The Secretary/Treasurer
& Business Manager,
Jim Gookins
"I would like to personally welcome all Members and guests to the recently renovated Teamsters Local 991 website. The goal is to make this site Member friendly and with your input, we will achieve that goal.
As many of you know, Brother Charles Sullivan retired on October 1, 2005. At that time I assumed his duties as Business Manager and Secretary/Treasurer and I retained my duties as Business Agent. It is with honor and gratitude that I look forward to serving the Members and growing Local 991 to the level of potential that I vision. I am grateful for the opportunity placed in front of me.
The future looks bright for this Local Union. We have added approximately 275 new Members since October 2005, over 150 at Allied Waste, with whom we ratified a first collective bargaining agreement in December 2005; and more recently we added members of Coastal Package Carriers, (DHL drivers) in Mobile, Al , New and Era Cap Company, in Mobile, AL . It was with the dedicated support of the IBT Organizing Department that we were able to achieve that goal. The IBT Organizing Department works closely with the Local Union staff to concentrate and focus our efforts to reach more Americans who need the representation that only a strong Union can provide.
The Executive Board has changed as well, due to retirements and the Local union elections in Dec. 2007 . Brothers Mack Taite, Frank Davis have assumed positions as Trustees. Brother Antoine Lott assumed the position of the Vice President. John Armstrong retired after many years of loyal service last fall. Terry Taylor remains President. Judy Chapa remains an integral part of the office staff, together with Cynthia Powe, who has accepted responsibilities as Assistant Business Agent . Local 991 has an office staff with the knowledge that comprises the heart and soul of this Local.
The jurisdiction of our Local is broad and the Membership is diverse. We cover from the Florida panhandle (Tallahassee), across southern Alabama and Mississippi, over to the Louisiana state line. As you will see, if you visit the Employers page of this website, we represent an assortment of crafts. The challenge is to monitor the collective bargaining agreements currently in place, negotiate better contracts upon expiration, and to organize the workers seeking membership in this great Union. We are looking forward to the challenge. It will not be easy in the anti-union environment that exists today. However, if we practice the true meaning of a Union; a group of workers acting as one, we will make positive strides toward attaining those objectives. It will take the hard work of all of us to make progress.
Please feel free to contact the Local Union with questions or concerns that you may have. Remember, there are General Membership meetings on the third Saturday of each month. This is YOUR Local Union. Start coming to the meetings, and lets pack the Union Hall. I hope to see you there."
Fraternally,
Jim Gookins