes, Brad Turner, Mitch Rowley, and Don Willey; Auditor: Jeremy Hendrickson, Trent Ely, Tim Borneman; Sergeant At Arms: Ricky Kline.
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) has more than 500,000 members, 400 Local Unions, and 44 District Councils in the U.S. and more in Canada.
LIUNA members are represented on the job by local unions. Local Union Business Managers shoulder this responsibility, along with field representatives. Business Managers are elected by union members—as is the Local Union Executive Board. Local Unions protect members in many ways, such as enforcing rights under the collective bargaining agreement; Assisting members in finding employment; Providing apprenticeship/training programs, including ongoing skills training and enforcing legal rights, such as those extended to workers under the National Labor Relations Act.