Barbara Huff Tuckness

President, General Teamsters Local 959

Barbara Huff Tuckness

“I have been a proud member of Teamsters Local 959 since 1978, when the Anchorage Municipal Employees Association (AMEA) became affiliated with Local 959.  I served as an Executive Board member of the AMEA from 1977 through 1983.  In November of 1983, I ran and was elected president of the AMEA.  While president of the Association I worked with the Executive Board in establishing policy and procedures, as well as building a stronger team within the membership.  During my nine years as president I established a training program for AMEA shop stewards, battled with the Municipality of Anchorage over tight budgets that resulted in tough negotiations, always striving to protect the wages and benefits for the Association members.  We had many grievances, and settled or arbitrated each one based on their individual merit.  From 1983 through 1990, I was also the business representative for the AMEA and negotiated its Collective Bargaining Agreements for Local 959.

In 1991, I went to work full-time for Teamsters Local 959 as a business representative, and subsequently negotiated various contracts.  In 1994, I also assumed the role of lobbyist for the Local.  I carried with me those same values and principles to my new job with Local 959.”

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)
Interest based bargaining (Harvard Law)

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, and six grandchildren.  She enjoys running, golfing, skiing, fishing, gardening, reading, and especially spending time with her grandchildren.