Pittsburgh CBTU

Pittsburgh CBTU The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists consists of members from seventy-seven international and natio

In September 1972, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists founding members Bill Lucy (AFSCME), Nelson (Jack) Edwards (UAW), Cleveland Robinson (Distributive Workers of America), Charles Hayes (UFCW), and William Simons (AFT) gathered in Chicago with more than 1,200 black union officials and members, representing 37 international and national unions. The call for this conference states, “...We come tog

ether to assess very critically several important matters: 1) The 1972 Presidential Election, 2) The role of black trade unionists in the American labor movement, and 3) The role of black trade unionists in the community.”

The founders were concerned with President Nixon’s poor treatment of African Americans and of the working class poor, and they were especially alarmed by the AFL-CIO’s neutral stance on his reelection bid. Further, they felt that the concerns of black workers in particular, and minority workers in general, were not well represented in the labor movement. Hoping to provide a voice for these underrepresented groups, the convention resulted in a permanent organization: the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). In the last 40 years, CBTU has fought for social justice, civil rights, educational needs, health care, politics, the anti-apartheid movement, and many other causes. Some of CBTU’s most important historic work was helping to end Apartheid in South Africa and assisting in the election of President Nelson Mandela. CBTU’s President Lucy worked tirelessly through CBTU, AFSCME, and the Free South Africa Movement to raise awareness about Apartheid, institute boycotts of companies that invested in the Apartheid regime, and lead demonstrations against the South African Embassy. After being released from prison in 1990, Mandela traveled to the United States where he met with labor leaders to thank them for the work done on his behalf. CBTU has also been responsible for helping to increase diversity in the labor movement’s governance, ensuring that women and minorities hold leadership roles in the AFL-CIO. Additionally, CBTU has been involved with voter registration and get out the vote drives for African American constituents. Finally, CBTU has focused on improving community partnerships among labor, religion, and other interested groups.

2025 CBTU Region II Conference!
09/28/2025

2025 CBTU Region II Conference!

09/28/2025

The Faster Labor Contracts Act is being introduced to speed up the process of reaching a first collective bargaining agreement between newly unionized workers and their employer, by requiring contr…

Sorry to see our brother and our friend stepping down, thank you for your leadership!
09/11/2025

Sorry to see our brother and our friend stepping down, thank you for your leadership!

As president of the Allegheny/Fayette Central Labor Council, Darrin Kelly has stood against presidents and alongside them. But when the council chooses its own leadership in January, he will not be running again himself.

Solidarity!
07/07/2025

Solidarity!

07/06/2025
Can’t be attacking our Postal Workers! They do not deserve this!
06/14/2025

Can’t be attacking our Postal Workers! They do not deserve this!

An attack on a U.S. Postal Service worker sparked a police stand-off in Pittsburgh's Bon Air neighborhood on Wednesday.

Solidarity ✊🏿
06/09/2025

Solidarity ✊🏿

David Huerta, the president of the Service Employees International Union of California, was arrested while protesting immigration raids on work sites in Los Angeles.

06/08/2025

Federal authorities are moving to drop a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Sheetz convenience store chain, part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to halt the use of a key tool for enforcing the country’s civil rights laws.

05/28/2025

Staff at one of Pittsburgh's largest labor and delivery hospitals are unionizing. About 1,000 registered nurses and advanced practice professionals have filed notice with the National Labor Relations Board.

Pittsburgh CBTU stands with our Federal Workers!
05/05/2025

Pittsburgh CBTU stands with our Federal Workers!

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PO Box
Pittsburgh, PA
15943

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+14124771060

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