Williams Witnesses Passing of the Torch at CBTU Convention
Friday, June 7, 2013
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Metro Washington Council President Jos
Williams (left) joined 1,000 delegates
at the recent Coalition of Black Trade
Unionists (CBTU) convention in Orlando,
Florida. Williams, a CBTU trustee, was a
panelist in the international affairs
discussion, which dealt with organizing
campaigns and labor rights in other parts of
the world. This year’s CBTU convention was
closely watched by leaders and activists in
labor and civil rights organizations, because
it was the first one with Rev. Terry Melvin at
the helm. He succeeded his mentor Dr. William
(Bill) Lucy, the most revered black trade
unionist since the legendary A. Philip
Randolph. Lucy, whose CBTU title is now
president emeritus, was a co-founder of CBTU
and had been its first and only president since
1972. “We must blend digital age talent with
old school wisdom to compete on the new
battlefields, as we re-boot CBTU to get bigger
and better and more connected with our labor
and community allies,” said Melvin, who is
also secretary-treasurer of the New York State
AFL-CIO. Melvin said CBTU will continue to be
“a reliable voice for progressive change
within the labor movement and a key player in
mobilizing African American voters on the
national and local level.” Convention
delegates passed dozens of resolutions on
issues including immigration reform, voter
suppression tactics, jobs, implementing the new
health care law, stopping the drop-out crisis
in the black community and supporting the
commemoration of the 50th anniversary March on
Washington. - report/photos by Dwight
Kirk