2020
CHARLES
JENKINS
PRESIDENT
COALITION OF BLACK TRADE UNIONISTS
Charles Jenkins is the President for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and 2nd Vice Chair
in TA’s biggest department Maintenance of Way. As an Offi cer, Jenkins along with his Union,
advocated for training for his co-workers as new electronic equipment replaced old mechanical
SALUTE TO LABOR
equipment.
After working in the private industry, Jenkins joined the public sector, with New York City Transit
Authority. He started his career in 1988, In the Turnstile Department bringing his craft as a
Machinist with him from Private Industrial to repair mechanical machines, he quickly became
active within his Union as a Shop Steward.
In 2010 Jenkins was hired on staff of The Transport Workers Union Local 100 as the Director
of Organizing. Jenkins then joined the Union’s Training and Upgrading Fund in 2013 to use his
experience to revamp training in the Step & Apprentice Program. Jenkins moved over from his
passion of Organizing for the Local, to use his wealth of knowledge to rebrand Training and
Upgrading and help members with new career paths as the Director of Training & Upgrading.
In 2013, Jenkins, an elected offi cer of the Transport Worker Union Local 100, became President
of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) NY Chapter. In 2014 Jenkins was elected
to CBTU International as a Member at Large and was also appointed by the International
President Terry Melvin to be the Chairperson of the Mass Incarceration Committee.