A MESSAGE FROM TNBC CHAIRMAN ALBERT MIXON

Brothers and Sisters: Thirty-eight years ago the Teamsters National Black Caucus formed, strengthening the voices of 400,000 African American Teamsters at work, within the union, and in their communities. Since then we have built a proud and strong history of unity and diversity beginning in 1916 with the first ever color and gender blind collective bargaining agreement. The bargaining agreement secured equal pay for blacks, whites, men and women. The culmination of our proud history came in 2009 with the appointment of Antonio Christian, the first African American Director of the Teamsters Human Rights Commission.

Today the Teamsters Union continues to embrace the African American community through a host of diverse internal organizations and an ongoing history of supporting racial equality. From its outward support of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the endorsement of President Barack Obama, the Teamsters have been leaders in the Civil Rights movement. However, our mission of increasing black participation in the union and fostering the opportunity for all members to serve in leadership roles is never complete and cannot be fulfilled without the involvement of black Teamsters across the country.

The Teamsters National Black Caucus is about the member. It is about providing black Teamsters with a vehicle for political action, mentoring and educating our youth, cultivating diversity in union leadership, and encouraging an active role in the greatest union in the world. A diverse membership cannot realize the benefits of that diversity if all members are not actively involved.

It is my call to all black Teamsters to join or start a TNBC Chapter and to become an active member of their Local Union. It is my pledge to the same to make available to you all of the resources necessary to realize your potential. As Chairman of this great organization, I will devote myself to development of leaders at every level of the Teamsters and strive to see a TNBC Chapter at every Local Union. It is my distinct honor to serve you in this capacity.

"Let us turn vision into victory"

Fraternally,

Albert R. Mixon