Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (U.S.)

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.

From the description of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists records, 1973-1974 (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 692200148

The Coalition of Black Trade-Unionists (CBTU) was founded in 1972 by a conference of 1,200 black trade-union officials and rank and file members. Its objective is to provide a bridge between the labor movement and the black community, and to organize black workers into the trade-union movement and improve their economic and social well-being. Its membership comprises representatives of over seventy national and international labor unions, and is divided into some twenty seven chapters throughout the country. The CBTU holds a national convention yearly. Its leadership consists of an Executive Council of 30 members and a seven member Executive Committee. William Lucy is a founding member and the president and Secretary-Treasurer of the CBTU. Other founding members include Charles Hayes, vice president of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of America, Cleveland Robinson, president of the distributive Workers of America, William Simons, president of Local 6 of the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., and Nelson Edwards, vice president of the United Auto Workers.

From the guide to the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists collection, 1972-1988, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)

Founded in 1972 by a conference of 1,200 black trade-union members and officials, the Coalition of Black Trade-Unionists (CBTU) comprises representatives of over seventy national and international labor unions, and is divided into some twenty seven chapters throughout the country.

Its objective is to provide a bridge between the labor movement and the black community, and to organize black workers into the trade-union movement and improve their economic and social well-being. The CBTU holds a national convention yearly. Its leadership consists of an Executive Council of 30 members and a seven member Executive Committee. William Lucy is a founding member and the president and Secretary-Treasurer of the CBTU. Other founding members include Charles Hayes, vice president of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of America, Cleveland Robinson, president of the distributive Workers of America, William Simons, president of Local 6 of the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., and Nelson Edwards, vice president of the United Auto Workers.

From the description of Coalition of Black Trade Unionists collection, 1972-1988. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122378641