Minister Louis Farrakhan to address Black labor

The Teamsters National Black Caucus is an organization of Black trade unionists fighting to defeat discrimination inside and outside of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. We believe in educating and activating the rank and file.

Chris Silvera and son, Bashiri, at 2005 May Day rally in New York.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, on behalf of the Millions More Movement, will be addressing the delegates attending the Caucus's 30th Annual Educational Conference and Banquet. Our conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, McCormick Place, Chicago, on Aug. 16-21. Minister Farrakhan will be the Keynote Speaker at our banquet on the evening of Aug. 20.

In Chicago, we pick up the torch that was carried so valiantly by the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The clergy, the civil rights warriors, the anti-war movement and Black Labor have joined together to mobilize the working class to "forge a fightback."

The Million Worker March Movement and the Teamsters National Black Caucus have joined with the Millions More Movement to put forward a workers' agenda with a list of demands which includes workers' and human rights; the right to a job with a living wage; the right to organize; the right to strike without being replaced; the right to national health care; the enforcement of civil rights against all racist and discriminatory acts; the right to affordable housing, and an end to the war in Iraq. We must protect and enhance Social Security and multi-employer pension plans which should be guaranteed for all working people. Education is a right, not a privilege.

Common cause has brought us together to build a movement powerful enough to affect social and economic justice. This movement must be built and led by the "millions who carry the rich on their backs." We must let Wall Street corporate bosses, who control both political parties and run our government, know that we will not accept the theft of jobs, resources and the future of our children instead of the rebuilding of our cities and the full restoration of vital public services.

The membership of the Teamsters National Black Caucus comprises officers, stewards and rank and file labor activists. The organization continues to stretch forth its hands in support of all worthy actions that uplift all workers. TNBC has worked tirelessly to improve the wages, benefits and working condition of all workers.

Besides being chair of the Teamsters National Black Caucus, Silvera is also secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 808. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has 400,000 Black members. Silvera was one of the co-coordinators of the Oct. 17, 2004, Million Worker March on the East Coast.