Teamsters Newsletter
Inside Our Current Newsletter
- Ken Coleman writes "Why Join a Union?"
- Heros in Kodiak
- 2010 North Slope Construction
- Wayne Craft, From Trainee to Trainer
- Yukon Disaster Relief
- About Our Shop Stewards
- Members Celebrate 35+ years
- Local Welcomes Jerry South, Business Representative
- and more!
Barbara Huff Tuckness
Vice-President, General Teamsters Local 959
Barbara was born in Herlong, California, into a military family. Before moving to Alaska from Guam in 1972, Barbara traveled around the states and overseas. After arriving in Anchorage, Barbara began her career in 1973 with the City of Anchorage. She worked for the City at the old downtown Loussac Library and was promoted to various positions within the department until the early 1980s.
In 1978, Barbara weathered her first labor union strike and walked the picket line for six weeks when AMEA went on strike against the City. George Sullivan was mayor of Anchorage at that time.
Barbara has been a member of Local 959 since 1978 when the Anchorage Municipal Employees Association (AMEA) became affiliated with Teamsters Local 959. She served on AMEA's board of directors from 1977 until 1983, when she ran for office and was elected president. She then served as both AMEA's president and business representative. Upon resigning as AMEA's president, Barbara became a full-time business representative for Teamsters Local 959.
Barbara has since served Local 959 in a number of positions. In addition to her position as a business representative, Barbara has been the contract negotiator for members at AMEA, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Horizon Lines of Alaska, South Peninsula Hospital, Republic Parking, ABM Janitorial, and Sunrise Bakery. Barbara feels fortunate to have trained under former 959 secretary-treasurers, Jesse L. Carr, Bobby Sinnett, Jack Slama, and Jerry Hood.
Currently the director of Local 959's government and legislative affairs department, Barbara is the Local's statewide lobbyist in Juneau.
Barbara has participated in numerous training programs throughout her career, including such programs on:
- Labor law studies (George Meany Center)
- Labor negotiations
- Contract administration
- Arbitration of discipline and discharge cases
- Case preparation and presentation of arbitrations
- Advance arbitration (George Meany Center)
- Offensive collective bargaining (George Meany Center)
- Contract negotiations (Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service)
- Interest based bargaining (Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service)
Barbara has served on numerous boards and task forces as follows:
- Governor's Advisory Task Force on Civil Justice Reform
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Human Rights Commission
- Alaska Health Project (board member)
- State Health Care Cost Containment Task Force
- Mayor's Productivity Task Force
- Municipal Coalition of Unions (co-chair)
- State of Alaska Labor Relations Board
- State of Alaska Board of Marine Pilots
- Alaska Dance Association
- Resource Development Council (board member)
- Common Wealth North (board member)
- Conference of Alaskans
- Ad Hoc Labor/Management Workers' Compensation Task Force
Barbara is married with two children and three stepchildren ranging in age from 23 to 36 years old, and four grandchildren. She enjoys running, golfing, skiing, fishing, gardening, reading, and especially spending time with her grandchildren.