pdf Retiree News & View - May/June 2017 (809 KB)

On May 3, 1952, Local 237 received its charter as a Local of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Henry Feinstein had broken away from DC 37, where he was their first president, to form a new public employee union, Local 237. There are some who say that the number 237 represented the “second 37,” a public employee union that has now become the largest Teamsters Local in the nation (including Puerto Rico) and Canada.

Early members of the union included maintenance workers and water use inspectors. Between 1952 and the present, Local 237 has grown to represent over 250 job titles — at municipal agencies such as the New York City Housing Authority, Health and Hospitals Corporation, the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections, the NYPD, the TLC, HRA and many more city agencies, as well as municipal workers in several towns on Long Island. Currently, our diverse membership of nearly 24,000 includes maintenance workers, managers, school safety agents, x-ray technicians, cooks, roofers, plasterers, elevator mechanics, photographers, attorneys, hospital police and more. Over 10,000 retirees enjoy the benefits of retirement from Local 237 in the City of New York and on Long Island.

In 1952, a new car cost $1700 and gas was .20 a gallon. Chopped meat was .53 per pound. Testing continued on the atomic bomb and the first hydrogen bomb was detonated. It was also the time of Joseph McCarthy and the “red baiting” that came with McCarthyism. Early Local 237 members were accused of being “communists” for joining a union. They struggled for safe workplaces and decent salaries. They persevered and membership in Local 237 brought them into the middle class.

Our president, Gregory Floyd, recently said, “When you think about it, 65 years is a long time to keep anything going, let alone, going strong. Across our nation, labor unions have seen a dramatic decline in membership — to only 11% today. Union bashing and union busting are rampant, with public sector members often portrayed as greedy, incompetent workers who abuse the system. Somehow, many have forgotten that unions fought for working families so that they could enjoy a better quality of life. Unions built the middle class in America. And, it is public employees who help to run and maintain services and facilities upon which millions rely — our schools, hospitals, the Housing Authority and homeless shelters — to name only a few. But, throughout 237’s history we’ve had to fight many battles on behalf of our members and retirees. We’ve had many accomplishments, among them: lobbying for legislation to protect our members; providing health and pension benefits for active members and retirees; and ending gender based discrimination. Today, we are still faced with many challenges, but we are well-prepared to fight with the vigor and commitment that has become synonymous with Local 237 throughout our history. We are proud and should be, because at 65 we’re still going strong.”

Happy 65th Birthday, Local 237. We are Teamsters and we are proud.

Retired members share their thoughts:

“Yo, Angel L. Morciglio Ramos, retirado del Local 237, me uno mis sentimientos sobre la ocasión, del 65o aniversario del Local 237. Yo me siento muy agradecido por todas las atenciones recibidas por el Local 237. Gracias por todo. Las Bendiciones para todos."
— Angel L. Morciglio Ramos, Retired NYCHA Caretaker, Now living in Puerto Rico

"Congrats to Local 237. Wishing you 65 more years. Don’t know where I’d be without you. You’ve done so much for so many. Carry on."
— Jesse Taylor, Retired Campus Peace Officer, Lives in NYC

“Congratulations on your 65th anniversary Teamsters Local 237!!! Thank you Union representatives for your continued commitment in maintaining Teamsters Local 237 to its full potential. How fortunate we members are to have unions (especially ours) who fight for better salaries, safe work environments, better health care and retirement with great benefits. Thank you President Gregory Floyd, Nancy B. True and all others for a great job making union members feel better at their workplace and for the retired members to have a better life.”
— Iris Beltran, Retired Maintenance Control Planner, Woodhull Hospital, HHC. Now living in Puerto Rico

“Un cordial saludo a mis hermanos y hermanas del Local 237. Al cumplirse los 65 años de la fundación del Local 237 quiero compartir con todos los afiliados este momento tan importante. La ocasión sobre el 65º aniversario del Local 237 nos da la oportunidad de tener grandes recuerdos que fue un pilar de sus luchas, la defensa de la dignidad de los trabajadores. Como afiliado del Local 237, me siento muy orgulloso de pertenecer a tan importante sindicato que ha hecho historia. Felicidades al Local 237 en su 65º aniversario. ¡Gracias!”
— José A. Melendez Vazquez, Retired NYCHA Caretaker, Coordinator of Retiree Group in Puerto Rico. Currently living in Puerto Rico

“Felicidades en su 65 años que sean muchos más!”
— Ferdinand Rivera Rosado, Retired Caretaker X, NYCHA. Currently living in Puerto Rico

"Felicitación a la unión por sus 65º Aniversario del Local 237 y al Presidente Gregory Floyd y sus delegados Richard Hendershot, Ruben Torres, Patricia Stryker, Nancy True. Gracias es una unión que ayuda mucho a los trabajadores y familias."
— William Rosado, Retired Caretaker J, NYCHA. Cur”rently residing in Puerto Rico.