Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Encyclopedia
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization of African American
trade union
members affiliated with the AFL-CIO
.
CBTU was started in September 1972 when more than 1,200 black union officials and rank and file members from 37 national unions met in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss the role of black trade unionists in the labor movement. At the time, it was the largest single gathering of black unionists in the history of the American labor movement. Five black labor leaders (William Lucy, Nelson Edwards, William Simons, Charles Hayes and Cleveland Robinson) called the new organization the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
They believed AFL-CIO
President George Meany had been ignoring the voice of black trade unionists. They also believed that the AFL-CIO might attempt to declare its neutrality in the forthcoming U.S. presidential campaign in which President Richard Nixon
was seeking re-election. Even though the main reason for the meeting was the presidential campaign, the most important development was the establishment of a permanent organization.
Since 1972, CBTU has improved the influence and power of black workers in the trade union movement as well as in their communities. CBTU has led efforts to make more union leadership positions available to women, African Americans, and other minorities.
Advancing the cause of African American women is particularly important to CBTU. Approximately 37 percent of the delegates who attended the first meeting were black women. Five of them served on the first executive committee of the CBTU. The CBTU executive council subsequently organized the National Women's Committee, which now holds conferences and workshops that allow participants to improve their unions and communities.
Many elected officials and appointees (mayors, judges, governors, members of Congress, U.S. Presidents) have benefited from the CBTU’s commitment to political action, and CBTU was an early supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus
.
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
organization of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
members affiliated with the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
.
CBTU was started in September 1972 when more than 1,200 black union officials and rank and file members from 37 national unions met in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss the role of black trade unionists in the labor movement. At the time, it was the largest single gathering of black unionists in the history of the American labor movement. Five black labor leaders (William Lucy, Nelson Edwards, William Simons, Charles Hayes and Cleveland Robinson) called the new organization the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
They believed AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
President George Meany had been ignoring the voice of black trade unionists. They also believed that the AFL-CIO might attempt to declare its neutrality in the forthcoming U.S. presidential campaign in which President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
was seeking re-election. Even though the main reason for the meeting was the presidential campaign, the most important development was the establishment of a permanent organization.
Since 1972, CBTU has improved the influence and power of black workers in the trade union movement as well as in their communities. CBTU has led efforts to make more union leadership positions available to women, African Americans, and other minorities.
Advancing the cause of African American women is particularly important to CBTU. Approximately 37 percent of the delegates who attended the first meeting were black women. Five of them served on the first executive committee of the CBTU. The CBTU executive council subsequently organized the National Women's Committee, which now holds conferences and workshops that allow participants to improve their unions and communities.
Many elected officials and appointees (mayors, judges, governors, members of Congress, U.S. Presidents) have benefited from the CBTU’s commitment to political action, and CBTU was an early supporter of the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
.
Resources
- "Black Unionists Warn: Don't 'Restructure' Us Out." Black Commentator. February 3, 2005.
External links
- Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.
- Weaver v NATFHE (now part of UCU) UK Racial discrimination case. Union's policy of not assisting complainant of racial harassment justified because the accused would lose his job.Also known as the Bournville College Racial Harassment Issue.
- Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Ontario, Canada Chapter