1970 - 1980

In 1970 we built the two rooms in the basement of the Union building for the Health and Welfare and Conference room. Between the 70's and the 80's, especially in the 70's this Local Union had 107 different companies under contract, and most of them were in the trucking industry. In the late or mid 70's, this local union had 5100 members. I don't know how many casuals worked out of this local union at that time. I was Secretary-Treasurer at the time and there was just all kind of work. 

Then comes de-regulation and I think that was just before 1980. I just don't know the dates. It tore this Local Union apart along with the rest of the trucking industry in the United States.

This Local Union started with two full time people, and at one time this Local Union had 9 full time people. That was between the 60's and the 80's. But deregulation, before I retired in 1980, was starting to hurt the local union and lost members in the trucking industry. I think when I left in December of 1980, we were paying per capita tax probably on 3800 members.

This Local Union was affiliated with International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Dan Tobin, Beck, James R. Hoffa, Frank Fitzsimmons, Roy E. Williams and Jackie Presser. It was also affiliated with Joint Council 41, the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, the Central States Conference of Teamsters, the Central States Drivers Council and the Ohio Highway Drivers Council. It was how your grievance procedure was formed. Probably what it is now today.

Your grievance was first heard on a local level, and if it was deadlocked here, it went to Columbus, Ohio, and it if was deadlocked there, it went to the Central States Area. Sometimes it was deadlocked there, but that meant if it was deadlocked there, you could use economical
reasons to settle the grievance which you and I know could be a strike.

Looking at your per capita tax, this Local Union over the years, as it does now, pays the per capita tax to the International, Joint Council 41, the Ohio Conference of Teamsters for all members. For your dock men and road men, they paid an extra yearly fee to Central Conference and Ohio Conference of Teamsters. They paid a yearly fee at that time which amounted to 50 cents for each city driver and $1.00 for each road driver.

This Local Union was classified and had a good name for being one of the best freight locals in the United States. We serviced our members well. Over the years this local union has had some good Officers and some real good Business Agents. We went from one girl in October of 1941 to six full time office girls up to the 80's.

This Local Union started with a $2.00 a month for city and dock people to $2.50 road members. You see how times have changed from the $2.00 dues to your present day dues. On January of 1982 I went to work for the Ohio Conference of Teamsters as a Business Representative and retired fully from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in December 1982.

I was in the Teamsters nearly 50 years. We had our good days and we had our bad days. We had a few strikes. I enjoyed every minute of it and love this Local from the time that we chartered in November 16th, 1941, and I am a charter member to this present day...... and I always will be. It's been my life.

By Thomas "Red" Gosser, former Secretary-Treasurer, who also served as Officer and Trustee of Local 24 from 1948 through 1980 and was a former CCC Highway driver and Union Steward.

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