Washington, D.C. (July 6, 2020) – Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today:

LIUNA’s strong, proud, and united members are disappointed in today’s ruling on the Dakota Access Pipeline. The ruling, which shuts down the pipeline, will weaken American energy security at a time when our nation’s economy is struggling.

 

The decision second-guesses the rigorous permitting and approval process, which guided the Dakota Access Pipeline as well as that of thousands of crucial infrastructure projects across the country. The ruling also ignores the high standards and reputation for quality of the more than 8,000 skilled building trades men and women who built Dakota Access using the safest and most advanced construction methods.

 

The highly skilled and trained men and women of LIUNA rely on pipeline projects for family-supporting jobs. Arbitrary shutdowns as in the case of Dakota Access threaten work opportunities because they create an environment of uncertainty surrounding the future of projects.

 

LIUNA is hopeful that the court’s decision will be over-turned, and we remain confident that the additional review now underway by the Army Corps of Engineers will affirm the previous findings on the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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