Terry Melvin Elected to Lead CBTU

The IAM delegation to the CBTU’s 41st Annual Convention in St. Louis, MO included representatives from the United States and Canada.

By a unanimous vote, delegates at the 41st annual convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) elected Terrence (Terry) L. Melvin to succeed Bill Lucy as president of the one of North America’s largest and most influential labor advocacy groups.

Delegates at the CBTU Convention voted unanimously to elect Terry Melvin (left) to succeed Bill Lucy (right) as president of the CBTU.

In his first speech as president, Melvin was blunt about the challenges facing CBTU members. “We cannot rely on CBTU’s golden legacy to protect our collective bargaining rights today,” said Melvin. “We must fight like hell now—again and again. Our place in the voting booth is not reserved, either. We must fight voter suppression tactics all over the country.”

Born in 1962, Melvin began his career as an activist in 1980 and served in numerous roles, including as secretary-treasurer of the New York State AFL-CIO and as a member of the 39-member CBTU national executive council. An ordained Baptist minister, Melvin established strong ties between labor, religious organizations and community groups.

“Terry Melvin has the experience, the insights and the enthusiasm to lead the CBTU into the next chapter of its remarkable history,” said IAM Chief of Staff to the International President Diane Babineaux. “He is well-known and well-respected throughout the social justice movement and a worthy successor to long-time CBTU President Bill Lucy.”

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