Dear Teamsters Sisters and Brothers,
On June 19,1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free. That day became known as Juneteenth—a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. We were extremely proud when President Joe Biden signed the bill that made Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021. But in the times that followed June 19, 1865, we see a powerful story of working people fighting for their rights.
The men and women freed that day entered a society that offered them little economic security and few protections. They had been denied control over their labor, their wages, and their lives. By joining together in primarily-Black unions like the Colored National Labor Union, Black Americans fought to take control of the conditions and benefits of their own work.
The Teamsters have always understood that worker justice and civil rights are inseparable. We have a proud history of standing against discrimination and building solidarity across lines that others sought to divide. As members of Teamsters Local 2010, we carry that legacy forward, knowing our union is strongest when every worker is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness—regardless of race, background, or circumstance.
Today we honor those who came before us, reflect on the progress made, and recommit to the work that remains.
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is never simply given. It is organized for, demanded, and won collectively.
In Solidarity,
