Mack honored by Black Caucus

Mack honored by Black Caucus at National Meeting

October 2003

The Teamsters National Black Caucus honored Joint Council 7 President Chuck Mack at its Annual Convention held in August in Jackson, Mississippi. Mack, along with Ken Hallowell, retired Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 247, and Joe Yeoman , President of Teamsters Local 331, received the Crystal Clydesdale award.

The three were recognized for their contribution to the Teamsters Union and the TNBC. All have long been engaged in the struggle for equal rights and for inclusion and diversity, not just in local union membership but in union leadership as well.

Mack was lauded for his work in helping to establish a Northern California Black Caucus Chapter. The effort started three years ago after he returned from a National meeting. "I'd gone to national meetings for years and just assumed we had a chapter," Mack says. "When I found out otherwise, we went to work to make it happen. With several starts and stops, it didn't come easy. But today, the Caucus has 75 members from 10 different locals in Northern California."

"The Northern California Chapter is becoming a force within the National Black Caucus and the Union itself," Mack said. "It has great leadership and vision and a strong commitment to working men and women. California is playing a larger and larger role at the national level as well."

Antonio Christian, Local 853's Recording Secretary, is a long-time member of the TNBC National Executive Board as is Local 70's Phil Frost, retired Chief Steward from Albertsons . Jerome Otis, a Local 70 UPS package car driver and President of the NorCal Chapter, was also elected to the National Board at the Jackson meeting.

The TNBC is an outgrowth of the Western Conference of Te a m s t e r s Black Caucus, which started in 1964. Not until 1981, however, did the Western Caucus really take root. When it did, it stirred chapter formations across the country and launched the TNBC . At left is the Teamsters National Black Caucus mission statement.

Teamsters National Black Caucus

To uphold the principles of the Teamsters ' movement and to foster the opportunity for all Teamsters to serve in Leadership capacities throughout the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and its affiliates .
To unite blacks and other minorities, and other persons of good will for promoting cultural, civic, legislative, political, educational, fraternal, charitable, welfare, social and other activities which further the interests of minorities directly or indirectly.
To assist financially, morally or otherwise, other organizations having purposes and objectives related to this organization.
To engage in community activities which will advance the interest of this organization and its members in the community and in the nation, directly or indirectly.
To assist TNBC chapters and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and its affiliates.
To organize and educate the unorganized.