CBTU Chapter Newsletter - Special 30th Anniversary Edition

Greetings, CBTU Family:

November 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of our organization becoming a Chapter of the CBTU, and the beginning of our year of celebration! Please take a moment to read our Special 30th Anniversary Edition Chapter Newsletter, where we have highlighted to accomplishments of several of our dear chapter members.

On behalf of the Chapter's Executive Board, we wish you all safe, happy, and healthy season's greetings and look forward to seeing and celebrating with you at our General Membership Meeting December 16 at 6pm.

CBTU GMM on December 16, 2025... We Are 30!

Dear CBTU chapter members,

We are 30! This year marks 30 years of being a chapter of the International CBTU. To celebrate our history and the contributions of our members towards the Canadian Labour Movement, past and present, we invite you all to a special CBTU General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, December 16 in the evening. Location TBD and will be included in our newsletter coming out within a week. Yes, of course there will be food, it wouldn't be a proper celebration without it☺️
We look forward to seeing you there!

CBTU Does Not Endorse Candidates

Dear members and friends of CBTU,

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) is holding its 18th Biennial Convention from November 17 – 21, 2025. We are proud to see so many members of the CBTU have, an continue to, step forward to announce their candidacy for elections for various roles at the convention. It has always been part of our Mission Statement to: “Challenge systemic forms of racism within the Labour Movement itself by: (a) promoting access and opening doors for Black workers and workers of colour within the Labour Movement; (b) promoting the rights of equality seeking groups to the benefit of all workers within Unions; (c) organizing and maximizing our political influence within the Labour Movement; (d) encouraging and supporting the full participation of Black workers and workers of colour in their Unions.”

The CBTU Ontario Canada Chapter was founded in 1995, but its origins began long before, in the 1980’s, when the organization was called the Ontario Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (OCBTU). In 1987, the activism of OCBTU members was instrumental to the attainment of affirmative action seats for racialized workers of the OFL. As a result of the advocacy, the OFL elected its first racialized vice-president to its executive board, Herman Stewart. Since then, several other prominent labour leaders and members of the CBTU have been successfully elected to the OFL.

 

While the CBTU does not endorse any individual candidates regardless of their membership status, we certainly applaud the increased number of candidates that are also members. The CBTU is not a union. We do not hold any delegated seats at the convention. Our membership’s actions are individual and do not represent the CBTU as an organization. We are, however, extremely proud to see our Chapter’s members flourishing in leadership positions across Canada. The CBTU Ontario Canada Chapter’s Executive Board agreed to provide this letter to reaffirm, for all members and friends of our organization, that a lack of endorsement from CBTU for any of our individual members should not be viewed by any delegates to the convention as a lack of support: it is our policy.

 

The CBTU aims to: “Increase union involvement in voter registration, voter education and voter turnout projects to advance policies that are in working-class interests and the interests of the African-Canadian community as a whole such as Black youth unemployment; publicly-funded education; universal health care; employment equity and fair employment practices; consumer protection especially against inflation
on basic necessities; social programs at federal, provincial and municipal levels; a strong social safety-net; community development initiatives and programs along with all other policies adopted by CBTU members through our demographic processes.” We show no favour to any one individual member, and
our organization has made quite clear that we do not provide endorsement of any kind. Rather, we
applaud each and every candidate that comes forward and can successfully push forward the agenda of the CBTU to create a vehicle for advancing the inclusion of workers of African-descent in all spheres ofour society. Thank you, and best wishes to all candidates.

In Solidarity,

The Executive Board, CBTU Ontario Canada Chapter

CBTU Membership Newsletter November 1, 2025

November 1st, 2025

 

Greetings, CBTU Family: 

 

As we reflect on this challenging season, we are reminded of the strength and solidarity that define our movement. Across Canada and throughout the African diaspora, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) remains a collective voice for justice, equity, and unity.

This issue of our newsletter is dedicated to our brothers and sisters in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and all the countries affected by Hurricane Melissa, and to our students pursuing higher education through CBTU scholarship opportunities. We extend gratitude to all members, allies, and communities who continue to lift one another during difficult times.

STATEMENT FROM THE COALITION OF BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS (CBTU) CANADA REGARDING THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE MELISSA IN JAMAICA

Friday October 31st, 2025

 

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Canada extends our deepest sympathy, solidarity, and support to the people of Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. We are holding close in our hearts all those who have suffered loss, displacement, and damage to their homes, communities, and essential services.

We especially acknowledge the emotional toll being felt by Jamaican families both on the island and here in Canada, as many continue to wait for information about the safety of loved ones due to widespread power outages and interruptions to telecommunications systems. To everyone living in uncertainty we see you, we stand with you, and we are praying alongside you.

Even in the face of hardship, the Jamaican spirit remains resilient, courageous, and rooted in community care. And just as Jamaica has always lifted nations with its culture, leadership, and unwavering strength, we now rally to lift Jamaica.

CBTU Canada strongly encourages members across the country to support organizations and initiatives currently involved in recovery and rebuilding efforts. Donations can also be made directly to the Government of Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief Donation Fund. 

In Unity and Solidarity,

CBTU Canada Chapter Executive: President: Yolanda McClean, 1st Vice President Juanita Forde, 2nd Vice President Lineisha Bernard, Treasurer Christine Maclin, Recording Secretary Coleen Houlder, Communications Secretary Isabelle Miller, Communications & Social Media Officer Mark Brown, Membership Secretary Chris Campbell, Member At Large Mark Austin, Under 40 Representative Jordan Forde, Trustee Dennis Williams, Trustee Sharon Paris, Retiree Member Representative – Andrea McCormack

2025 CBTU Region One Conference

 

  COALITION OF BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS TRI-STATE REGION 1 Conference 

 

Sharon Lovelady-Hall, CBTU Region 1 Director Andrea McCormack, Secretary

Nina Manning, Treasurer

Ursula Howard, Women’s Committee Chair

Vacant, Men’s Committee Chair

LaNette Murphy, Youth Committee Chair Juanita Forde, Younger Workers Committee Chair

[email protected]

 

June 2025

 

Dear CBTU Brother and Sisters:

 

I am excited to announce that the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Annual Region 1 Conference will be held August 15-17, 2025, at Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211. Continuing the celebration of the International CBTU 54th Anniversary, our theme is also “Preserving and Building on Our Legacy: Unbought, Unbossed, Unstoppable.” The agenda will consist of education and information that will give us an opportunity to reflect on our power and influence in the labor movement and our communities in the fight for social and economic justice.

 

For the Necessities of Life

Later is Too Late: Act now to confront environmental racism on Earth Day!

 

 

 

 

April 22^nd, 2025 is Earth Day. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Ontario Canada (CBTU), the Enrich Project and the Toronto Environmental Alliance call upon labour and the community to reconnect with and build a relationship to the earth. Why? It’s simple – the extraordinary benefits of time spent outdoors should be available to all. Outdoors, is a great big, beautiful earth, where children and adults can learn about themselves through the experience of exploring in nature. One cannot love what one doesn’t know. If we want children to become adults who will care for and protect the earth, we must encourage a strong relationship with the natural world.

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists-Canada (CBTU) Stands in Solidarity with Auto Workers and Calls for Immediate Action to End Unjust Tariffs

 

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)-Canada stands in solidarity with all Canadian workers affected by the 47th US President’s recent application of 25% tariffs on all automobiles and auto parts made in Canada. 

CBTU Statement on the Dismissal of the Black Class Action Lawsuit

 

It is with pain and deep dejection that the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) in Canada reviews the Federal Court's decision to dismiss the Black Class Action Lawsuit. The Black Class Action Lawsuit was founded by current and former Black employees of 99 federal government departments representing hundreds if not thousands of Black workers in Canada. These workers alleged that they were discriminated against and  kept from promotions because of their race going as far back as the 1970s. They described being qualified enough to replace their non-Black  colleagues in higher job functions when those colleagues were off on leave but not being qualified enough to fill the positions permanently when  the positions became vacant.  In Madam Justice Gagné’s decision which was rendered just over one week before the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The court acknowledged the discrimination that these Black workers  were experiencing while simultaneously choosing to deny these workers the justice that the federal court should provide.