Prevailing Wages Are a Must

Unions have historically set the benchmark for what a living wage is and what the average person needs to make to survive in America. Without Unions we are left with a minimum wage system that takes decades to increase and never catches up to inflation. Without Unions, wages would be a race to the bottom, and continue to be the bare minimum we see in so many jobs today. Prevailing wages is a very complicated term that can be interpreted to mean a lot of things, but all it means is that it is the living wage for the Building and Construction Industry. Prevailing wages establish the benchmark employers need to meet to hire a competent and qualified worker. It sets the bar for the price of Labor and prevents sacrificing wages for higher profit. It is the contractual means for working people to get what they deserve on the job. Of course, there is, and always will be, opposition to this. Any time employers are forced to pay workers what they deserve they will complain and fight and threaten. Never have the wealthy relinquished profits for the greater good. As contractors and corporations look to destroy and undermine prevailing wages, the cast a broad net of hate and fear looking for anybody to champion their greed. Sadly, this has led to the false narrative that prevailing wages hurts minority and women contractors. Unfortunately, the propaganda has been successful in fooling poor communities that denying a living wage will somehow benefit them in the long run. Much like the lie about cutting taxes, cutting prevailing wages will only hurt the most vulnerable and benefit the wealthiest. Amazon and Apple pay no taxes under this new take bill, but hundreds of thousands of Americans are paying more in taxes than ever before. This is what will happen when we destroy the benchmarks. Killing prevailing wages will only lead to further exploitation and wage gauging by employers. The fight for good jobs, fair benefits, and a living wage is a fight that we must all be in. It is a fight against billionaires and multinational corporations. This is a battle against corrupt politicians and a corporate welfare state and there is no room or luxury to have allies fighting amongst themselves. We at CBTU support the Building Trades and Prevailing Wages. We at CBTU call on the NAACP New York State Conference and Branches and progressive allies to join this fight and demand our brothers and sisters on the job get the pay they deserve not the crumbs left over.



New Zealand Massacre- Trump Response and Ours

On March 15 a white supremacist armed with an assault rifle channeled his Islamophobia into violence. The New Zealand mosque massacre, which has resulted in 50 deaths, is yet another example of the virulent white supremacist & Islamophobic movements that have spread across this planet as part of right-wing populism. Though there are inevitably those who attempt to treat this massacre as simply an example of a mentally/emotionally disturbed, but otherwise good white person, we should understand that these murders are part of a phenomenon represented by political forces across the planet which are encouraging the delusional view that white people are threatened by immigration. In response to the massacre, President Trump expressed his condolences but, once again, never tied this act of racial terrorism to a social movement that encourages acts of violence in order to ensure white supremacy. In fact, Trump treated this act as only a tragic mass killing rather than a political action that draws its inspiration from individuals and movements that Trump tends to support. We can see time and again that Trump finds it nearly impossible to speak out against Islamophobia and white terrorism. When asked about the danger of white nationalists, he denied that this was a movement of any significance, a position that is contrary to all available facts. More importantly, Trump has sung from the same hymn book as these white supremacists when he warns of an alleged danger of immigrants from the global South crossing our borders. Trump, in other words, shouts fire in a theatre and then acts surprised when there is a stampede. We, in the CBTU, along with other progressive forces, realize that these acts of white terrorism may be the acts of insane individuals, but so was the Nazi persecution and genocide against the Jews. That it is insane does not mean that it can be minimized or treated as a matter for therapy. There is an irrationalist movement of the political Right that wishes to cleanse countries of the global North of people of color. That is their objective and they are very clear about it. We, on the progressive side of the aisle, must stand firm against such movements and join forces to crush them, politically speaking. There is no compromise with right-wing populists. While some of them may claim to not be racist but instead only wishing to restrict immigrants, we should be clear that their aim is the restoration of the idea that the USA in particular should be a white republic and that those of us who do not fit into the category of “white” are now encouraged to vacate the premises. African Americans should have no interest in vacating. Our ancestors, enslaved and suppressed, were the principal labor force in the building of US capitalism. We are not going to entertain the idea of being ‘vacating.’ If anything we should entertain the idea of a new discussion of reparations! We should also entertain the necessity for the elimination of white supremacist movements that seek to bring about a new phase of 21st century barbarism.



Gov. Northam must Resign

CBTU President Statement on Gov. Northam Blackface

Statement by Rev. Terry Melvin

President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

 

For too long Blacks in America have had to accept that the society around them is overtly and aggressively racist. From minstrel shows, to Blackface, to Back of the Bus, to Trayvon Martin we have been reminded time and time again that our ancestors were slaves and the legacy of slavery still exists. We have witnessed a new surge in the public consciousness that has made it clear this will no longer be deemed socially acceptable. We no longer have to accept Blackface as just a joke, and instead can demand reparations from these insults. Gov. Northam has been exposed as someone who found this behavior acceptable and for that he must resign as consequence for his actions.

Gov. Northam presents a challenge for the American consciousness. Overall he has done good work, and his deeds as governor were not detrimental to the Black population. We can commend the good deeds he has done in office, but we cannot look past his past. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the racism that exists in this nation. And so CBTU calls on his immediate resignation, in addition to the resignation of Representative and White Nationalist Steve King, who is far worse and more egregious than Northam.

Blacks have had to watch videos of our brothers being choked or shot to death by police, banned from the NFL for taking a knee, and our first Black president called every insult under the sun. Our role models are being torn apart, while our children are being criminalized and incarcerated. The least we can demand from our political leaders is to not be overtly racist. The one standard we should agree to is no mockery of any race or creed or color. For these reasons we need to draw a line in the sand and demand all these racists get purged from office, from Gov. Northam, to Steve King, to Mitch McConnell and his confederate flag loving support, down to the bottom of the barrel, Trump. All racists must go and our standard should be hypocritical if their party is the same as ours.

 



Support the People of Zimbabwe

CBTU President Statement on the Situation in Zimbabwe

Statement by Rev. Terry Melvin

President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

When Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe was ousted in 2017, there was a question that was broadly asked:  was there now to be a return to democracy? Also, will the goals of the original Zimbabwean Revolution be finally realized? As such, and despite evidence of hostility to dissent, the government of Emmerson Mnangagwa, was given the benefit of the doubt by many both in Zimbabwe and in other countries.  It is now apparent that rather than creating a wider space for democratic debate and dissent, and rather than returning to the road of the Zimbabwean Revolution, Mnangagwa has chosen the route of the police state.

In response to a protest called by trade union leaders regarding the increase in fuel prices, the Mnangagwa government began open repression, including beatings and imprisonment of protesters and opposition figures.  This has included the jailing of members and leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the largest of the Zimbabwean labor federations and one with which CBTU has had a relationship for years.

The repression of the ZCTU is not new.  Under former President Mugabe, leaders and activists were routinely jailed and, in some cases, tortured for opposing various policies of the government.  ZCTU, like many other organizations in Zimbabwe, expected some relief from repression. Instead they have received repression once again.

One conclusion that we can draw from what is underway in Zimbabwe is that while former President Mugabe had a strong persona, the challenges facing Zimbabwe go way beyond that of an individual.  There is a regime in place that seeks to enrich itself and smash any and all opposition, always holding up the Zimbabwean flag when they do so. The time has certainly arrived where it needs to be made clear that such repression will not be excused away or ignored by anyone, including and especially those of us—organizations and individuals—who for so long supported the Zimbabwean Revolution.

Pressure external to Zimbabwe is very important but that pressure must come from African nations and progressive social movements rather than from rogue forces such as the Trump administration.  CBTU, therefore, adds its voice to others that insist that the African Union take an active role in bringing about a peaceful and just resolution of Zimbabwe’s conflict. We can no longer afford to allow charlatans to fly the flag of progressive nationalism and sovereignty while they are doing all that they can to support and reinforce the privileges of a small elite.

We support the Zimbabwean Revolution but we oppose the authoritarianism of the Mnangagwa regime.  The people must come to power!



CBTU Convention Call

CBTU Convention Call 2019

February 2019

Dear Members, Friends, and Family,

I am issuing the official convention call to the 48th International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). The convention will be held in Atlanta, Georgia at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 from May 21-27, 2019. Our theme this year is “Reclaiming our Country: United for a Better Tomorrow”. All general convention sessions will be held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

It has been a tumultuous year. We have seen the moral fabric of our society torn apart like children from their parents at the border. We have the casualties of voter suppression in both Georgia, Florida, and other states. We have seen Labor attacked from all sides, and in the face of this we have seen success after success. We have witnessed new social standards that will not accept racism and wage oppression. With this in mind we will be gathering to layout the platform for the work ahead of us. Please note all of our activities as the calendar is full.

Preconvention sessions begin Tuesday, May 21st. We will be offering the Carol Anderson Leadership Training. This is for CBTU Leadership looking to advance their skills, their chapters and their regions. We will also be offering Common Sense Economics - Train the Trainer. This training will empowers members on how to explain and breakdown the economy. Special Registration is required for both.

Wednesday, May 22nd Bill Fletcher Jr. has agreed once again to host a dynamic session entitled: “Does the Labor Movement need to be Anti-Capitalist?” Special Registration is required.

The general convention begins Thursday, May 23rd where we will get the climate of our situation. May 23 - 26th is the general convention that puts a spotlight and microscope on the issues impacting our communities and ways to fight back.

Registration for the 2019 convention can be done by downloading forms online at the CBTU website, www.cbtu.org. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please call the CBTU International office at 202-778-3318 or email us at cbtu@cbtu.org.

In Solidarity,

Rev. Terrence L. Melvin, President



Supreme Court Corrupted

CBTU President Statement on the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court

Statement by Rev. Terry Melvin

President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

 

Brett Kavanaugh has been appointed to the highest court of our country. Brett Kavanaugh is now a Supreme Court Justice. He has earned this role not through merits, credentials, or professionalism. Rather he has been appointed due to partisanship, political motivations, and misogyny. He has been given this position exclusively due to his privilege and the manner in which he can be manipulated. Our Supreme Court, once considered to be objective and the last bastion of justice, is now completely tainted and corrupted by this appointment. CBTU is ashamed and appalled at all legislators that voted in support of Brett Kavanaugh. CBTU stands in opposition of his appointment.

 

The role of a Supreme Court Justice is to view and interpret the law above one’s political ideology. As the final say in all judicial matters the Supreme Court needs to maintain an objectivity beyond political party, and make rulings with sound legal precedent. We have found that this Court is currently very partisan and Brett Kavanaugh has proven he will vote with a political agenda. Before cameras and Senators he attacked Democrats, complained of a conspiracy theory, yelled and cried, and repeatedly stated he liked beer. His temperament and behavior make him unfit for the bench, but most importantly it validated that he will be biased and vindictive on the bench. With enough votes from his party Brett was able to use his frat boy persona to become a Supreme Court Judge.

 

We have failed as a nation and most importantly we have failed our women of this country. We have allowed sexual assault to be treated as a punch line, and have validated white male privilege with this appointment. But most crucially, we have proven that political apathy, low voter turnout, and disinterest in our government will lead to consequences that will be felt by generations. We have failed our children with the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh because we have allowed his enablers to take over seats of power. CBTU opposes this Supreme Court appointment and is committed to making sure we put the right people into power and organizing beyond the rulings of this court. Janis v. AFSCME didn’t stop us and neither will Brett.



Illegitimate Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the United States Supreme Court

Statement of CBTU President Terrence L. Melvin on CBTU’s Opposition to the Illegitimate Nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for the United States Supreme Court

July 10, 2018

President Melvin has issued the following statement in response to the announcement from the White House of the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court:

The nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court moves the highest court in the land closer to officially becoming an arm of the Republican Party of Trump and an open adversary of working families, communities of color, women, the LGBTQ community and immigrants. An extremist president and an extremist party have embraced an extremist for the bench, a jurist whose record on reproductive rights and worker rights, education and affirmative action, consumer and environmental protections, voting rights and immigration protections cast an ominous cloud over the preservation of hard-earned gains that have enriched our democracy.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would further weaponize the Supreme Court against the American people and embolden Trump’s authoritarian appetite to abuse power. Judge Kavanaugh has been described as “an unrelenting and unapologetic defender of presidential power.” Consequently, one has to question whether a besieged president choose him to be, perhaps, a deciding vote if he (Trump) is brought before the court as a result of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Quite simply, Judge Brett Cavanaugh is the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time.

His nomination, like that of Neil Gorsuch – Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee – is deeply tainted by the disgraceful blockade thrown up by Senate Republicans to deny President Barack Obama his rightful opportunity to make a court pick in his final year. The 2.1 million black trade unionists that CBTU is the voice for have not forgotten nor will they give Trump’s illegitimate nominee a pass.

We call on the Senate to reject Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination, especially if he refuses to unequivocally commit to recuse himself on any case that comes before the high court that involves the 45th President of the United States and his finances or dealings with Russia.

CBTU will join with our allies across the country to wage a full-throttle confirmation fight. Not because we fear the outcome, but because we would lose our soul – and America’s – if we were to concede where our ancestors petitioned for justice so many times.

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