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Teamsters National Black Caucus Moves Beyond Expectations in New Orleans

August 12, 2009

They say culture, art and music oozes from the sidewalks of New Orleans but this week, Teamster power and pride are radiating off of the streets, thanks to the Teamsters National Black Caucus (TNBC), which kicked off its 34th annual meeting there today. 

Opening the event was New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, who welcomed the TNBC and its members, and thanked them for everything they have done for the city.
 
“It’s a great day in the city of New Orleans, but it’s an even greater day now that the Teamsters are in the house,” Nagin said. “On behalf of all the citizens of the city, let me officially welcome you to the city.”
 
The theme of this year’s conference is moving beyond expectations, and TNBC members are wasting no time doing just that.
 
Among the accomplishments TNBC members are celebrating is the election of America’s first African-American President, Barack Obama, a growing number of TNBC participants, and the appointment by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa of Antonio Christian as director of the Teamsters Human Rights Commission. Christian is the first racial minority to serve as director of the organization.
 
As TNBC Chairman Al Mixon pointed out, however, more work is yet to be done.
 
“Change has come and that’s why we are here,” Mixon said. “But we have a job to do: The Employee Free Choice Act. This is the biggest piece of legislation that we have in front of us. This is about the future.”
 
If passed, the Employee Free Choice Act will allow American workers easier opportunities to join and form unions in the workplace and will eliminate employer-based harassment and intimidation.
 
Mixon praised Obama for his promise to sign the Employee Free Choice Act into law if it is passed by Congress.
 
“This administration isn’t afraid to say union. This president isn’t afraid to stand up and support us and our cause for economic justice,” Mixon said.
 
Also speaking at the conference was Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel, who encouraged Teamsters everywhere to stay strong and have hope despite the current state of the nation’s economy.
 
“Millions of American working people are laid off and desperate, but I remember that we have been here before,” Keegel said. “We came through. Our nation came through. Our union came through. We survived those hard times and we will survive these hard times, as well.”
 
Since his election as General Secretary-Treasurer, Keegel has not missed a TNBC meeting and was declared a life-time honorary member of the group by those in attendance at the meeting.
 
The conference will run now through Sunday.