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Principal Officer's Message
Updated On: Apr 112, 2021

     I would like to personally welcome all members and guests to the new and improved Teamsters Local 991 website. The goal is to make this site member friendly, and with your input we will achieve that goal.

     It is with honor and gratitude that I serve the members and look forward to growing Local 991 to the level of potential that I vision.

Although the current labor environment is not favorable to Unions, the Local Union staff has not been deterred from the continued goal of organizing the unorganized. We continue to respond from inquiries about unionism and providing a voice in the workplace. It is my belief that the future looks bright for this Local Union.

     In 2016 the Local negotiated its first contract with the drivers and monitors at Durham School Bus in Santa Rosa County. The contract took over three years to achieve due to the Company's continued acts of obstruction. Finally with the assistance of the IBT staff we were able to get a ratified Agreement and new members. Subsequently the contract was obtained by STA. The Local Union succesfully negotiated and the members ratified a CBA with STA.

     We are also participants in Joint Council 75 CBAs with Alsco Linen and Pat Salmon Mail Haulers (their name has changed to Ten Roads Trucking).

     The UPS  and UPSF Agreements expired in 2018 and the Parties negotiatiated renewal National and Supplemental CBAs during 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Agreements expire on July 31, 2023. I was honored to be appointed to both Negotiating Committees. We continue to grow the membership at UPS through the great internal organizing efforts of the Stewards and the Company's growth. Local 991 has approximately 1050 members at UPS and 35 members at UPSF. This represents a 40% increase in 5 years.

    The Local continues to build and strengthen relationships throughout the International Union in order that our members may benefit. We cannot be successful on our own, it takes a dedicated team to stop the current war on workers. We are fortunate to have hard working Stewards, office staff and Executive Board to assist in attaining our goals.

     The Executive Board is comprised of the following members:  Brother Lavon Lindsey (Republic Services) is now President of the Executive Board, Bill Ezell (UPS), Marvin Johnson (Ingalls), and Felicia Walker (IBT) have assumed positions as Trustees. Keith Salmon (UPS) continues as the Recording Secretary, and Frank Davis (Yellow Freight) as Vice President.  All members of the Local Union's Executive Board are delegates for Joint Council 75 (Local Unions in Florida, Georgia and Southern Alabama with approximately 41,000 members). I serve as the Secretary-Treasurer of Joint Council 75.

     The jurisdiction of the Local is broad and the membership is diverse. We cover from the Florida Panhandle (Tallahassee) to the Louisiana/Mississippi state line and Southern Alabama. As you will see, if you visit the Companies section of the site, 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. The playing field is skewed in favor of the Company. However, if we practice the true meaning of a Union, a group of workers acting as one, we will make positive strides towards 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. We also have the yearly Labor Day Parade that we participate in and the annual Christmas Party typically held on the second Saturday in December. This is YOUR Local Union. Start coming to the meetings and let's pack the Union Hall. I hope to see you at the  monthly meetings and the Local Union functions for the members.

                                                                            

Fraternally,

Jim Gookins

Secretary-Treasurer/Business Manager


 
 
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