Contact Information
Cell Phone: 301-802-4799
1979 - Metro Bus Operator
1987 - Rail Train Operator
1997 - Rail Interlocking Operator
1994 - Shop Steward for Rail Operations of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689
1997 - 1st African American woman appointed Assistant Business Agent Local 689
2000 - 1st African American woman elected First Vice President Local 689
2003 - 1st African Woman elected Financial Secretary-Treasurer Local 689
2006 - 1st African American Woman elected President and Business Agent Local 689
Jackie L. Jeter served as President/Business Agent of the more than 12,000 members that make up ATU Local 689 from 2007 through 2018. The active and retired members of Local 689 elected Jackie to the union’s top leadership position in December 2006. She took office in January 2007, making history as the first African American woman to head the local since it’s founding in 1916.
As President of Local 689, Jeter led the continual fight of protecting the interests of Metro transit workers. Her leadership was backed by her 39 years of valuable rank and file experience operating Metro buses, trains, and the rail interlocking system.
A veteran union activist, Jeter had been an elected official with Local 689 since 1995. Beginning her activist career as a Shop Steward for Rail Operations and continued to be blessed by the support of the membership to the present. She takes enormous pride in the fact that she started from the bottom and worked her was up to the top gaining experience and knowledge concerning all represented classifications. Her first appointment was as the Assistant Business Agent for Rail by Presidents’ Thomas and Allen; she was elected First Vice President in 2001; and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of Local 689 in 2004 in steady succession. Each time, Jeter started a new chapter in this local as the first African American woman to hold these offices.
Her leadership presence extends to our International ATU family and regional union community as well. She has held the position of Vice-Chair and Chairperson of the ATU International Women’s Caucus since 1999 as well as a member of Today's Women Caucus of Local 689 from 1994 to the present. Jeter served on the Executive Board of the Washington Metropolitan Council, AFL-CIO from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2012 to the present. She served as president of the Council from 2016-2019 as its first woman.
The respect from her colleagues has transcended from her work locally to the entire Amalgamated Transit Union family. As a union officer she has been selected to serve on the International Presidents Laws Committee for three conventions and holding both the Secretary and Chairpersons position. Additionally, Jeter has been and remains elected to the ATU International Women’s Caucus since 2001.
President Jeter is an unflinching champion for the rights of workers, demonstrating vision, insight and tenacity in representing Local 689’s priorities. She is forging a mutual alliance of respect and collaboration between her members and the public that they serve.
Under her leadership, Local 689 organized over 400 new para-transit drivers and mechanics members working for private companies contracted to operate MetroAccess, as well as workers at DC Streetcar.
Recognized for her leadership, she has been awarded numerous awards for her activism, here’s a few, The Distinguished Leadership Award from the Maryland Democratic Party; NAACP Award for Women Making a Difference; Gloria T. Johnson Award from CLUW; APRI Rising Star Award; MD-DC Central Labor Council JC Turner Award; Champion of Working Families Award from Progressive Maryland, just to name a few…..
Jeter has been married to Roland H. Jeter since 2002 but has lived in the Washington area since 1978. Collectively they have five children and seven granddaughters and one grandson.
