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On October 7, 1947 the founding President of the Transport Workers Union of America Michael J. Quill and Secretary-Treasurer Douglas L. Macmahon under their signatures issued a charter to a number of workers at the institution of Barnard College. These members who were all Building Tradesmen petitioned the national Labor relations board to form themselves into a union.
The total number of workers that caused this charter to be issued was fourteen (14) employees. They are as follows:
These fourteen employees founded Local 264 of the Transport Workers Union of America. Within the following two months other employees from the Housekeeping and Watchman areas also joined the union. These employees became members of the Housekeeping Division and Safety and Security Division. A year later, the Food Service Employees also joined.
During the local’s many years of operation the membership increased and the local expanded into four Divisions. These Divisions are the Safety and Security Division (SSD), the Facilities Maintenance Division (FMD), the Facilities Housekeeping Division (FHD) and the Food Services Division (FSD).
In 1947 James Gallagher was elected as the first president for Local 264. He was re-elected several times and led the local from 1947 to 1974, he was unopposed in most elections and was President up to his retirement. He led the negotiations for all contracts during that period, approximately thirteen (13) Two year-contracts with the employer Barnard College. He also negotiated a few contracts for the members of the Food Service Division when this division was contracted out by the College. He was regarded as a highly successful president and upon his retirement was succeeded by Anthony J. Taleries his Vice President.
President Anthony J. Taleries served from 1974 to 1978. He served out the balance of President Gallagher’s term and was responsible for leading the negotiation for one (1) two-year contract. He made little impact for the membership during his presidency and was replaced by Horace Harriott.
President Horace Harriott was successfully re-elected three times, two of them unopposed and served as President from 1978 to 1989 until he left the employment of the college. He led the negotiations for four (4) contracts with Barnard College and over three contracts for the Food Service Division with the subcontractor and new employer T.J. MacDermott Corporation. The last contract for the members of the Food Service Division was negotiated with a new subcontractor ARAMARK Corporation. He is regarded as a highly successful president and during his tenure gained significant benefits for the membership.
President Peggy Keefe served from 1989 to 1995 , serving out the remainder of President Harriott’s term and was successfully elected in 1989 and 1992 by slim margin of less than five votes and two votes respectively. During her tenure as president the membership experience some stressful times and lost significant gains in benefits and other areas achieved by her predecessors. At the next election, she was challenged by an unknown candidate who had no previous experience and she withdrew her nomination and gave her support to one of her former adversary in an unsuccessful effort to deny this unknown the presidency. After several unsuccessful attempts to undermine the new President and his team, she then took a job from the College as a member of management. Her presidency is regarded as one of failure and major give-backs and the membership to this day continues to suffer because of her actions. However, during her presidency, the Local was able to rebuild it’s treasury, which was nearly depleted when she took office. During her tenure, she led the negotiations for two contracts for the members employed by Barnard College. One (1) three-year contract and one (1) five-year contract, she was also involved in parts of the negotiations for the three (3) contracts between 1989 to 1997 in the Food Service Division. She was replaced by Orton Reynolds.
Orton Reynolds was successfully elected four times, three times unopposed and he continues to lead the local to this day. During his presidency the local amended its by-laws to reflect a Vice President heading each Division and also expanding the Local Executive Board to ensure each division would have a voice and vote on the Executive Board. The new By-laws also reflected new procedures which hold the officers accountable to the membership and giving the membership more opportunity to exercise their rights. He led the negotiation of two (2) three-year contracts and one (1) four year contract for the members employed by Barnard College and is currently about to negotiate a new contract in September 2006. He has also negotiated three (3) three-year contracts for the members of the Food Service Division with the employer ARAMARK Corporation.
Under his leadership, the local embarked on a massive COPE (Committee On Political Education) drive in 1999 and based on membership per capita succeeded in becoming the leading local in TWU COPE donation.
The Food Service Division has won various awards for their excellent service and method of operation. The other divisions continue to prove themselves to be valuable and productive to their employer. Some Members of the Safety and Security Division because of their actions above and beyond the call of duty has received awards from the New York City Police department. While Local 264 has excelled in many areas, its one draw back is that it has not been able to expand itself beyond the perimeters of the Barnard College campus.