A Resolution Honoring Robert T. "Bob" Simpson, Jr. on 40 Years as President of
the Chicago Chapter of the CBTU
WHEREAS, Robert T. "Bob" Simpson, Jr. has dutifully served for forty years as President of the Chicago Chapter ofthe Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and as an Executive Council Officer ofthe International Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; and
WHEREAS, From his posts within the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Bob has crusaded for better workplaces, wages and lives for African-American union workers; and
WHEREAS, Since he began his organizing career working with employees at Montgomery Ward in the early 1950's, Bob has always been at the forefront of the fight for issues involving the labor community and social justice; and
WHEREAS, Because of that commitment, in 1988 Bob was elected President of Teamster Local 743, the largest local in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing 23,000 members; and
WHEREAS, With great pride, Bob extended this passion for justice to Washington, DC, leading an anti-apartheid demonstration against South Africa and was later a co-leader of the United States labor leader delegation assigned to observe the first historic South African election; and
WHEREAS, Bob has testified before the Chicago Public School Board on behalf of students and teachers, picketed in support of Illinois State workers, marched on "Black Friday" with Walmart UFCW workers and supported the "Occupy Wall Street" movement; and
WHEREAS, Bob also gives back to the community by distributing turkeys and food to needy Chicago families; and
WHEREAS, Bob serves a key role on the boards of many national and local organizations including as a national board member of Operation PUSH, and as a board member of the Teamsters National Black Caucus, the Little City Foundation, NAACP, A. Phillip Randolph Institute and the Coalition of Union Women; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the City Council members of the City of Chicago hereby assembled on this the 10th day of February, 2016, do hereby congratulate Robert T. "Bob" Simpson, Jr., on his 40 years of union service and lifetime of social justice advocacy; and
Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Robert T. "Bob" Simpson, Jr., his family and Chicago Chapter ofthe Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.