Teamsters National Black Caucus Celebrates 30th Anniversary and Conference

September 1, 2005

More than 450 delegates from across the United States and Canada attended the Teamsters National Black Caucus (TNBC) Annual Education Conference held August 16–21 in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. The TNBC is an organization of black trade unionists fighting to defeat discrimination as well as seeking to educate and activate rank-and-file workers. This year's conference marked the 30th anniversary of the TNBC and had the largest conference attendance record to date.

The conference, "Embrace Our History to Empower Our Future," was designed to provide educational programs and to further networking opportunities for African-Americans within the Teamsters Union. The programs at the four-day event focused on issues important to black Teamsters and demonstrated how those issues impact the union as a whole. Topics for workshops included Race and Wealth, The Teamster Work Force, The Future of the Labor Movement, and Central States Update.

"This was one of the best conferences I have ever attended," said Roy Gillespie, a Human Rights Commissioner for Local 600 in St. Louis. "The workshops were all excellent and provided essential information. I am also especially pleased that were able to recruit a number of new volunteers for the Teamsters Human Rights Commission."

The conference also focused on completing plans for the TNBC's involvement in the Millions More Movement March—a coalition of organizations and groups working together to put forward a workers' agenda with a list of demands which includes workers' rights, the right to living wages, rights of workers to organize and strike, national health care and the enforcement of civil rights laws.

"This turned out to be an outstanding event, and had a record-breaking number of attendees this year," said Ted Mullins, TNBC Chicago Chapter President. "Hopefully, our success this year will encourage even more members to attend in the future."

"This was my first TNBC Conference, and it was terrific," said Melvin Pryor, a business agent for Local 727 in Chicago. "I was extremely impressed with the workshops I attended. I definitely want to return."