b'CITY EMPLOYEES UNION LOCAL 237AFFILIATED WITH THEINTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS216 West 14th Street New York, NY 10011-7296A union is a fierce and loving familya family that protects, cares and works onbehalf of all to ensure a solid and dignified quality of life.It is a family of thousandsof brothers and sisters from different backgrounds, who speak different languages yetshare a belief in the value of work and the value of workers. Teamsters Local 237 issuch a family.In 1952 when Local 237 was chartered, it was a time when public sector workershad few of the protections and benefits that we work hard to maintain today. Buildinga union like Local 237 required struggle, fighting and fighting yet again. Workers tookgreat risks to win benefits that union members have today. In the early years, therewere no rights to collective bargaining or dues check-off.Very early on, Local 237 reflected the glorious diversity that is the mosaic of New York City. Union solidarity was reflected in the 1967 strike at the New York City Housing Authority, the 1971 Bridges Strike and in the everyday experiences of Local 237 members working hard to make New York City a better place to live.Union membership provided secure employment, benefits and entry into the middle class.Every family has history and traditions that pass through generations in an oraltradition. Our union family is the same. Local 237s history resides, not only in photographs and newsletters, but also in the minds and hearts of our members. This is why, 25 years ago, the Teamsters Local 237 Oral History Project was initiated.Recognizing that oral traditions are often lost, if not preserved in writing, we beganthe process of interviewing and recording the personal histories of union members.In many ways, we were working against time. When the project started, many charter5 '